Chapter Text
Kaeya had invited Noelle to the dawn winery. Noelle was not as of legal age, but he wanted to spend time with his... New little sister. That title was still strange to him but it felt quite nice. He genuinely didn't expect their relationship to go this way. First he was trying to stop the little girl from doing such bizarre tasks and now here they are, going to spend some quality time together like as if they had always been close. It was a weird but pretty nice relationship.
Kaeya was chatting with Noelle as they made their way to Angel's share, the chat mostly consist Kaeya doing the talking and Noelle listening to her big brother's ramble. She never really saw Kaeya as a big brother at first but she slowly did. She had called him Big Brother by accident and thought that Kaeya would be weirded out by it. He didn't though, and instead showed a genuine smile. After that day onwards, Noelle would occasionally call him 'Big brother' and Kaeya would call her 'Little sister'. Though, they only do it when they're alone.
~~
One step into the dawn winery and Kaeya could already sense the cold glare and harsh greeting from Diluc. Kaeya had already predict the way Diluc would react to him but it still hurt nonetheless.
"It's great to see you as well,Master Diluc~! Hope you didn't miss me too much.", Kaeya chuckled with his usual sly grin. He was an expert at hiding his feelings, especially if it meant showing his weakness.
Diluc simply groan softly before noticing the small woman beside Kaeya, his cold glare would change to his usual poker expression as he greeted the young lady. Noelle was nervous since this was her first time being there and shyly greeted Diluc back.
---
Kaeya snickered softly at the way Noelle was behaving. She really reminds him of his past self. Literally, both their dreams were about wanting to join the Knights of Favonius. Not only that, but he couldn't help but remember when his younger self would always be shy and nervous. Noelle is kinda like a replica of his younger self. Which was... Kinda funny. Although, he was sure Noelle wasn't a... Traitor like him.
The man's thoughts were interrupted when he saw Noelle gently tugging Kaeya's sleeve, she was abit tense. Why wouldn't she? Noelle is always the one helping out in the tavern, either by serving drinks with her smile or helping Charles clean the tables and empty glasses. She had never drink in the tavern before
Kaeya felt his brother instinct acting up and would gently hold Noelle's hand,leading her to his favourite spot which was the stools infront of the bar. "One Death after Noon,please Master Diluc~."
Diluc simply gave Kaeya the cold shoulder as he let his hands do the work. Diluc would go on to place rhe man's drink infront of him before turning to Noelle. The young woman was taken aback by this and immediately shook her head and hands while saying,"O-oh no thank you, Master Diluc! I-i'm too young to drink. I'm just here because I-i was invited."
"I can tell, Miss Noelle. Do not worry,I would never give a minor alcohol." Diluc replied as he glanced over to Kaeya, sending him a side glare. He knew Kaeya was a disgraceful traitor but he didn't expect the man to do something even lower and invite a minor to a bar with him. As if Kaeya could read Diluc's mind, the man simply hum with his usual cocky smile and said,"There is no need to worry,Master Diluc. I am certain Noelle will not be drinking any alcohol. Besides, she is a very wonderful lady, she knows what is right and wrong."
Noelle would blush brightly in embarrassment at the praise before she smile reassuringly and nod at Diluc. The red haired man sighed softly and handed Noelle an apple cider vinegar, since it was safer for kids. As time went on, Kaeya would just happily chat with Noelle, telling the young woman about his adventure as such while Noelle would listen with both attentiveness and admiration. Kaeya knows that the stories would be motivation for Noelle, he used to feel the same way when he sees Diluc practising when they were kids. Diluc obviously didn't pay any mind to the conversation but he couldn't help but occasionally listen to the conversation. He couldn't help but feel worried everytime he heard Kaeya got hurt or quite impressed when Kaeya was succesful in defeating those hilichurls and such, but something in him was just preventing him to do so. After that tragic night, he couldn't bring himself to even talk to Kaeya.
After about four drinks, Kaeya was drunk and slurring his words. Diluc would take this as a sign to stop giving the drunken man any more alcohol and said coldly,"You're drunk. I think it's better you head back home." Kaeya giggled softly and simply shook his head while he let out soft hiccups. Noelle on the other hand was very sober and had was enjoying her drink. She noticed how drunk Kaeya was and decided to volunteer and bring the man aback home but was alarmed when Kaeya stopped her and slurred,"No... Don't bring me back home just yet... J-just one more glass. L-little sister, you can head back home first,alright?"
Diluc was shocked by the title. 'Did he hear it right? Little sister...?' He turned over to face Noelle, wondering how the woman would react to it but she seems unfazed. "I'm sorry, but did he just call you little sister?" Diluc blurted out, the man still trying to process what Kaeya had just said.
"Hmm...? Oh yah,hehe. Noelle here is my little sister, and I am her big brother..~!" Kaeya giggled out, his mind was clearly not working right since he would never dare blurt something out like that to his Diluc.
Noelle didn't argue with Kaeya at all, instead she smiled widely and nodded in agreement as she put Kaeya's arm over her shoulder to carry the man. "Yup! Kaeya has been a really great mentor... And more importantly, a very good big brother to me."
Diluc was shocked by this. Kaeya? A good brother? Oh, something in Diluc just snapped as he recalled that devastating night, when Kaeya was the reason HIS father was dead. "Heh, Kaeya? A good brother? He is nothing but a good for nothing traitor." Diluc commented with a frown as he was upset, not even thinking about how affective his words were.
Noelle was taken aback by the harsh comment as she was confused by what Diluc meant. Kaeya didn't say anything and instead looked down on the floor, he had heard this comment before, it wasn't new but damn did it still hurt.
"I suggest you to be on your highest alert around Kaeya, Miss Noelle. Better yet, leave him before he hurts you or anyone you love. He has done it before and he sure as hell will do it again. He'll feed you lies and just like in the past, stab your back when you least expect i-!!!" Diluc's ramble was cut when Noelle suddenly bang her fist on the counter, leaving the few remaining people that was in the winery speechless and stunned.
Of course people would be shocked, no one has ever seen Noelle released her anger like that, most of them assuming they were just extremely drunk and started hallucinating. Kaeya was definitely no different, he also wondered if it was the alcohol acting up. Why would someone defend him? The words Diluc were saying are just honest, even if they were brutal.
"I'm extremely sorry for how I acted out, Master Diluc, but I do recommend you to be abit more thoughtful of your words... Kaeya has been nothing but good to me and my thoughts about him will never change. I assure you I can take well care of myself and Kaeya as well so there is no need to fear. Therefore, if you could excuse us, my Big brother and I will be leaving." Noelle would go on to place the bag of mora on the counter and carry Kaeya out of the place, leaving the winery in some strong tension and awkward silence.
Diluc would look down at the money on the counter, the gossips and whispers were just foggy to him as he was still processing what had just happened.
~~~
Both Kaeya and Noelle were quiet as they made their way back to Kaeya's home. The streets were really silent and peaceful at night, Noelle appreciated it since it would help to clear her mind from earlier. Oh right earlier, Noelle was surprised when she remember what happened and felt second hand embarrassment as she apologised profusely. Kaeya on the other was simply silent and watch Noelle panic. He would snicker softly before starting to laugh which had taken Noelle by surprise as she was confuse.
"Why did you... Help me?" Kaeya asked, his laughter slowly dying down. The man seems to be acting abit more sober.
Noelle didn't really know how to answer the man, she would then remember something and went on to gently show the man a rose. Kaeya was confused by this,"Why... Are you showing me this...?"
"I swore to you,remember? When you had a breakdown and beg for me to leave so you couldn't hurt me... I said that I would always be there either to protect you or keep you company, no matter what." Noelle repeated the words, this time more clearer and prouder.
"What I am trying to say is, It doesn't matter if you are at your lowest or at your highest because from that day onward, I not only see you as the protector of Mondstadt but as someone who I can call my brother and a role model."
Kaeya felt the tears in the corner of his eyes and started sobbing. The reaction made Noelle worried as she exclaimed,"H-huh?? O-oh my! I'm sorry if I overdid it, I was ju-just being honest! Pl-please don't be weirded ou-."
"Th-thank you... Thank you,Noelle... I-..." Kaeya muttered as he felt himself choking on his tears, the man was too drunk to stop himself from crying
For once in a long time, he felt that same warmth that he thought was gone all those years ago.