Work Text:
Suddenly, it rains. Pretty unexpected to rain today huh? It was clear as a day a minute ago. They look around for a place to take shelter. There was one not quite far from Ajax's sight, he pointed at it giving a gesture to Diluc that he found one. The hut looks like it's about to collapse, it was messy.
Is this the right decision?
He thought.
Going in their direction they finally sat there, looking at the rain. The thought of him and Diluc sitting together, under the small hut, one feet from each other that their shoulders almost meet, made his heart beating up so fast. "We should stay here for a while." Diluc says, looking at Ajax with his red eyes. Ajax shrugs. "Sure." Despite his calm expression Ajax's heart almost burst out from his chest. lucky for him the sound of the rain covers up the sound of his heart. Perhaps, it is fate for them to be stuck there together? If so, thanks to the archons for making the sky rain today.
Under the hut that looks like it's about to collapse from a hard rain in any minute, Diluc's body that is not used to the cold starts to shiver. Trying to warm himself from the cold, Diluc started to lean his body closer to Ajax's.
Holy shit. He thought. Damn it, he's too close. Quick, distract yourself! Ajax can't calm himself.
"The rain sure is hard." Ajax said with a weird tone of voice. "I don't think it'll stop any minute from now." He crossed his arm looking at the surroundings to distract himself from his own thoughts. "Hmm.. you're right. Should I make a run for it?" Diluc said with his arm holding the hut trying to keep it from collapsing. "My house is not that far from here. I think I will make it."
Fuck.
That is not what he meant.
Knowing Diluc he thought that he'll decide to stay. No, He wants him to stay. Together.
I'm so stupid.
His ears redden like tomatoes, he can feel heat in his face. He proceeded to put his hands on his face, trying to cover up his embarrassing expression. The rain isn't helping either. The hut decided to give up itself to the rain and it suddenly collapsed. Ajax is disappointed. Looking at the collapsed hut is like looking at his hopes right now. "Sorry." Diluc puts his hand on his waist. "Why're you sorry? I thought you expected this to happen?" Ajax sighs looking worried. Worry that they'll have to seperate. Diluc just stood there and didn't give much reaction, he looked quite... disappointed. Maybe, just maybe, he also wants to stay?
Suddenly an idea pops out of Ajax head.
Did Diluc ever get to play in the rain?
He thought to himself, considering Diluc's childhood quite a strict bet he hadn't, not even once. Rain is not as different as snow in Snezhnaya, the cold doesn't bother Ajax at all, it'll be fun, he thinks.
"When we're at it.." Ajax trying to lighten up the mood he looks at Diluc seeing him drenched from the rain "let's play in the rain shall we?" Diluc's eyes widened, and didn't expect to hear that at all. "Bet you haven't done this thing in a loooong time considering you had a strict childhood." Looking at this ginger guy smiling when he's drenched from the rain he thought to himself—
Let's give it a go.
They began to walk, getting away from that collapsed hut. Feeling the water pours from Diluc's head to his chin then to the ground, feeling cold and yet warm remembering the last time he ever had fun in the rain.
When was it? The last time? Ah, This brings me back.
The sight of blue and red haired kids in the rain, the sound of laughter they had when they were younger. Diluc's heart aches remembering the times. He furrowed his eyebrows, eyes started to feel a little hot trying his best not to cry. Ajax noticing the discomfort on Diluc's face, did he do something wrong? No, he holds Diluc's hand. "Come on Diluc! Cheer up! It's been so long isn't it?" He smiles. In response Diluc gave him a soft grin. Ajax leaning his body towards Diluc, he straightens his hands where he holds Diluc's hand. Looking forward to it.
Oh.
Diluc comes to realize Ajax wants to dance with him, in the rain? Quite romantic, isn't it? They both laughed and finally got in the rhymes with the rain.
While they're dancing, Ajax can't stop smiling. He's happy, seeing the man in front of him laughing while holding his hand, his hand on his waist turning around, dancing with him in the rain. Looking at the man in front of him, drenched wet from the rain, he can see through his clothes. Felt ashamed Ajax kept his head high trying not to look. It's okay Ajax, Diluc also feeling the same.
______________
"Ah." Diluc gave an expression like he got an idea. "You should come to my place, let's warm ourselves there. I don't know why I didn't think of it the first time." He laughs. The ginger's heart fluttered, and didn't expect that the time they spent together would be extended. "I would love to!" Ajax brings his face closer to the red haired man in front of him in excitement. Startled, it's so close that their nose almost touched. So close that Diluc notices something new on Ajax's face, he has freckles.
Cute.
The thought of it crossed Diluc's mind. Didn't realize what he just did, Ajax steps back in embarrassment. That was so close, he almost went to kiss the the man in front of him. "Right!" Ajax let go of Diluc's hand. Diluc's laughs giving a big grin. "Let's go."
_______________
Not long after that they arrived at their destination, yes, Diluc's house. Adelinde noticed right away the arrival of her master and? Another presence that she did not recognize.
Master Diluc bringing a friend? That's quite uncommon.
Without questioning much, Adelinde prepared two warm coats for them, and she asked the other maid to light up the fireplace. The footsteps coming closer, Adelinde opens the door seeing his master with a man she didn't recognize. "Welcome back master Diluc." She bowed and greeted him. "Pardon me Adelinde, can you bring him one of my coats?" Diluc takes out his shoes followed by Ajax. "As you wish master Diluc." She proceeds to hand Diluc and the man behind him a coat. "Thank you." The man greets. "You're welcome mister."
The warm place already set up, Diluc's offered Ajax a seat in front of the fireplace. While Adelinde prepares their new clothes to wear and the bath Ajax opens his mouth and says. "You had a nice place, pretty cozy." He feels the couch he's sitting on, so soft. The coat that he wears is warm and feels like being hugged. "Thank you, Treat it like your own home." Diluc puts his hands on his cheeks trying to warm himself.
The rain is still pouring hard outside, the sky still looks gloomy, the wet shoes outside, the sound of water coming down from the roof, the clock is ticking and yet, they feel comfortable. A minute after that Adelinde tells Diluc that the bath is ready to use. "You should go first Ajax." Diluc offered to Ajax. It's certainly not as cold as in snezhnaya, but he does feel cold. "Thank you." He responds. He gets into the bathroom. Opening the door
he smells Diluc's scent all over the place. He's flustered.
Oh Tsaritsa forgive me.
Embarrassed, he began to undress and quickly drowned his face in the bath.
After everything he gets up and cleans up after using the bathroom. He covers the bottom part of his body with a towel, he opens the door and is surprised the man he loves is in front of him. Jumps in surprise feeling embarrassed. He's butt ass naked, lucky him that there's a towel covering him up. Diluc notices the scar all over Ajax's body. Not trying to be rude, he didn't ask any questions. "Sorry for not knocking, here's your clothes." Diluc gave him his clothes. "Ahh yes yes, thank you Diluc." He answered with embarrassment in his voice saying "you should knock next time okay? Lucky you didn't see me 100 percent naked!" Diluc let out a laugh. "Yeah yeah, go dress up I'll wait until you're done and I'll take my turn."
Ah.
Ajax realized that he took quite a long time, leaving his loved ones to the cold for long. That was so inconsiderate of him, he thought.
Quickly he dressed up without thinking much about getting out of the room. In surprise he saw Diluc shivering from the cold.
Shit shit shit shit.
He took too long, didn't he? Ajax quickly bowed his head saying sorry to Diluc. Diluc just gave him a smile and a pat on the head. " You don't have to worry about me, take care of yourself first, I'm fine." Diluc shrugs.
Ajax's mind goes blank. He only has two thoughts in his head right now, the first one is that he's sorry for making Diluc wait too long and... The fact that he's using Diluc's clothes. He can smell him through the clothes, he buried himself on his arm trying to smell the soft scent of strawberries. He can feel heat from his face again. Embarrassed, he tries to look outside seeing the rain still pouring. Suddenly the sound of the door opening enters Ajax's ears. "You're done Diluc, had a nice bath?" Ajax trying to check up on him. "Yeah it was nice, thanks for asking." Diluc proceeds to give Ajax a soft grin.
"Ah yes Adelinde." Diluc called Adelinde. "Yes master Diluc?" Adelinde follows. "I haven't introduced you two yet. Adelinde, this is Ajax, and Ajax, this is Adelinde." Ajax offering his hand, Adelinde followed up with shaking their hands together. "Nice to meet you."
Adelinde already prepared the dinner, he calls Diluc's name telling him that dinner's ready. Eating at the table the two of them have a great time, even if it's still raining hard, they feel safe with each other feeling warm and comfortable.
After they're done eating they go into the living room where the fireplace is located. Diluc is trying to brush his hair, it won't cooperate with him. His hair became even more tangled when he brushed it. "Let me help you." Ajax proposed help. "Oh no, it's okay, I can do it myself." Said Diluc even though his hand says otherwise. "Don't be stubborn, I know this kind of thing, I have siblings with curly hair back home. Let me help you." Didn't have words left and actually wanting Ajax to play with his hair, Diluc sighs and gives the brush to Ajax's hand.
Ajax started to brush slowly, it didn't hurt, the hair straightened again. Ajax didn't stop at that, he continued to braid Diluc's hair softly. Diluc didn't hate it and let Ajax play with his hair.
Sitting on the sofa together in front of a warm fireplace, the outside gets darker by the time, though it's still raining until Ajax finishes the braid on Diluc's hair. "It's beautiful, thank you ajax for the help." Diluc gave him a big smile looking satisfied. "Hoho of course I'm the great Ajax who can do anything." Both of them let out laughter. And suddenly they realized that the rain stopped.
No no no no no. This can't end yet.
Ajax realizes he has to leave after the rain stops. "I want to stay here longer..." He said unconsciously. Diluc's eyes widened, it's a surprise knowing that they feel the same. Ajax realizing he said that out loud embarrassed his face turning red, he quickly said "Ah no I'll take my leave now—" "You can stay." Diluc said, short.
What?