Work Text:
It was well past dark, the stars sparkling in a clear sky. To most, it would be calming, a sight to see and admire. To Diluc, it was a reminder of all the things he had done that day and all the things he had left to do before he would retire for the evening.
The winery was quiet, lanterns scattered around the vineyard and the manor itself. The place had a warm glow to it, but it didn’t feel much like home anymore. It was always work for him, coming back to find Adelinde with more papers to fill out or Ernest asking for opinions when Diluc knew he was more than capable of doing it on his own. The traveler came often to rest, and while he never had any issues being hospitable to them, it was more of an obligation than anything else.
He needed rest, and as much as he wanted to take a night for himself, work was more important. Maybe he could sleep in tomorrow for another hour or two and let Adelinde cover for him.
Diluc made work of pulling his jacket off as he pushed the door of the manor open. He was expecting maybe a candle or two left by Adeline for when he returned home so he wouldn’t be navigating a dark house; ones he would blow out on the way to his bedroom.
Instead, no candles were lit, only the fireplace blazing as if new wood had just been added.
“Adelinde?” Diluc called, looking around in the entryway for any sign of movement. There was no answer. He sighed and placed his jacket on the coat hanger next to the door, bending down on one knee to untie his boots to take off and place them to the side.
“Everyone’s asleep.”
Diluc glanced up as he pulled off his other shoe, setting eyes on a familiar face with dark blue hair that was no longer tied at the base of his neck. It draped down over his shoulders, falling at the waist and framing tanned skin perfectly. He was wearing one of Diluc’s plaid pajama pants, and a simple white tee he must have stolen from Diluc’s wardrobe. At a closer glance, as Kaeya made his way farther down the stairs toward the fire, Diluc met eyes with the eye that was always hidden away.
It was a stunning light gold color, something Diluc hasn’t seen since they were younger. Kaeya hid it away so often Diluc nearly forgot what it looked like under that eyepatch. A dazzling color that contrasted everything about him, something he had only shown Diluc when the sun set and they snuck out into the vineyard to look at the stars and talk about joining the Knights.
“What are you doing here, Kaeya?” Diluc asked, taking a step from the front door toward the middle of the room. He was unsure if he should get changed before he hosted since Kaeya would comment about his formal dress.
“To visit you. I made hot cocoa for us if you want to join me.” Kaeya placed the two mugs he had carefully brought downstairs onto the round table in front of the fireplace. He had pushed the chairs to the side, instead having brought the couch from near the window over to the fireplace. “There’s no pressure for that, though. If you want to sleep, I won’t stop you.”
Diluc stood for a moment, watching Kaeya sit himself down on one side of the couch and pull the warm mug to his lips. He cooled it off before taking a sip, glancing at Diluc in the process. Diluc was the kind of person that most found difficult to read, but to Kaeya he had always been an open book. The look on his face was uncertainty, and Kaeya could only assume he was debating joining him for a drink.
“Are you... staying here for the night?”
Kaeya nodded in response to Diluc's soft voice. It was difficult to tell whether the almost whisper was because he was in Kaeya's company, or politeness for the rest of the house. He had always kept his voice down when others slept, even if the noise would surely not wake them.
“I planned on sleeping here instead of barging into the spare bedroom.” Kaeya laughed a bit at Diluc's reaction to that, brows slightly furrowed at the thought of him sleeping on the couch.
“You know you could always stay in the spare bedroom. It's always been for you if you needed it.”
Kaeya nodded softly at that, a smile crossing his face, “I wanted to wait until you came home just to make sure.”
Well, that was a lie, wasn't it.
“I'll go get changed, then,” Diluc muttered before turning to climb the staircase toward his bedroom.
He returned a bit later, hair pulled down from his ponytail to drape over his shoulders as well, curls framing a strong jawline and soft eyes. Diluc looked tired, carefully stepping in his pajamas to the couch where Kaeya was waiting for him.
“It's been a while since I've seen you with your hair down,” Kaeya smiled, handing over the warm mug of hot cocoa to Diluc as he settled himself on the couch.
“Likewise. You should let it down more often, the ladies would love it.”
Kaeya said nothing to that, instead watching as Diluc pulled the mug to his lip to sip at his drink. It was warm next to the fire, cascading Diluc in a beautiful hue of deep gold as if the sunset had kissed his forehead. He seemed content with his mug, though his body was hardly relaxed after a long day of work.
“What are you worried about?”
Diluc glanced over, surprise written on his face that Kaeya had noticed so easily. He should've known that he couldn't hide his feelings and worry from Kaeya, even if he wanted to. Kaeya had always known what the smallest of glances or sighs meant, known when to stop teasing and get serious, known when Diluc needed a break.
With a sigh, Diluc placed the warm mug in his palms, crossing his legs and settling the bottom on his thigh. The mug was too warm, slightly burning from the heat, but it was nothing Diluc wasn't used to. “Lots of things. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Lying straight to my face I see.”
Diluc let out a small chuckle at that, being caught red-handed. “Fine, I'm worried about you.”
Kaeya tilted his head in confusion, placing his mug on the wooden table next to him. “Why would you be? I've always been able to take care of myself.”
They met eyes, and Diluc's were filled with concern. He looked sad, though that was nothing new to Kaeya. Diluc didn't have to tuck away those feelings, pretend to be strong, act like he was a perfect man with work being the only thing on his mind. Kaeya pushed himself from his spot on the couch, moving closer to Diluc until their thighs touched and he could wrap an arm around the red-head's shoulder and pull him close.
When was the last time they had been like this, with Diluc tucked into Kaeya's shoulder, eyes closed and savoring the scent of lilies?
“You don't have to tell me, Luc,” Kaeya whispered, using the hand wrapped around his shoulder to push a curl from that had fallen into Diluc's eyes. “Only if you want to.”
Silence fell over the two, Diluc resting his head on Kaeya's shoulder, body comfortably tucked under a strong, warm arm. His stress melted away, breathing slowed until Kaeya was certain he had fallen asleep. All that could be heard was the crackling of firewood in the background and the sound of Kaeya's silver rings clinking against ceramic when he tried to pull the mug from Diluc's hands.
It wasn't difficult to take the mug, Diluc’s fingers not fighting at all against it being taken from him. Kaeya leaned over, trying his best not to disturb the sleeping figure, and gently placed the half-filled mug onto the wooden table next to his.
Diluc stirred a bit as Kaeya leaned back into the couch, but even if he had been disturbed by Kaeya’s movement he said nothing. One of Diluc’s hands moved slowly, his palm opening and gently nudging the outside of Kaeya’s thigh. Kaeya pat the palm gently before pushing it aside, “Give me your other one.”
There was a small huff, almost that of a pout, before Diluc’s hand reached over his body to meet Kaeya’s, fingers intertwined and pulled closer together. “Your hand is warm,” Diluc mumbled, turning his head to nuzzle his nose into the crook of Kaeya’s neck. “I missed you.”
“A bold statement, Luc.” Kaeya’s thumb brushed against the top of Diluc’s hand, a gentle gesture that was hardly noticed as Diluc’s lips pressed a kiss to Kaeya’s jawline. “That much?”
It had been a long time since Kaeya had visited him, a long time since Diluc had anything like this. He was safe here, in a manor that finally felt like home when the love of his life was snuggled up next to him by the fireplace. Maybe it was naive to wonder if Kaeya would forgive him so this could be a regular thing. Perhaps, Kaeya would say no under the disguise of wanting to be closer to headquarters, and Diluc would pretend it didn’t hurt.
Was it worth the risk if it meant Diluc could finally feel warmth in his heart like the rest of his body when his vision glowed to protect the town he adored so much?
To protect the one man he cared most about?
“Kaeya,” Diluc whispered, a puff of hot air falling onto Kaeya’s neck in the process. Bravery was something Diluc always had, something he was praised for, but he had never been brave for Kaeya. He was a coward with his feelings, a coward with his past, a coward for his future. Kaeya had always been the brave one for him, when their turtle had been lost in the lake or when they had to chase off slimes from the vineyard as children. He had to be brave now, even if Kaeya said no. “Would you stay here with me?”
“I already am, Luc. I told you I would take the spare bedroom for the night, did you forget?”
Diluc shook his head lightly, a deep breath before he turned his head farther to hide his face in Kaeya’s locks of hair that draped around his shoulders. “I want you here at the manor with me, Kaeya. I know it’s farther from Mondstadt than you would probably like but—”
“Do I have to pay rent?” Kaeya asked, that dumb smirk on his face prevalent even though Diluc couldn’t see him. His chest burst into a giggle, his free hand coming to play with Diluc’s hair, tangling it in the process.
There was an annoyed puff of air followed by a low-pitched hmph from Diluc. “Of course not!”
“I’m just teasing, Luc. I would love to, but you’ll have to help me move my things.”
Diluc nodded, pulling his hand away from Kaeya’s intertwined fingers, only to outstretch a hand toward his mug of hot cocoa. Kaeya reached over to grab it for him, placing it in his hands for Diluc to promptly take a large sip of it. It was surely cold by then, or at least lukewarm, but he said nothing of it.
Kaeya being here with him was all he needed to keep his heart warm.