Work Text:
It started off as a normal day for Diluc. He ate a small breakfast at dawn winery before heading to mondstat to open up the bar. People filtered in and out, until rush hour hit at five. After a couple hours of patrons drinking the day away, things started to calm down again at around nine and the bar became close to empty.
All in all, just an average day at the Angels Share. He now can clean up the leftover glasses and head home for the night. He could already picture a warm bath waiting at home for him. The work day was tiring and he did not miss doing this every day. But, Charles had come down with the flu and there was nobody else to fill in his position. So that left Diluc having to be the full time bartender again.
He was starting to put things away, when a familiar mop of golden blonde hair walked through the door.
He sighed and put down the glass he was cleaning. It wasn't as though the traveler was a bad patron, it's just that he had already put away the Apple cider and really didn't want to pull it out again.
"Welcome Traveler, the usual sparkling apple cider I presume? "
"Thanks Diluc, but not today. "
"Oh? " That was quite the surprise to Diluc. The Traveler practically refused to drink anything else, especially alcohol. It was honestly something that Diluc respected the Traveler for.
" So, trying something new huh? That can be expected. Well then what can I get for you tonight? "
"A bottle of Death after Noon please. "
Ah well, nobody's perfect. Diluc just nods his head and moves to grab the bottle. He hands it back to the traveler who then moves to sit in the back corner.
As he resumes cleaning the glasses, he wonders what could have brought this on. Sure, the traveler might have just wanted a drink, but that was the strongest drink in the bar. He's seen people get drunk from two shots of that stuff. Death before noon is Kayea's favorite and even then he limits himself to just a glass. Hell, even that lousy bard Venti got drunk off his ass from half a bottle. What in Celestia's name prompted the traveler to buy the whole damn thing?
He sets down the rag that he was using as he puts away the glasses.
It's not his business. If the traveler wants to drink, let him drink. He never cares about what the other customers order. But then again, there aren't many customers that he considers friends. Sure, there were a few here and there but the traveler was the only one he could have a conversation with that didn't feel stiff or forced.
He rinsed the rag before scrubbing the bar counter with it.
Nothing would come of the traveler getting a little drunk. He probably just had a fight with a strong monster and wanted to relax a little. But when the traveler bought a second bottle after going through the first, he started to become a little worried.
The traveler looked blank. There was no passion behind his eyes, no witty remarks, and no piamon to say remarks for him. It was as if someone drowned his soul and all that was left was an empty husk of a person. He just sat in the very back corner of the tavern, eyes unwavering as he nursed the bottle.
By the traveler's third bottle, Diluc was concerned. And by the fourth? He was honestly disturbed. When the traveler went up to the bar to buy a fifth, Diluc knew that he had to put a stop to this.
“Don't you think that you've had enough? I-I honestly don't know how you're still standing. Even Kayea can't drink this much!,” he got out from behind the bar to stand next to the traveler,”Are you ok? Did something happen today to cause all this?”
The traveler looked down at his boots to avoid Diluc's questions. He was having trouble standing and was already in a terrible mood. If he looked Diluc in the eyes, he would probably start to cry.
"I'm fine Master Diluc. I'm sorry for troubling you tonight, I should go. " The traveler turned away from Diluc and started walking towards the door, when he tried on his own shoes.
He starts falling towards the floor and prepares for the impact, but it never comes. He opens his eyes and sees Diluc holding him up by his tunic.
"Yeah no, your to drunk to be going out there. You'll get eaten alive by slimes, that is if you don't die by tripping over your own feet." Diluc hoists the traveler up and slings him over his shoulder. The traveler tried to protest but with Diluc's iron grip around his waist, he realized that his efforts were futile and just slumped on Dulic's shoulder.
Diluc hummed a pleased sound at the traveler's acceptance. He locked up the tavern for the night and made his way to the teleport waypoint. He selected the one closest to the Winery, and both he and the traveler were off.
When they arrived at the winery, he sent one of the maids to grab some water. He then headed up to his room with the traveler still on his shoulder.
He entered the room and dumped the traveler onto his bed. The traveler just groaned and hid his face in his hands. Diluc smirked in amusement at the traveler before rummaging through his drawers to find a nightshirt for the traveler to borrow. One that he won't particularly care about getting puke on.
He finally found a shirt and handed it to the traveler. The traveler stared at the fabric in his hands. The look of confusion on his face was quite funny, and Diluc couldn't help but snicker.
"It's a nightshirt, you can't expect me to let a guest sleep in their armor. " The traveler made an 'oh' shape with his mouth, before starting to remove his articles of clothing. Diluc turned away from the traveler and left the room. He found the maid who gave him a water pitcher and a couple of sunsetias.
He thanked her and went back to his room. He knocked on the door and waited for the traveler to finish dressing. When the traveler said that he was dressed, Diluc let himself into the room.
The traveler was laying face down in Diluc's bed. The nightshirt was more like a dress as it went all the way down to the traveler's knees. Diluc shakes his head and sets down the tray.
He shakes the traveler's shoulders. The traveler slowly raises his head, squinting due to the bright lights. Diluc just hands him a glass of water, which the traveler gratefully accepts. He quickly downs the water and starts eating the sunsetias.
Diluc sets down the pitcher and sits down next to the traveler. He unbuttons his vest and hangs it on the bedpost. He leans back and waits for the traveler to finish eating before he questions him.
He almost falls asleep before he feels something nudge his arm. He opens one eye and sees the traveler poking him.
"Hey, feeling better?"
"Mhm"
Diluc turns on his side so that he's facing the traveler.
"Did something happen today? Is that why you tried to drink away your feelings?"
The traveler looks away from Diluc's piercing gaze and nods.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
The traveler's shoulders start to shake and his eyes were becoming glossy.
"Hey, it's ok! I won't make you to tell me, nor will I judge you for what happened. I just want to help."
The traveler wayed his options of telling Diluc what's wrong. He opens his mouth a couple times before closing it again. Right as Diluc was about to call it quits, the traveler finally speaks.
"It…It's my birthday. "
At Diluc's confused face, the traveler just sighs. He crosses his legs and puts his hands in his lap.
"As you know I have been searching for someone. That person is my twin sister."
It takes Diluc a few seconds but than it hits him. His TWIN is who's missing. That means that not only is it Traveler's birthday, but it's also his twin's.
"And I-I"
The traveler's breathing starts to shake. He feels his eyes start to water and his hands feel clammy.
"It's the first time we haven't been together today and I-she" He gasps as he feels Diluc's arms wrap around him.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
“I don't even know if she's still alive!"
“Shh I know, I know.”
Diluc cups the back of the traveler's head and pulls him close to his chest. The traveler takes in a few sharp breaths, before sobbing into Diluc’s chest. He wraps his arms around Diluc as he cries, desperately gripping onto him like if he let go, Diluc would disappear. Diluc just lets the traveler hold him as he rubs circles on the traveler’s back.
After a few minutes the traveler’s sobs turned into small whimpers. His breath was shaky and unsteady, and he still refused to let go of Diluc. Diluc moved to wipe away the stream of tears still flowing from the travelers eyes.
“Are you feeling better?”
The traveler simply buries his face further into Diluc’s chest. Diluc sighs and thinks about what he can say to help the traveler. He was never really good with comforting people. He never knows what to say, and somehow he always manages to find a way to make the situation worse.
But, it can't hurt to try…right? He really can't say anything to make this situation worse. If he brings up his own situation will it be comforting to the traveler?
It makes people feel less alone in their situations if they have someone to relate to right,
But what if it makes it seem like he’s just trying to talk about himself? Gah! Why do emotions have to be so confusing! Well, here goes nothing. Let the record state that if this doesn't work, Celestia knows he tried.
“If it makes you feel better, I understand your situation.” The traveler looked up at him, his eyes wide with surprise.
‘Well, it got him to stop crying.’ Diluc took in a deep breath before continuing.
“I may not know what it feels like to wonder about whether my sibling is alive or not, but I do know what it's like to lose them. My brother and I…we had an awful fight several years ago. He told me something serious, and I didn't react as well as I could have. We had just lost our father and I wasn't in the right mindset. Instead of talking to him about it, I drew my sword. We fought and I told him to never come back. We have barely spoken since.”
Diluc fought to get the last few words out. He hasn't spoken about this to anyone else. He didn't realize it would be this difficult. He looked down at the traveler with worry. Did he feel better? Did he make the right choice in talking about himself and kayea? The traveler just stared up at him with undisquinshible eyes.
‘Shit, did I mess up? I knew I shouldn't have said that. Shitshitshit, should I say something else? Should I drop it and tell him to go to sleep? Should I-” His train of thought was roughly abrupt when the traveler grabbed his waist.
“I'm so sorry that you had to go through that.” The traveler grips Dilucs waist tighter.
“Traveler I-”
“Aether”
“W-What?”
“My name, it’s Aether.”
“Aether…thank you”
“I should be the one thanking you. You invite me into your home, you help me through my grief, and you trusted me with something very important about your past. You have my gratitude, along with my respect so, thank you.”
Diluc blushed at the travelers words. It isn't everyday that he is praised so highly. He simply smirks and buries his head into the travle-Aether’s shoulder, and hugs him back. The weight on his chest seemed to disappear as he grips onto Aether, and vice versa.
They stayed like this till they both lay down next to each other and fell asleep. The next morning Diluc wakes up the next morning wondering if last night was just a dream. But when he feels Aether cuddle deeper into his chest for warmth, he smiles. He lays back down and holds Aether in his arms, that grin never leaving his face.
“Happy Birthday Aether”