Chapter Text
Mondstadt, the city of freedom. A nation under the protection of its archon, one could only feel as if they were safe in such a place where it seemed that much was peaceful. When one so small is from Khaenri'ah, the nation without a god, such a grand world is one almost of a fantastical bedtime story. But, even a bedtime story may have many a frightening element to the listener.
Thunder roared and lightning struck the surrounding ground as the rain pounded down all around him. The air was a bitter cold and the wind howled like a pack of starved wolves. The commotion was nearly too much for the small indigo haired boy. Although the ruckus in Khaenri'ah was much worse than a thunderstorm, just the new sounds and unfamiliar surroundings in itself were frightening enough.
“Stay here, your mission is to spy on the Ragnvindr clan, gain their trust and then when all is ready, you strike brutally and coldly. No exceptions.”
Kaeya remembered those chilling words from his father before he left him to go run a quick errand. That so called quick errand turned into an hour, then four hours, and soon enough it was nearing sundown.
“Kaeya, stay put over here and wait for me… It will not be long before I will soon see you again, maybe. Good boy…”
He had been a good boy, he stayed put right where he was left and never asked a question to how long he would wait. But as the rain poured and time ticked by, it became increasingly obvious that his father had abandoned him, leaving the little boy all alone in the freezing rain to cry and eventually allow the elements to claim him if he had not been found.
Kaeya could feel his energy leaving him quickly, he tried to walk but his body was just too weak, every little step was painful and made him dizzy. Eventually he collapsed onto the side of the road, struggling to stay conscious. Suddenly a bright light appeared through the pouring rain and mist, gleaming like a glimmer of hope for the weak child.
A light? Had he died? Was this it? Was this the end?
Suddenly the light stopped in front of him and the calls of a man could be heard by his tired ears.
“Master! There is a little boy out here!” The carriage driver called frantically. As if on pure instinct he burst the carriage door open and ran to the child on the road. “Who could leave a child in the cold like this?!”
Kaeya immediately recognized the man, it was him, Crepus Ragnvindr… the man he was told to spy on. He knew why he had to- well at least what they told him. Which, when he thought about it, was likely not the whole truth…
Crepus bent down to the little boy, not caring if he was getting soaked. Kaeya stared into his crimson eyes, those eyes, they shown no evil, only kindness and concern.
“It’s alright, little one, it’s alright…” He whispered softly as he gently picked up the boy and swaddled him carefully yet lovingly in a soft carriage blanket. Kaeya could only cry, he was still so frightened and sore. Bolting to the carriage, Crepus quickly opened and closed the door faster than the Electro Archon’s lightning.
“Shh, you’re safe now, you’re safe. What were you doing out in the cold, little one?”
Kaeya sniffled and hiccuped as he tried to reply. “M-my d-daddy said he was gonna go get some grape juice a-an’ stuff b-but h-he never came back….”
Those words tore the heart of the crimson haired man. As a father himself, he could not imagine leaving his precious Diluc alone in the pouring rain to fend for himself. Crepus felt a lump form in his throat as he stared at the small boy in his arms, he carefully checked for a fever, as expected, there was one beginning to form.
“You’ll be safe with me, little one, I promise to care for you until your father comes for you.” He spoke softly, gently yet, slowly rocking the boy in hopes to calm him. “Close your eyes and rest a bit, we’ll be at my home soon.”
Kaeya knew he needed to sleep, he could feel it, the need for rest was tugging at his eyelids, begging them to droop and welcome slumber. Eventually, he caved in and welcomed sleep, snuggling closer to his target, yet also savior. He let a small smile tug at his lips as he began to finally dream pleasantly.
“You remind me of my little Diluc at home, always falling asleep in my arms.” He whispered softly, resting Kaeya’s head on his shoulder. “Even if your father never returns, you will always have me, I promise little one. A father never abandons his child…”
The red headed man looked down once more at the strange boy he held and sighed sadly.
“Archons above, please, I ask- no- I beg you to protect this child… He’s been through hell and back and I only ask for protection and love to bless him.”
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Crepus burst open the doors to the mansion, practically frightening poor Adelinde in the process. He ran inside with the precious bundle in his arms, with a free hand he quickly grabbed a rather large pillow and placed it before the fireplace, and laid the small boy onto the cushion to warm himself as he rested.
“Addy!” He yelled to the maid. “Quickly warm a bath up for this child, fetch him one of Diluc’s smaller nightgowns, with haste please!”
“Yes, Master Crepus!” She bowed respectfully, charging up the stairs and into the washroom and turned on the warm water. Steam quickly filled the room and instantly made the room warmer, soothing warmth even. As soon as the water was to an appropriate temperature, she quickly fetched some fresh pajamas and undergarments for the boy.
“Master, the preparations have been made.” One of the other maids informed in a hushed voice, still mindful of the child who was sleeping by the fire.
“Thank you, little one, come on now, let’s get you awake and into a warm bath.” Crepus whispered softly as he began to shake Kaeya awake gently.
The child began to twitch a little, letting out small moans and stretches from his tired arms. His visible eye began to flutter open, revealing the strange yet beautiful star shaped, ice blue eye.
“H-Hm…?” He mumbled, clearly still not fully awake yet. “D-Daddy…?”
Crepus only smiled with a small laugh, “No, not quite, kiddo. It’s me, Crepus Ragnvindr, the one who saved you.”
“Oh…*yawn*…. Sleepy…” Kaeya mumbled as he rubbed his uncovered eye.
“I bet! Let’s get you in the bath and all washed up, you need to be warm in order to not get sick. Once you are out of the bath and all warm, how about something warm in your belly, hm?” He asked softly, earning a nod from Kaeya. “That reminds me, do you have a name, little one?”
“Kaeya… Kaeya Alberich…”
“Kaeya, hm? What a beautiful name, well Kaeya, let’s get you cleaned up and all warm.” Crepus carefully picked him up and carried the small boy up the stairs and into the steamy washroom. “Oh, no drifting off on me now, come on, stay awake for me.”
“Still sleepy… my eyes wanna close…” he mumbled sleepily with a little yawn.
Adelinde carefully took Kaeya from her master and placed the tired boy on the floor to stand on his own two feet. He was wobbly but quickly steadied himself to the best of his ability. Crepus only smiled, exiting the washroom and leaving to go and explain everything to Diluc.
He could only pray to the spirit of Barbatos that his son would be good to the new little boy in his care. Oh Archons above help him.
Inside the washroom, a few small scared shrieks could be heard sounding from the little blue haired boy. Adelinde quickly learned that the eyepatch removal was nearly a no go unless a wash rag could be placed over his eye, thankfully she had plenty on hand for the boy. Once the obstacle of the eyepatch was out of the way, she helped him undress and step into the bath. Almost instantly, Kaeya felt himself happily melt into the warm water and once more feel sleepy.
Adelinde’s soft and gentle hands began to carefully wash the boy, paying attention to detail as she cleaned his bruised and burned skin. Definitely signs of possible abuse from his former guardian, she would not be entirely wrong, but certainly not completely right. It would not be long before Kaeya would be completely clean and wrapped in a fluffy red towel being carefully patted dry.
“Kaeya, I’ll be bandaging up your bad eye, alright? If you want, you can keep it closed for me still so I don’t see it.” She whispered softly, trying to coax the frightened boy into getting the proper assistance he required. “I know you do not want me to see it, but I have to put the gauze pad over your eye.”
“O-okay… be quick please?” Kaeya mumbled, flinching a little as if expecting punishment for his suggestion. Addy could only smile with a nod, she carefully applied the gauze pad atop his shut eye and bandages it up properly, planting a small kiss just above his covered eyebrow.
“See?” Adelinde smiled, “All better now, right?”
Kaeya nodded with a sleepy giggle, feeling the effects of the warm water kicking in once more. The warm, long fingers of sleep began to grab at him, trying ever so desperately to pull him into the slumber he craved. He stood still as Adelinde dried and dressed him, scooping him into her arms like a mother would for her sleepy son. She carried him out the door and to where her master sat in the bedroom with Diluc.
The small red head smiled brightly at the sight of a child around his age. Crepus smiled at the sight, taking Kaeya into his arms and holding him close as he sat by Diluc, the smaller of the two boys stared sleepily at the other, not entirely understanding what was happening around him.
“Kaeya, this is my son, Diluc. He should be around your age.” Crepus quietly explained, the child in his arms looked at him and then to Diluc, offering a faint shy smile. “Now, Diluc, with Kaeya around I expect you to do as we discussed and be good to him. He has been through a lot.”
“Yes, Father! I’ll be good! Dontcha worry, Kaeya! I’ll help protect you, I’ll be like a big brother and you my baby brother!” Diluc chuckled, taking Kaeya’s hand in his. “You are gonna be okay now, I promise!”
Crepus was proud beyond what words could tell, his son was immediately taken to the mysterious child he held. Vowing to protect and care for him as if he were his real older brother. He watched Kaeya struggle to contain a yawn, obviously becoming sleepier.
“Alright now, Kaeya is looking a bit on the sleepy side, you need to go to bed to, Diluc.” Crepus replied just above a whisper, standing up with Kaeya still in his arms. “Kaeya, how about we see about getting something warm in your belly before bed.”
Kaeya only nodded and let the man carry him down the stairs and into the kitchen, inside was Adelinde making a warm mug of hot chocolate for the younger. Crepus set Kaeya atop the counter and handed him the warm mug, watching carefully as the child sleepily drank the warm beverage.
“Master Crepus, it appears the storm may intensify…” she sighed, looking out the window noticing the wind picking up and the rain slamming the ground harshly. “I do hope it does not give the little one a fright.”
Crepus sighed, knowing full well how Diluc used to act when thunder sounded. “I do to, I do to, Adelinde. But, he will have me, now I best see to getting him to fall asleep. It may be a long night.”
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Time ticked by as Crepus sat in the rocking chair by the fire, Kaeya nestled in his arms shivering at every long roar of thunder. Kaeya wanted to hide, it reminded him of Khaenri'ah, the explosions and the tearing of the earth. The wrath of the heavens. He shifted to hide his face in the man’s chest, starting to sob softly in fright.
In Khaenri'ah, he was instructed to cease his childish behavior and never be coddled, he craved being held so much, to be told all would be alright and to be safe. His father, the king, forbade him from such comforts, telling him it was all weakness and that to be afraid meant he was to be picked off first.
Fear was weakness. Crying was a sign of weakness. Khaenri'ahns did not cry.
But yet, he did, he wept in fear, he wept in pain.
“Kaeya, little one, are you frightened?” Crepus asked softly, knowing the likely response. “Do you miss your father?”
“N-no… d-daddy left m-me…” Kaeya cried harder as the thunder roared in rage. “S-scared!”
“Oh Kaeya….” Crepus stood up from the rocking chair, adjusting the boy so his head rested atop his broad shoulder, supporting his small, boney bum with his arm and gently patting the child’s near skeletal back. “Shh, hush now, you are safe here, little one. You are safe here.”
Diluc heard the sobs from downstairs, immediately feeling immense worry for his new “little brother”. He quickly bolted to his closet and grabbed a small blue quilt with Calla Lily pattern, he rushed to his bookshelf, taking his favorite music box. Diluc knew he had to do something to soothe his new sibling, the cries already broke his little heart.
“As your big brother it is my job to make sure you never cry, Kaeya!” Diluc declared to himself, rushing from his room and down the stairs to his father and Kaeya. “Father! I have these for Kaeya! Maybe a blankie and a lullaby will help him feel better!”
Crepus looked down at Diluc, surprised by his son’s kindhearted actions. He took the blanket and wrapped it around Kaeya, watching as the smaller boy calmed down a little. Diluc opened the music box and began to twist the small handle, the music began to play and Kaeya slowly ceased his cries.
He had never heard such a sweet melody before. Khaenri'ah never had such calming music from what he remembered. Lullabies were practically nonexistent in his home, they to were considered a symbol of immaturity and weakness.
But… but how could this beautiful sound be so weak? The song could calm a raging war, at least, in the mind of a child it could.
Slowly but surely, Kaeya was reduced to just sniffles and soft whimpers as Crepus rocked him. He hummed along to the lullaby that played from that mysterious little box Diluc left on the table, coaxing the child into a deep slumber.
“Shh, there we go, close your eyes and rest your weary head. Shh, sleep well, little Kaeya.” The crimson haired man whispered softly, watching Kaeya finally lose the battle against sleep.
“D-daddy…” Kaeya sleepily mumbled, clinging tighter to Crepus, refusing to be let out of his arms.
“I’ll be your daddy, if the monster who left you behind never returns. No man who leaves their baby in the cold and rain should be blessed to be a father.” Crepus replied, kissing Kaeya on the head. “I will never leave you, Kaeya, and I’ll never abandon you.”
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A/N: The lullaby being played on the music box is actually the “Dawn Winery Theme”.
Oh, and I nearly forgot! Diluc eventually gifted Kaeya a little teddy bear with a blue bow around its neck, he wanted Kaeya to have a snuggle buddy to protect him at night.
I do hope you stay for Act 2! Until then, Travelers!