Work Text:
The sound of a brush painting a blank canvas filled the silence within the small studio. He let out a deep breath, slowly brushing brown paint onto the canvas, trees coming to life in front of him. It was a city, tall skyscrapers and cars dotting the roads. Bustling sidewalks with people walking to and from work.
Diluc hummed a small tune to himself, struggling to remember the exact details of the scene he was supposed to paint.
“It’s your birthday, today. Don’t you have anything you want to do?” His father asked him that day, a wide smile on his face.
A younger Diluc only shook his head, “Maybe we could get ice cream? That’s something I know Kaeya would love.”
“Are you sure? This is your day, not Kaeya’s,” His father looked a little concerned, though Diluc shook his hand in dismissal.
“I want him to be just as happy.”
He placed the palette and brush down, instead choosing a book he kept nearby. Thumbing through the pages, skimming through words, it took him no longer than five minutes to find what he was looking for. A poorly executed crime, something so blatantly obvious even the least competent of the Favonius Police could figure out. A character that was meant to be a poor imitation of Diluc was supposed to be the criminal here, a murderer with no tact.
To think Kaeya would write something like this; he was probably more than a few glasses in when he started working on it. Of course, that was something only he would do. It was unfortunate his novels were so popular with people.
It didn’t take long before screeching tires were heard. He should’ve known.
All he could see was red. Red through the haze. It reeked.
Diluc blacked out.
He should’ve stayed home that day. Maybe he could’ve saved his father that way.
Diluc’s brush faltered at the smell of coffee wading in from the other room. His nose scrunched up in distaste, displeased with the scent mixing in with the familiar odor of oil paints. The oil paints that belonged to his father, before the accident killed him.
Maybe Kaeya was right about this novel of his. Maybe he truly was a murderer for deciding to leave the safety of their home that day.
He shook the thought out of his head, inhaling deeply.
“Now, remember Diluc, you can’t put too much paint onto the brush. Gentle strokes, one at a time. There you go.” His father’s advice swam through his thoughts, guiding him carefully with gentle fingers.
Just as he once did, when he was younger and more inexperienced.
Father was dead. He couldn’t even make it to the hospital.
Kaeya… Kaeya.
“I’m so sorry for your loss, it was unexpected-” Someone at the hospital attempted to console him.
He held Kaeya’s limp hand tightly in his own, the warmth stolen from him. Despite the peaceful look on Kaeya’s face, the white bandages around his head stood out like a sore thumb. The steady beat of the heart monitor in the room did nothing to ease his deafening thoughts.
A coma, they said.
He’s never felt so numb.
He put his paintbrush down, stepping back to get a clearer view of his work. It was done now, a few hours after starting his fourth session. Nearly a week was spent painting this, a scene Kaeya himself once told him he hated.
“Out of all the scenes I’ve written for this book,” Kaeya nursed a glass of wine in his hand, the printed book in the other, “This one might just have to be the worst.”
Diluc looked inquisitively, an idea sparking to life at those mere words. “I’ll… Keep that in mind.”
“Come to bid your dear brother hello, have you?” Kaeya’s irritatingly smug voice filled the silence of their shared kitchen, a mug of coffee in hand.
Diluc squinted, “How many cups have you already had today? You know what the doctors said about caffeine-” “Yeah, yeah, I get it,” Kaeya waved a hand dismissively, interrupting him, “No need to be a mother hen. I promise I haven’t had more than two.”
“And how am I supposed to trust you?” Diluc raised an eyebrow at that, watching as Kaeya took a sip from his freshly brewed coffee.
“My, ‘Luc. You can’t trust the words of your dear baby brother?” Kaeya placed the mug down, dramatically leaning back against the counter.
“The last time you said that, we had to take you to the hospital because you collapsed from exhaustion,” Diluc crossed his arms, unimpressed, “Forgive me for looking out for you.”
It took Kaeya weeks to wake up from that coma.
He never felt the same after that. The old Kaeya died alongside Father, it seemed.
Now he’s just an alcoholic that writes.
“Yeah, well, Jean’s been on my case about that, now hasn’t she?” Kaeya mocked a stern impression, holding his head a little higher.
“Whatever,” Diluc approached, grabbing a small container of instant coffee and a mug of his own, “I finished that painting for your most recent novel.” “Well, consider me intrigued.” Kaeya’s visible eye widened slightly.
The coffee was brewing. The stench was just as intolerable as he remembered. That feeling in his stomach–a black hole eating him from the inside out–just wouldn’t go away. He looked to Kaeya, spacing out as his thoughts ran wild. It’s his fault. It’s his fault. It’s his fault-
“Diluc, what-” Kaeya’s voice snapped him out of it, Diluc’s arms wrapped around Kaeya’s waist tightly. He pulled the other man into a hug, the only sounds between them being the steady pouring of coffee into his mug and their breathing. Kaeya’s still here. He’s still alive, there’s nothing to worry about.
“Kae,” Diluc buried his head into Kaeya’s shoulder, taking in his warmth, “I’m glad you’re still here.” His hand was so cold. He was still alive, yet it hardly felt that way when he wouldn’t wake up.
“‘Luc, where is this coming from?” Kaeya smiled awkwardly, gently wrapping his own arms around Diluc.
“It’s okay Kaeya, no matter what happens I won’t let harm come to you again.” He muttered, Kaeya’s shoulders tensed from underneath him.
“Seriously, ‘Luc. What’s going on?” Kaeya pulled away, reaching out to place a hand on Diluc’s cheek gingerly.
“While I was painting. I just… I couldn’t help but think about what happened. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be bringing it up.” Diluc raised a hand to hold the one Kaeya had on his cheek, slowly pulling it away.
“You know that wasn’t your fault. I don’t know why you’re still worried about it.” The slight concern on Kaeya’s face spoke volumes.
“I know. It’s just-” “I’ll always be here. As stupid as I may be sometimes, I have no intentions of leaving you.” Kaeya reached up to ruffle his hair, the seriousness in his tone washing away.
“Kae,” Diluc felt his eyes sting with fresh tears, “You have no idea how much I needed to hear that.” “I know, you’re just too stupid to realize that.” He smirked, flicking him on the forehead with care.
“Hey! Cut that out!” Tears gone. The moment was ruined by Kaeya’s antics. Again.
“Make me.”
Perhaps… Perhaps things might be a little better. If he spent more time with Kaeya.