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“You should know that I don’t like your kind,” Diluc said bitterly, eyes narrowing at the wounded harbinger beneath him.
Childe or Tartaglia, Diluc didn’t care, was currently laying on one of the couches within the Dawn Winery, bleeding out from his abdomen. It was nasty and deep.
”Come now,” Childe whined playfully, “don’t be like that! Have some pity on me, Mr. Ragnvindr, I’m just a poor wounded harbinger.”
Diluc rolled his eyes with a scoff and helped Childe sit up against the arm of the red couch.
“Take this off,” Diluc said as he helped Childe get out of his shirt which was stained with dirt and blood and wet with water.
“Hmph, at least take me to dinner first.”
God, he was so annoying. Diluc gave him a sharp glare, making Childe sigh out and comply. He extended his arms as far out as he could before his wound disagreed with him. The grey shirt easily slid of his arms and the red haired man placed it on the floor where one of his maids picked it up to give it a nice wash.
”How did this happen? I thought you Fatui were particularly strong,” Diluc questioned as he wet some gauze to gently clean the wound.
Childe exhaled sharply as Diluc pressed against his wound.
”Well, let’s just say some disagreements got a little bit out of hand,” Childe replied with a whine as Diluc continued to clean his wound.
”And what business do you have in Mondstadt. Aren’t you from Liyue,” Diluc questioned.
Childe was almost offended! Getting interrogated while delirious from pain, and absolutely vulnerable to a strong looking man with a pyro vision. Hasn’t the guy have some pity?
”Can’t a man just explore? Not everyone has some ulterior motive,” Childe explained. “Truly, Mr. Ragnvindr, you need to loosen up a little! Not everyone is out to get you.”
”Stop calling me that,” Diluc groaned. That title made him seem older than he is. “And there’s nothing wrong about being suspicious of everyone. It’s good to be on guard, you never know when danger will strike.”
“Archons…Does it look like I would kill you in this state?”
This seemed to peak Diluc’s interest.
”Oh, so you’re implying that if you weren’t in this state you would kill me?”
Childe let out a humorous, exasperated sigh. “Mr. Ragnvindr! How dare you accuse me of such a thing! I’d never kill without reason, how dare you make me out to be such a heartless killer!”
Diluc nodded, “sure. What about that incident in Liyue?”
“Now! That was different…”
Diluc gave him a grin, not one out of happiness obviously, one laced with humor.
”But of course it was,” Diluc said as he bandaged the wound up. He dusted off his hands and stood up from his stool and ordered a maid to empty out the bucket and throw away the used gauze.
Childe watched him carefully, observing in case Diluc tried anything funny. Of course, Diluc knew, Childe’s gaze was far too sharp and the ginger was far too quiet, even softened his labored breathing to carefully hear his surroundings.
Wasn’t carrot cake over there the same man who told Diluc to loosen up a little? How ironic.
Diluc turned back to Childe with his hands on his hips. “If you’d like, I can get you a change of clothes and something to eat to keep your energy up.”
”How about some wine?”
”Absolutely not.”
”It was worth a shot. But, yes please and thank you!”
Diluc nodded curtly and headed off.
Looking into his drawers, he felt his breath leave him and his hands shake as he gripped onto loose sleep shirts and sleeping pants. God, was he an idiot for harboring a wounded harbinger? What if Childe was in fact plotting something, which is why he chose the Dawn Winery of all places? His heart started to race as many possibilities ending with gruesome consequences flooded his head. He needed to get back downstairs. Choosing a shirt and pants, Diluc quickly trotted downstairs, examining his surroundings as he did so in case anything out of the ordinary popped out. But when he arrived downstairs, Childe was still on the couch and his maids were fine. In fact, he was chatting with one of his maids, Adelinde. Adelinde was laughing at something Childe said then bid him a farewell once Childe mentioned Diluc had returned.
"Truly, Mr. Ragnvindr, you need to loosen up a little! Not everyone is out to get you," Childe's voice rang out in his head. Diluc hated to admit it but...that harbinger was probably right.
"Here," Diluc gave the clothes to the man. "I'll help you to the bathroom."
With great effort, Childe's arm was across Diluc's shoulder and his body was leaning against his. Diluc held onto Childe's hand tightly, not for Childe's safety but for his own. The trip to the bathroom was short, Childe went in without a word and Diluc closed the door. The pyro user stood out the door to ensure Childe's safety keep a close eye on Childe in case the man decides to be slimy and sneak out to kill them all.
Diluc glanced at the clock on the wall. It had been far too long. Surely, changing clothing doesn't take too long?
"C'mon carrot cake, I'm a busy man, hurry it up."
No answer.
That's odd. Especially for someone as chatty as Childe.
"I'm coming in," Diluc announced as he opened the door. Behind the door was a half clothed Childe, barely conscious on the closed toilet. "Archons..."
With the sleeping shirt in hand, Diluc picked him up bridal style and carried him back to the couch where he laid him down. Diluc managed to dress Childe in the beige shirt despite the harbinger's heavy limbs. The man beneath him shivered from the cold.
Not good, Diluc thought. Dropping temperature.
“Master, food is ready. If you’d like to eat-“
”Hurry and feed this man,” Diluc ordered sternly. The maid flinched slightly at his tone but turned around quickly and headed towards the kitchen.
”Stay with me, carrots,” Diluc sighed as he took off his coat and laid it on Childe’s shivering body. The shivering seemed to cease for a bit only to return again.
Thankfully, his maid arrived with a bowl full of hot stew. Diluc, as gently as he could, sat Childe up against the arm of the couch, then sat down again on his stool with the bowl in his hand.
“Give me some water, please,” Diluc said to the maid who again ran off. “Hey, harbinger, I have some food for you. Wake up, will you?”
”Mr. Ragnvindr…” Childe coughed with a groan as the impact of his coughing greatly agitated his wound.
“Shut up,” Diluc shushed. “Let me help you eat. You need something warm.”
And like a mother to her children, Diluc spoon feed Childe. Even took it upon himself to blow on the food when it was far too hot for consumption. It was downright humiliating and weird, but damn…curse his nobility, or rather, ‘heart of gold’ as his late father would put it.
Childe was already hydrated with water that the maid had brought some time ago during his meal, and now, he was resting. Eyes shut with a wet towel draped over his forehead to keep him cool once he got a little warm. Once Diluc decided his breathing became normal, he got up and turned towards the kitchen.
His shoulders felt lighter suddenly.
Oh. Right. His coat was still with the wounded harbinger. He thought about taking it back, but decided against it. Childe needed it more anyways.
”Master. Are you going to keep him here?” The maid, Hillie, asked with fidgeting fingers.
Diluc placed the empty dish in the sink, his back towards his maids and his hands gripping the basin. He thought about it briefly.
Sure, he didn’t like the Fatui. They were terrible and all, but still, it’s not like an injured one deserved to be out in the dangerous wilderness when he probably has a family waiting for him.
He didn’t totally abandon his brother Kaeya once he knew about his origins. He still cared for him even though he may not show it.
And maybe…Childe’s company wasn’t all that bad, judging from the small time he’d spent with him.
”…Yes. Until he heals, he will depart. But for now, make him feel welcomed but don’t let your guard down,” Diluc announced then headed out the kitchen.
For the next couple days, Childe was bedridden. He was unable to move, the only thing that he was able to move, however, was his mouth. He was insanely chatty.
It lightened the atmosphere of the winery. Usually, the maids would talk amongst themselves but would quiet up once Diluc was in their presence, and Diluc himself was never chatty, only when he was under the influence of alcohol which was never.
During Childe’s baths, the maids would help with that while Diluc stood by the door looking everywhere else but the bathroom in order to give Childe just a taste of privacy. He really only stood there to ensure his maids’ safety, but Childe liked to joke around about it.
”Don’t be afraid to look, Mr. Ragnvindr! I’m not hideous, I promise. I know you want to.”
He was downright infuriating. With a loud ‘tsk’ Diluc left the bathroom without a word. He heard his maids giggle. Of course his maids were taking a liking to Childe.
It was now dinner time, Diluc sat at one end of the dinner table while Childe sat across from him on the other end. The maids were around tending to household chores. God, sometimes Diluc wished for them to rest for a change, everything that needed to be done was done, he didn’t know why they hovered around.
“You know,” Childe started. “This wasn’t how I wanted my first trip to Mondstadt to start.”
Diluc swallowed the food in his mouth and wiped his mouth free from nonexistent crumbs before speaking.
”First time?” Diluc questioned.
“Yeah. I’ve been meaning to come here to find a toy to bring back to my baby brother Teucer back home in Snezhnaya, and other gifts my siblings would like from my travels,” Childe responded, picking at his food with his utensil sadly.
He was probably incredibly homesick.
“I see…Well, maybe once you’re well, you can head into town and find something. I’ll be there to keep watch,” Diluc offered.
Childe let out a laugh, cute and gentle. “Keep watch on me? Don’t you guys have guards or something?”
”I’m assuming you’re referring to the Knights of Favonius,” Diluc said after a drink of water. “I don’t trust them, or rather, I don’t like them all that much.”
”Sounds personal-“
”It is.”
The tension was thick and uncomfortable. So Childe shut himself up and ate quietly. Diluc’s own plate was retrieved by a maid. He sat there with his hands folded together against his mouth. Observing. He watched the way Childe’s eyes lit up slightly as he savored the flavor of Mondstadt cuisine.
“You haven’t been outside in a while,” Diluc said as he stood up. “Once you’ve finished eating, meet me outside.”
Diluc thought he could have Childe taking a small stroll around the vineyard. After laying on the couch for days, Childe finally had the energy to walk around with a limp. But him being able to walk was a good sign.
When talking to a maid, Childe appeared outside, dressed in his normal clothing now and limping. Diluc dismissed her and turned to Childe who smiled at him brightly.
”Nice hat,” Childe joked, referring to Diluc’s sun hat.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m not too fond of the sensation of burning under the sun, thank you.”
“Doesn’t look terrible, you know. And you look different without your vampire-esque coat,” Childe said, voice dripping with honesty.
It made Diluc feel a little embarrassed and feel more exposed than he is. He was wearing the white short sleeve shirt he wore under his coat and black shorts and different shoes that weren’t his boots because it was far too hot for such heavy clothing.
“Anyways, let’s take a walk around the vineyard,” Diluc said then headed down the steps in front of the winery with Childe limping close behind.
With a basket in hand, Diluc and Childe walked side by side along the aisles of grapes. Diluc mainly did the talking, spewing on and on about wine making and grapes and soil.
He then gently cupped a sack of grapes handing from a branch. They were beautiful in color and plump in size. Diluc placed it in his basket and continued talking.
Childe listened attentively, liking the way Diluc talked with his chest and heart when he was passionate about something, and with his hands to emphasize his words.
The weather was nice against their skin and the wind was fresh and constant to keep sweat off their brow.
The sun had caused freckles to bloom across Diluc’s cheeks, hands, and arms, Childe noticed. He was sure his own freckles bloomed too, but they looked nicer on Diluc. It seemed like they softened him up despite his somewhat scary demeanor.
Stopping by a faucet that’s usually used for hosing, Diluc washed a couple grapes before handing them to Childe.
“I know you wanted some,” Diluc grinned slightly then turned away from him to continue walking.
Childe smiled then popped them in his mouth. The grapes were perfect, sweet and just the right texture, not too hard to bite into but also not too soft where it’s grossly mushy.
“When we were younger, my brother Kaeya and I would frolic within these aisles and sneakily pluck grapes from the vineyard and eat them. Our father would tell us off but we continued doing it anyways because they were always sweet and we were insatiable with our childish sweet tooth,” Diluc spoke gently, then his voice trailed off. He was silently reminiscing with the way his eyes looked almost watery and distant.
“Kaeya…I feel like I’ve heard that name before. Aha! The calvary captain of the Knights of Favonius. Am I correct?” Childe asked, eyes hopeful.
Diluc nodded, “You are.”
Childe thought about that fact and the other fact about how Diluc was not too particularly fond of the Knights. Childe put two and two together and the picture seemed clearer.
Diluc blinked a couple times before looking up at Childe. “I’m sorry, this was probably boring. Let’s head back inside.”
”No!” Childe shouted, maybe a bit too loudly. “No. I’m enjoying myself, honestly. I’ve never been to a place like this, and to think this is how Mondstadt’s famous wine originates from…this is interesting. Please. Continue.”
Diluc stared in what looked like disbelief at the harbinger but then just nodded and continued walking down the aisle. The red haired man continued to harvest grapes as Childe talked about his own family once prompted to. Diluc listened with interest and laughed gently whenever Childe told him a funny memory.
“Have you ever been to Snezhnaya?”
Diluc shook his head, “I have not. However, I did try some of your liquor.”
Childe smirked, “How’d you like it? It’s super strong.”
”Of course. I’m not a liquor fan myself, I hate wine. But for -ahem- political purposes, I helped myself to some liquor called ‘Fire-water’ and I…passed out for 3 days.”
Childe let out a loud cackle, his hands gripping his stomach with the sheer impact of it. His shoulders were shaking and his eyes were closed and facing the sun. “Holy shit! Three days? How much did you drink?”
Diluc bit his lip to hold in a laugh. He was mortified. “Umm…perhaps the entire bottle?”
”Archons! Not even I would drink that much in a sitting! You’re truly something, Mr. Ragnvindr!” Childe said through his laughter, boisterous and infectious as he patted Diluc’s shoulder.
“You know, you don’t have to keep calling me, ‘Mr. Ragnvindr.’ It sounds too formal. Please, call me Diluc.”
This seemed to sober Childe up a little. The ginger wiped tears from his eyes and smiled. “Of course, Diluc. And you know what…call me Ajax. Please.”
Diluc raised a brow. “Ajax? Archons, how many names do you have.”
Childe chuckled through a grin, “Only three. But only very few call me Ajax, so please, call me by my name.”
“I see…Well then, Ajax, let’s head back inside. You need some rest.”
That night, when the maids were gone to their respective homes, it rained. Ajax was downstairs while Diluc was in his room wearing his sleepwear which consisted of a plain white shirt and grey sleeping pants.
He couldn’t help but worry about Ajax. What if he was hungry? Thirsty? Cold? Or archon’s forbid, bleeding out and dead. His mouth hurt from gnawing away at it from anxiety.
“Heavens…” Diluc sighed then sat up from his head and slipped on some socks before heading downstairs.
There the harbinger was, laying down peacefully on the red couch, looking at his vision.
“You’re still awake?” Ajax asked, setting the vision on his chest.
“Yes. Why are you? It’s late.”
”Look who’s talking,” Ajax grinned. “But, I don’t know. I couldn’t sleep.”
Rain tapped aggressively on the windows and lightning struck outside, causing flashes of light to illuminate the manor.
“Is rain always this bad in Mondstadt?” Ajax asked as he watched the rainfall.
”Yes. The wind doesn’t make it any better,” Diluc answered. “Would you like something to drink? Water, tea, coffee?”
”Some coffee would be nice, please.”
Diluc nodded then headed towards the kitchen. As he made two cups of coffee with milk and sugar, he found himself thinking.
Part of him couldn’t wait for Ajax to leave so he wouldn’t worry about any possibilities of Ajax wreaking havoc, but the other (major) part of him wanted him not to go.
As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he liked Ajax’s company. And his stupid jokes. And stupid laughter. And stupid handsome face.
He stopped stirring the coffee in the mug when he brought his hands up to his face to cover up his hot cheeks.
He was an idiot.
A big one at that.
How could he fall for a harbinger? A Fatui harbinger of all people.
Suddenly, a knock rang out. Diluc turned to find the source of the noise. It was Ajax, face illuminated by lightning flashes and moonlight.
”Everything alright?”
Curse him and his stupid kindness.
”Yes. I’m just thinking, is all.”
”Oh. I’m feeling that I’ve somehow overstayed my welcome,” Ajax said softly, almost embarrassed.
”No. Of course not,” Diluc reassured him then handed him a mug.
Ajax relished in its warmth. He took a sip. “Oh wow, this is amazing.”
Diluc smiled, “Thank you. I made it the way my father made it for me when I was younger.”
“I’m sorry if this is inappropriate, but you seem to mention your father as if he’s gone. Is he?”
Diluc wasn’t expecting such a question. It caught him off guard. He tightened his grip on the mug and evened out his breathing. He resisted the urge to play with his loose hair.
”He is. He has been, ever since I was a teen. I miss him dearly,” Diluc replied, avoiding eye contact with Ajax. God, he hated opening up and being vulnerable like this.
Usually, he avoided feelings like this but somehow Ajax managed to coax it out of him. He hated what Ajax does to him.
Suddenly, he felt warmth envelop him. He was being hugged. God, he doesn’t even know the last time he was hugged. Ajax’s hand was resting behind Diluc’s head and the other was against his back.
Diluc stood still, frigid, until he hid his face in Ajax’s shoulder.
”If you ever need anything, let me know.”
Diluc could cry. But he didn’t.
He doesn’t remember when someone showed him this much kindness and softness.
”Thank you.”
”It’s the least I can do to repay your hospitality,” Ajax replied then took a step back.
Diluc’s heart started racing uncontrollably. This feeling was incredibly foreign and downright odd. But he knew he couldn’t deny these feelings anymore.
He set his mug besides Ajax’s and turned to him. Ajax was already staring at him. They were so close. Their breaths became one and wow…Ajax’s eyes were impossibly blue.
“Can I…?”
With a tiny whimper from Diluc, Ajax leaned in and their lips finally met. Ajax brushed Diluc’s hair behind his ears then cupped his cheeks and kissed him again and again and again. He even stroked Diluc’s cheeks as they kissed. The sheer tenderness of it all made Diluc want to cry.
They kissed until their coffees turned cold and until their lips hurt.
They finally broke apart to breathe. Ajax’s hands were still cupping Diluc’s cheeks. The harbinger placed a kiss on Diluc’s forehead then his nose and cheeks then finally again on his lips.
Diluc’s breath hitched slightly. Ajax noticed this and laughed softly as if he was scared to disrupt the atmosphere.
“Diluc…” Oh, his name sounded so beautiful coming out of Ajax’s mouth.
”Ajax.”
”Yeah,” Ajax whispered.
”Say it again. Say my name again,” Diluc begged softly.
”Diluc,” Ajax repeated again. “Diluc.” His voice was in a delicious whisper. It created and caused shivers to go down Diluc’s neck, expand on his shoulders and run down his back.
Diluc kissed him again. And kissed him with fervor this time as if they were running out of time.
When they broke apart, they agreed to go to bed since it was getting late and their eyelids grew heavy.
And so, hand in hand, they went to Diluc’s room where they laid down on the bed with Diluc’s head on Ajax’s chest.
When Diluc woke, Ajax was still sound asleep beside him. His hair was messed up and his mouth was slightly open. Last night’s rain was overtaken by blinding sunshine which illuminated Ajax’s skin and hair, making him more angelic than he is.
Despite what Ajax is, and who he is, Diluc couldn’t help but fall for him. His charm was infuriatingly intoxicating. His wit was attractive, and you know what, yeah, he was also a great kisser. He kissed like he fought, strong and determined with passion.
Looking away, Diluc gazed back at the window, cheeks burning. He couldn’t stand to look at the man next to him without blushing. Suddenly, arms were around his waist. Ajax nuzzled against Diluc’s stomach and huffed.
Diluc ran his fingers through his bright hair. It was soft.
“I have to go soon,” Ajax said, his voice gravely with sleep.
The thought of him leaving caused Diluc to frown but that’s just the way things are.
”At least stay for breakfast,” Diluc replied.
Ajax glanced up at him and smiled beautifully. “Of course.”
After breakfast, Ajax got dressed and headed towards the door, about to leave before Diluc stopped him.
“Please return,” Diluc said, borderline begged. Ajax kissed him, once, twice.
”Of course, Diluc. I promise,” Ajax said before finally leaving out the door.