Chapter Text
Diluc blinks once.
“...A vacation?” he says, suspicion lacing his voice as he raises one eyebrow.
The smile on Kaeya’s face doesn't falter in the slightest as he elaborates further, “Well what with our new found mutual resolve to reconcile, I thought you’d be more than open to the idea of spending some quality bonding time with your favorite little brother.”
Uh huh.
They’ve been standing in front of The Angel’s Share like this for only a few minutes; and yet Diluc can already feel his eyelids getting heavier and heavier.
Although, that isn’t so surprising considering the day he’s had.
Contrary to what some people (mainly Kaeya) might say, the young tycoon doesn't just lounge around all day basking in his immense wealth awaiting the next “important meeting” or fancy event he’ll be required to attend.
If he’s being honest most of the errands Diluc had to run that day were more so time consuming (annoying at most) than anything else.
Adelinde and Elzer had offered to carry out some tasks in his place but the young master had immediately shut that idea down.
And so, from early morning to that evening, the young Ragnvindr had been zigzagging all throughout Mondstadt. Only sitting down to eat (Adelinde’s orders) or the occasional five minutes he has to sit and wait to speak with a store owner.
It’s practically midnight now, the tavern closed an hour ago but Diluc, as luck would have it, had to clean up the aftermath of a fight (with Kaeya’s, albeit reluctant, assistance) and close up shop.
Which brings us to the current conversation.
“Kaeya, I- actually neither of us can just up and leave on a whim you know. Might I remind you we both have something called responsibilities to tend to.”
The absolute audacity, Kaeya thinks, The unmitigated gall of this man.
It takes just about every ounce of self control Kaeya has to not point out the blatant hypocrisy that his brother is apparently oblivious to.
“Oh come now Diluc. I don't think anyone would consider a measly two days a full blown vacation.”
Except you of course, freaking workaholic. *
“Just think of it as a quick break away from all the hustle n’ bustle, a breather if you will.”
The eldest sighs. There’s no winning this is there?
“I just don't know Kaeya. There’s an upcoming meeting we’ll be hosting and I-”
“Oh please, that’s happening well into next week. You need a break-”
“You're one to talk.” Kaeya’s eye twitches. Really?
He sighs, exasperated, “Yes we both deserve a break alright? Sooo…” Awaiting the other’s response to his implied question.
Diluc adjusts his right glove for the umpteenth time. Nowadays the man never knows if it's on correctly so he's just made it a habit of adjusting it every now and then.
He looks up to meet his brother’s gaze.
“I-”
“Please Luc.”
…
…Damn it.
They don't use each others’ nicknames as much as they used to. Which makes this manipulation tactic on the Captain’s part that much more effective.
And the pleading expression on Kaeya’s face certainly isn't helping his resolve either, however weak it may be at this point.
It’s one suspiciously similar to the expression he bore as a child whenever he wanted something from their fathers or Diluc (he sometimes even tried it on the staff but Adelinde always saw right through it of course).
“Do it for m-
“Ok ok ok fine I’ll go alright? I’ll come with you.”
Because fuck it, Diluc’s too tired to fight Kaeya on this in any capacity right now.
“Can I please go home now?”
God his back is killing him.
Despite the late hour and lack of street lights, the smile that blooms across his baby brother's face almost makes the fatigue melt away in an instant.
Key word: almost.
Kaeya claps his hands together as-a-matter-of-factly “Alright then it’s settled! We’ll meet at the Winery tomorrow afternoon. We’ll want to make the most of our two days off after all. How’s that sound?” he says, placing a casual but resolute hand on Diluc’s shoulder.
Not like I can say no anyway.
It’s only then that Diluc realizes that his brother (that scheming asshole) had most likely planned on things turning out in his favor like this. Figures.
He sighs out, “Sure.”
___________
The Cavalry Captain drops his bag and towel at his feet. Shuffling his toes deeper into the warm sand. He places his hands on his hips and closes his eye as he takes a deep (much needed) breath. He holds it for a moment before letting it all out with a content sigh.
Their father Crepus used to always do this when he would first arrive at a beach like this one. Kaeya never really understood why until now.
All that work father did must’ve put his body in quite the condition no doubt.
He does a full body stretch as he calls out to his brother who is a good few steps behind him. “Diluc, do hurry along will you, I’d like to get set up as fast as pos-”
“Don’t. Start. I’ll listen to what you have to say after you’ve carried a ginormous parasol for ten minutes in this weather.” He huffs out. At this point he’s caught up to Kaeya and slings the object off his shoulder letting it drop to the ground unceremoniously.
“Remind me again why you couldn’t take it for even a few minutes.”
“Oh please we both know I’m not as strong as you. I would’ve just slowed us down. Then it would’ve taken us even longer. And as you pointed out, the trek here wasn’t exactly brief. So if anything you should be thanking me, brother dearest.” he responds back, a rascal-like smile plastered on his face.
Diluc just gives him a nonplussed look.
“That has got to be the most bullshit answer I’ve ever heard in the history of bullshit answers. Also, we aren’t exactly experiencing autumn temperatures today are we?”
“ Okayyy but that’s certainly no fault of mine now is it? Actually, I think the real culprit of your discomfort is that jacket you–for some reason–decided to wear today of all days. So here’s a wild suggestion: how about you, oh I don’t know, take it off.”
To his credit, the item of clothing itself wasn’t Diluc’s usual heavy and overbearing wool coat that he wears almost year round.
But the black vest still adds an extra unneeded layer, especially since the blouse underneath–albeit of a much lighter and looser material–has long sleeves.
The rest of his outfit is the usual; long dark pants paired with leather boots.
The winery owner even kept the garters and gloves on as well as the vision hooked to his belt.
Keeping the vision with him would seem like overkill, but honestly Kaeya can’t comment on that seeing as he too decided to keep his vision in the bag they’d brought.
But in his defense all he’s wearing are dark beige slacks rolled up to his calves and a simple white button down shirt.
Diluc pointedly ignores him, taking a moment to catch his breath and stretch a little.
The eyepatch wearer mutters something about ‘why he even bothers anymore’ as he bends down to pick up the parasol.
“Oh wow,” Kaeya exclaims as he goes to lift it up, struggling but ultimately failing to do so. He chuckles to try and brush it off,
“Huh, you're right. It’s heavier than it looks.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you jackass.” The redhead argues back.
Deciding to not mention the younger’s blatant failure he starts setting up the weighted base of the parasol.
Kaeya (being as helpful as ever) continues on, “You know now that I think about it, it’s no wonder Father and Papa had to carry that thing around together. Probably would've ended up pulling a muscle or something.” He ends with a giggle.
And while Diluc tries to not do the same, the fondness of those memories washes over him. A brief but very audible chuckle bubbling out of his throat.
It takes them a few more minutes to get everything set up. With Diluc doing most of the physical work while the Kaeya gives him oh-so-helpful “tips” as he likes to call them (they're more like orders the redhead would argue, but he’d rather not waste any more energy than he already has).
___________
They’ve set up near a lone tree that happened to be nearby. The extra shade was appreciated.
Kaeya had taken the liberty of setting up the picnic and whatnot while Diluc finished building the parasol.
He passes the pyro user a small bottle of lemonade. Diluc thanks him as he sits to Kaeya’s right with the food between them.
The younger man sighs out, “Ahh finally,” he takes a sip of his own drink, “A day of respite. Just what we needed! Wouldn’t you agree brother?” A genuine smile adorns his features as he turns to face Diluc.
Actually, now that he’s finally sat down after all that effort and had a chance to take in the scenery, the young tycoon will admit he is starting to feel himself relax and unwind.
So he reciprocates the smile with a more subtle, but very visible one in turn.
“Indeed. Turns out you were right.”
Kaeya’s smile grows even larger, accompanied by a brief chuckle, “Aren't I always?”
“Mmmm debatable.” Diluc responds without skipping a beat.
“Huh?! Just what are you insinuating Master Diluc ? Just when have I ever been wrong?”
“Do you want the full list? In that case we might be here for a while Sir Kaeya .”
“Wha- Hmph. You don't know what you're talking about.” The knight scoffs, feigning offense. He turns up his nose in false disdain and dramatically turns his upper body away from Diluc to emphasize how utterly “offended” he is.
The pyro user can't help but give a hearty laugh at his brother’s petty and childlike behavior.
Kaeya turns around immediately at that.
Eyes wide and mouth open in surprise at the sound. And what a delightful melody it is for Kaeya’s ears.
He’d always loved Diluc’s laugh; it made him feel warm and comfortable and safe. Especially as a child when the young Khaenri’ahn was still getting used to living in Mondstadt.
But his big brother doesn't laugh as much as he used to.
Even just managing to get a smile or chuckle out of the grumpy man was considered an accomplishment in it of itself.
Even when talking to Zhongli, Thoma and Childe; they’d all agreed that he wasn’t exactly the most jolly fellow.
So you’ll forgive him if Kaeya lets himself relish this rare and brief moment in time.
Diluc–oblivious to what just transpired in Kaeya’s mind–continues on, “Oh please Kae, we both know not all your ideas or plans are exactly ‘good’ ones.”
And the nickname?! Kaeya thinks he just might pass away from overwhelming happiness right then and there.
Of course the lack of response causes Diluc to stop in confusion…and some other emotion the man can’t really decipher.
As if thinking he’s said the wrong thing.
Kaeya is quick to rectify that.
“Well you may be right about that, granted. But you know what is most definitely a good idea?” he says as he reaches into the bag.
“What?” Diluc slowly asks.
“Protecting our skin from the sun!” he declares, pulling out a bottle of sunscreen.
The pyro user just stares back deadpanned as if saying ‘Really.’
“Yes really. You’ve always been prone to sunburns, and we wouldn't want you going back to Mondstadt looking like a lobster. We might decide to take a dip, who knows? So come on, take your shirt off.” Kaeya orders, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture (similar to how Adelinde would when she wouldn't take no for an answer).
He sighs. Whatever, it couldn't hurt to be cautious about these things. After all Diluc really did hate getting sunburnt.
He loosens the string lace at the collar a bit before pulling his arms inside the blouse to leave it hanging by his neck.
He then proceeds to start undoing the mechanisms on his right arm where it meets the arm sock beneath his shoulder. The man takes his time doing this with care to minimize the discomfort.
There's a noise followed by a gasp.
Diluc had been turned away from Kaeya as he was doing all of this, so he quickly turns his body to face the blue haired man again.
Did he injure himself? He wonders, as a worried gaze meets a purely shocked (and almost terrified?) one.
“What are you…” Kaeya barely manages to croak out, his throat feeling dry all of a sudden.
The dense (cluelessobliviousforgetful-) redhead doesn't pick up on the distressed tone in his voice.
“Huh? Oh, well it’s pretty water resistant but I want to avoid cleaning it as much as possible you know?”
…
… No.
No Kaeya in fact did NOT know.
“Wha…your arm…how did- what happened to it?!” he finishes in an almost distraught whisper.
It’s only about as much time as it takes for him to blink but Diluc takes too long to answer.
“Diluc WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO YOUR ARM?! HOLY SHIT-”
(Well technically it's right here. Still very much attached to his body.)
Sunscreen completely forgotten, the younger’s almost hysterical rambling gets progressively louder.
It's only then that the amputee realizes what the problem is.
Shit. I forgot. He doesn't know.
The poor man is practically stuttering at this point trying to process what the fuck he’s looking at.
Kaeya doesn't stutter, he thinks briefly.
So Diluc’s left hand grabs the other's wrist, finally making the blue haired man stop his incessant rambling.
But even then, Diluc doesn’t let go. Not yet.
They stare at each other for a moment without saying a word.
Kaeya, in all honesty, doesn’t know what to say (for once) or to ask for that matter.
And Diluc…well he just doesn't know where to start. How do you even start a conversation like this?
I managed to get him to shut up but where do I go from here?
And what’s all this reaction for? Is it really that disgusting?
Is…am I that disturbing to people now? I don't-
As if reading his mind, Kaeya decides to speak up, “Diluc...are you alright?”
Because of course he’d prioritize his brother’s feelings over his own; even though he’s obviously the one in distress here.
“Wha-…Kaeya I should be the one asking you that?”
“I…well yes my reaction was quite…exaggerated in hindsight” he admits sheepishly, “But can you blame me?! I mean shit Luc what happened? Who did this to you? You didn't lose a leg too did you?! Do Adelinde and Elzer know-”
Diluc is just about this close to knocking his brother unconscious.
“Can you just shut up for once and let me speak?!” he interrupts.
The Captain snaps his mouth shut and presses his lips in a thin line, his eye twitches slightly.
“It happened while I was…away. About a year and a half ago now. It's a bit of a long story but if you just let me explain…”
Kaeya squints at him, sneaking a glance at the artificial arm. But he doesn't want to make Diluc uncomfortable so he quickly brings it back, sighing.
“Fine. Let me get comfortable though while you explain everything from the very beginning.” He emphasizes, shooting Diluc a pointed look as he leans on the tree behind him, grabbing his lemonade bottle in the process.
Well technically the beginning would be that night… But he wouldn’t dare voice that out loud for fear of making things awkward.
And there's just so much that factors into this he doesn't know what he should or not say.
But Diluc knows he can't stall any longer.
So. He starts recounting the events of that day.
*ok kaeya.