Chapter Text
"Kaeya, I swear," Diluc mutters, pressing a hand against his forehead as loud laughter bubbles up from his brother's chest.
"Come now, Diluc, no need to be such a spoilsport," Kaeya teases in response, grinning. The redhead sighs heavily, shaking his head and snatching the empty glass up from in front of the blue haired man.
"No more alcohol for you."
"Wh- Diluc!"
He can barely bite down on a chuckle when familiar laughter breaks out from the door.
"Master Diluc, are you teasing Kaeya again?" The bard chirps, grinning as he approaches the bar.
Normally Diluc would respond with some sort of snarky remark, but he finds his voice caught in his throat.
Walking alongside Venti with a diluted, but amused nonetheless smile, was a tall man, taller than even Diluc himself.
He was beautiful.
He couldn't make out the color of the gentle eyes that were staring down at the man by his side and his hands stayed behind his back as he allowed the hand on his arm to pull him along. His hair was so dark and yet at the same time, such a vibrant orange stained the ends of the long ponytail that reached below his back, almost looking like it was glowing. (A part of him notes how it was similar to the way Venti's hair was, but he ignores that for now.)
He was dressed nicely, too. What seemed like a suit fit nicely against his body, following the curves of his lithe form and yet Diluc could tell there was lean muscle beneath the clothing that hid it so well by the way Venti's hand barely curled around the man's bicep. Next to the bard, he seemed almost like a giant.
Diluc is so caught in examining this man that he doesn't even hear Venti and Kaeya snickering as those gentle eyes move to look at him instead, now sheepish.
He has never seen more golden eyes and it leaves him breathless for a moment.
"Master Diluc, correct? Is…something the matter? You have been staring at me since I entered the bar.." The man is so clearly embarrassed by his intense stare and Diluc can feel his face grow warm.
"Ah, apologies, Sir, I've simply never seen Venti bring someone here before," he explains, a half-assed excuse, but an excuse all the same.
"Are you sure that's the only reason, Master Diluc?" Kaeya's teasing voice makes him bristle and he reaches a hand out to swat his brother, but the man simply ducks out of the way laughing.
"It's okay, Master Diluc," Venti giggles, grinning mischievously, "He may be a blockhead, but Zhongli is aware he's pretty, you don't have to hide it if you think he is.~"
"Venti," the man, Zhongli apparently, hisses, raising a hand to pinch his ear. Venti squawks, trying to lean away from the grab and covering his ear when it's let go.
"It's true!!!" He whines, pouting up at the man.
"Venti," Zhongli mutters, a warning this time.
Diluc has never seen Venti's mouth snap shut faster than it did in that moment.
"I apologize, Master Diluc," Zhongli starts, addressing him now, "He is…a bit much sometimes. We haven't seen each other in quite some time, so he's taking advantage of that to be a pest." To emphasize his words, he pinches the bard's side this time and Venti squeaks, quickly fleeing from his friend's side to hide behind Kaeya.
"I'm gonna tell Aether you're bullying me," Venti threatens, a faux glare on his face. Zhongli simply raises a brow and Venti ducks behind the laughing Kaeya, hiding his face from the look his friend gave him.
Diluc gave into his chuckle this time, eyes flitting back to Zhongli's face. Their eyes meet and his breath is taken away by those bright eyes once more, but he makes himself speak. "It's alright, Sir Zhongli, I'm used to Venti's antics. He's a frequent visitor here."
"That doesn't surprise me, he's a drunkard," Zhongli states blandly. Venti makes an offended noise and Diluc can't help but laugh this time.
"That is he is," He agrees. Another offended noise and both men laugh, Zhongli stepping closer to the bar to lean against it.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Zhongli, it is a pleasure to meet you, Master Diluc." This time, the warm smile is directed at him and Diluc feels his heart skip a beat.
"Ah, I, uh," he stammers, fumbling for a moment and clearing his throat, "I'm Diluc Ragnvindr, it's a pleasure to meet you as well, Sir Zhongli. And please, just call me Diluc."
The look on Zhongli's face is so warm and gentle and he thinks he can feel the heat rush to his face. "Then call me Zhongli, Diluc."
Archons above-
"Zhongli, stop flirting with Diluc, we're supposed to be catching up!" Venti whines, getting over his nerves to grab his friend's arm once more.
Zhongli huffs a laugh and shakes his head, allowing himself to be tugged along.
"We can speak again later, Diluc," he calls behind himself, waving a hand.
Diluc can only watch as they walk to, and then up, the stairs, unable to make his voice work. What just happened?
"Someone has a thing for the new guy.~" Kaeya teases and Diluc pulls the towelette from his shoulder, whipping him with it.
“You know you’re going to have to cater to them, right?”
“Shit.”
Kaeya laughs.
It's easier to deal with catering on Venti and Zhongli when the two are so wrapped up in catching up with one another. They offer smiles and thanks when Diluc brings their drinks, but for the most part, nothing really pulls their attention from one another. A part of the bar keep wonders how long the two have known one another, I mean, how did this guy know the Archon of Mondstadt?
…
Unless..?
No, there's no way he's also an Archon.
…right?
Diluc shakes his head to try and remove the thought from his mind. Even if he was some kind of deity, it wasn't any of his business. There are gods other than the Archons, anyways, so maybe he's one of them! There's no reason to think too much of it.
For once, Kaeya is long gone when Diluc starts to clean up for the night. While the bar isn't closed yet, his brother had said he had work to do before sulking off for the night. Normally Diluc would make a jab about him actually working, but he finds he's still a bit frazzled and so he just waves him off instead.
Flitting about the tavern, cleaning tables and dealing with any glasses left behind by patrons, the quiet talk just above his head is kind of nice. He's not used to hearing Venti be so quiet, though maybe that's because he's not currently sandwiched between Kaeya, Rosaria, or Aether. Those three seemed to being something out in the bard that made him loud, though he supposed he didn't actually mind it despite the way he complained about it. It brought life to a normally dull night without them around, after all.
It's a new way to have Venti fill the silence with a new voice, but he doesn't think he minds it. At least it's not disruptive this time.
Diluc is so wrapped in his thoughts that doesn't notice when their voices come to a halt as he organizes the shelves. He doesn't hearing footsteps approach the door, nor does he hear it open and close. He doesn't even notice the eyes on him until he hears tapping above him.
Lifting his gaze from the wine bottles in front of him, he meets those golden eyes again.
Zhongli smiles down at him from the railing of the second floor, his eyes never leaving Diluc's face as the two simply stare at one another for a moment. Diluc can feel his heart racing against his ribs and his mouth feels dry, throat tight. He's not used to someone making him feel so frazzled and yet this man was able to throw him off just with a smile. What was he doing, why was he letting this stranger get under his skin like this?
Zhongli taps again and when Diluc tilts his head in confusion, the man simply chuckles and slips away from the railing, disappearing further onto the second floor.
Diluc gets the message loud and clear and he's moving without even realizing, a bottle of wine heavy in his hand.
Those eyes, those damned warm eyes, eyes that look like glowing cor lapis, they're glued to him as he approaches the corner table the two had been tucked away into. Those eyes that left him breathless and feeling seen in a way he's unused to bore into Diluc's own and Diluc wonders how he sees him. Does the sight of his own eyes leave the other man just as breathless? Does his smile make him feel like his heart is going to burst from his chest if it keeps beating so fast? Does the feeling of their eyes meeting make it feel like the world is distant, like they're the only two left? Does Diluc make him feel as off balance as Zhongli makes him?
It's only then that Diluc realizes Venti was gone. So it was just them then.
It feels like his heart is in his throat.
"Did you need anything," he forces himself to ask and is glad his voice comes out steady. Zhongli hums and glances at the seat across from him, a silent request. Diluc really wishes he was in control when he immediately sits.
"Not really," he hums, "I simply wished to speak with you. Venti sung high praise of you and the Traveler has done the same in the past. Meeting you downstairs has made me curious to actually get to know you a little bit."
Diluc really wished that didn't make him feel warm.
"Oh. Well, I certainly wouldn't mind speaking with you, Zhongli."
"You wouldn't mind?"
Diluc flounders, "No, wait, that's not what-"
He's cut off by a bark of laughter from the other and his heart flutters. Huh. A teasing smile quirks up the corner of Zhongli's lips and he leans back in his seat, bumping his foot against Diluc's lightly.
"I'm teasing you, don't worry." He's so clearly pleased with himself and Diluc can't help but huff, bumping his own foot against Zhongli's.
"Ah, you really are one of Venti's friends then. They seem to enjoy teasing me."
Zhongli laughs again. Diluc wants to keep hearing him laugh. He wants to keep seeing him smile.
…
Oh no.