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It had taken Diluc a year – far longer than it really should have, yet not enough considering his three-year rampage through Teyvat – to quell the stinging panic, guilt, regret that shot through him whenever he caught sight of Kaeya. His brother haunted Angel’s Share every night; sometimes with a group of Knights, other times with treasure hoarders, and even occasionally some of the Fatui stationed in Mondstadt.
They had been on relatively civil speaking terms long before Diluc managed to leash his straying emotions. Kaeya never commented on it. Whether that was because he was dealing with his own or Diluc had gotten better at guarding his own was difficult to tell, but the hurt always managed to pour out from both of them.
Barbed words and vicious remarks were what their conversation dissolved into. As long as there was no one else around, it would stray to their Visions flaring.
Fire meeting ice.
“How about another Dandelion Wine, Master Diluc?”
Diluc nodded absentmindedly. He mixed the wine on what felt like muscle memory, and when he goes to slide the glass over, a hand covers his own.
“Is everything alright, Master Diluc?” Venti’s bright and knowing eyes meet his own. He must have stared in wide-eyed surprise for too long because Venti immediately frowns. “It’s getting chilly. You should keep yourself warm. After all, whatever would happen to Mondstadt without our dear Master Diluc.”
“I will keep that in mind. Thank you for your concern, Venti.”
Venti stares for a moment longer. Diluc feels the building ice burn at his fingers within his gloves and calls his Vision to ease the discomfort. He had been doing so well all day. For a moment Venti looks like he might say something else.
“Venti, did you just tell Diluc, a Pyro allogene, to keep warm?” Kaeya laughed. “It’s barely Autumn. Even Barbara still goes out without her coat. That said, it does seem oddly chilly on this side of the tavern. Must be Master Diluc’s new personality.”
Diluc offered Venti a glare and slid Kaeya a Death After Noon, hoping that would send the man back to whichever corner of the tavern he had come from. The ache was spreading, numbing and burning his arms at what felt like the same time. The frigid lands of Snezhnaya flickered in his memory. Diluc used as much of his Vision as he dared while still being surrounded by so much alcohol.
At least this time, Diluc knew it would be impossible to get into another argument with Kaeya. He didn’t think he had the capability for their usual mental gymnastics today.
“Master Diluc?”
Diluc huffed.
“Is there something you want to ask?” Both Kaeya and Venti had made themselves comfortable on the stools. Miraculously neither had touched their new drinks.
“Actually—Diluc, what is that?”
“What is what?”
Kaeya reached over the counter and grabbed Diluc’s head to tug a lock of white hair out of his ribbon. He ignored Diluc’s subsequent grumble as half of his mane was upset in the process.
“This, Diluc. It sure as hell was not there yesterday. And I saw you break it with my own eyes.” Kaeya held the lock until he was sure that Diluc’s eyes had managed to focus on it. He was tempted to yank at it when he saw no reaction from Diluc.
Frost spread across the counter instead. Diluc sighed, placing towels along the surface as he tried to melt the frost and ideally heat the towels up while he was at it, but the frost quickly enveloped the towels as well. Diluc stepped away from the counter looking mildly annoyed.
“José, please ask Patton to step behind the bar for the rest of the night?”
“Master Diluc? Has something urgent come up?” Patton hurried into the tavern.
Diluc hummed.
“You could say that. I apologise for the mess. There are more towels on the left. You can throw the wet ones into a spare bucket under the counter. The frost should melt shortly. Sir Kaeya, Venti, enjoy the rest of your evening.”
The backdoor of the tavern had barely slammed shut behind Diluc before it swept open again. Kaeya jogged out, pausing to glance in both directions with open confusion.
“Did you have something that urgent to ask? Or was the tavern suddenly too warm after I left?”
Kaeya let out a little sound of surprise that made Diluc snort.
“I didn’t think I was upset enough to freeze the counter,” Kaeya admitted into the silence.
The only thing they heard for several long moments was the wind whistling through the city and the muffled sound of chatter.
“You weren’t.”
The words were so softly uttered that Kaeya almost missed them.
He turned to stare into the shadow he could barely see Diluc within. Kaeya squinted into that darkness, trying to figure out what that odd niggling thought at the back of his mind was telling him. The shadows were absolute, Kaeya realised.
“Your Vision?”
“It’s here.”
Muted and covered in frost that was thicker than what had spread on the countertop, the red glow of Diluc’s Vision bravely attempted to still be seen. Kaeya swallowed thickly. He had only noticed the light because Diluc had moved it.
Hesitantly, Kaeya stepped closer, reaching out to where he expected Diluc to be. He hissed on contact but continued to rest a hand on Diluc’s shoulder.
“Is… this is because of my ice that hit you the other day?”
Kaeya could feel Diluc’s hair brush his hand as his head shook.
“It caused a relapse at most. I’ll be fine.”
“A relapse... We played in the snow near Dragonspine every Winter as children. You even led a mission or two into Dragonspine as Cavalry Captain. The cold never had this kind of effect on you back then.”
There was silence.
“Diluc?”
Kaeya hesitantly reached for Diluc’s other shoulder to shake him. It was even more frigid if that was possible.
“Diluc?”
Kaeya glanced down to catch a glimmer of the Pyro Vision. It was pale yet flaring as if it was in use.
“I thought you said you would be fine?” Kaeya muttered as a maneuvered Diluc onto his back.
Kaeya did his best to ignore his thoughts when the lights glittered against the frost decorating Diluc’s boots and clothing.
Why didn’t I know about this? Kaeya wondered when Barbara uttered a quiet, “Again?” before Kaeya had even stepped into the hospital area of the Church.
“Thank you for finding him so quickly. It should be easier on Master Diluc this time.”
How had they gotten to the point where he was the one being thanked for helping his own brother?