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imagine coming back home from a day of battling and protecting mondstadt. tiredly trekking your way back to the winery, the same endless rows of vines entering and leaving your sight.
“diluc, i’m home.” you whispered tiredly, looking at your husband in bed. diluc was nursing a cup of tea and thumbing through his book quietly, looking up at you once he heard your voice. he stood up and opened his arms, letting you sink into his chest like an anchor with the sea.
"love, are you alright?" he calmed, his voice hushed and quiet. it wasn't the most comforting of quiets – although he tried to be – but diluc couldn't let the feelings of protection over you fall apart so quickly. it was a level type of quiet, one that made you feel like it could go either way, but it always was the one that you liked.
"i'm fine. the mitachurls put up a good fight tonight." you answered, a slight smile adorning your weary face. diluc set down his read and took your hand in his, turning it over and over to inspect for any signs of cuts and bruises. you let him do his thing.
"well, you're a lot less unscathed than the previous week. i've had adelinde set aside a portion of dinner for you, if you're hungry after all that." you were. diluc led you to the bathroom, your feet cooled by the pink and green tile.
he started to gather your hair, running his fingers through your locks. experienced fingers combed through your hair, removing any tangles that happened throughout the day.
the bathroom was cozy – a memory of when you first moved into the ragnvindr mansion. you sat down with your husband to discuss how the bathroom should look like, what accents, what colours, what tiles – and you eventually settled on a lovely pink and green set that even diluc came to love. it was a nightly routine for him to help you dry your hair and brush it, or brush your teeth in front of the mirror together, or help him put on one of those skincare facial masks that he disliked but did it anyways because you loved it so much.
adelinde soon called the two of you down for dinner, breaking the soft silence that the you shared.
"sit with me, love." diluc pulled back the chair next to his, inviting you to sit. dinnertime was always an anticipated affair, with the resolve-wavering smell of adelinde's cooking breaking your habit of not eating dinner when you were alone. it was too much trouble.
but with adelinde, sometimes it was sausages and mash, or a simple curry served with rice or bread, or a hearty crab, ham and veggie bake. once, adelinde served steak and you prayed every night that you'd get to taste that steak again.
dinner was quiet and comforting, the sound of silverware clinking against stark white plates stained with gravy. as wonderful a cook as diluc was, you'd have to admit that adelinde's cooking was always to die for.
"i'm going back upstairs to freshen up before bed, alright?" you kissed diluc's temple, him grabbing your hand before replying that he was done too.
once the both of you were dressed and ready to crash, you moved closer to him such that your head was sitting in the crook of diluc's neck. he pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead.
"goodnight, sweetheart," he whispered, the stress of his day breathing away as he allowed himself to sigh contentedly occasionally, soaking in the comforting moment.
goodnight, diluc.