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"If it isn't the one and only spy! What can I get started for you today, hm?"
The voice behind the bar was different than he remembered it being, but Kaeya was certain this man was bad news. The charming, innocent and young-looking face gave no indications of a threat, however, the way his smile was crooked and his tie came undone was signal enough. Kaeya wondered what kind of man he would be talking to today, as he often did whenever he encountered Dottore.
"You might not want to be so nonchalant about this today, doc."
"Awh, and I was hoping today could be a happy occasion. The usual, I assume?"
Kaeya made quick work of sitting on top of the bar stool. Sitting here, this late at night, knowing that not even the birds he adores know he is not in his bed, soundly asleep. The small two-tap of his fingers against the counter was enough to put Dottore to work. Kaeya watched as he mixed the "Death After Noon" in a way he hadn't seen before. Not from Diluc, or Charles, the poor man, or even any of the other clones that came by for the bi-monthly report. The way his fingers clasped the mixer, the intensity of his shaking, the world of interpretation left within the way he poured Kaeya's glass. None of it was familiar; none of it was reminiscent of the element he believed the Doctor held. Today, he was as fluid as the liquid in the glass.
Peculiar.
"Could you have finally graced me with your true presence, Doc? I thought the day would never come!"
His meek attempt at a conversation died within a second as the fluid motions turned rigid; the thunk of the glass in front of him resounding within the walls of Angel's Share.
"You should learn to hold your tongue, little peacock, before I rip all your pretty feathers out."
"I meant no offence, sire; it was just a mere jest."
Kaeya's upturned hands twitched and faltered under the glare of the other's eyes. Quickly folding them up, a small 'thank you' was whispered and he took a sip of his drink. Apparently even that was as fluctuant as the man across the bar, as the moment the cool glass touched his lips, the unexpected boil of the drink did as well.
Kaeya coughed, hacking enough that he leaned on the counter with one hand, while the other one covered his mouth.
"Did you seriously just try to poison me?"
"My, I meant no offence, young master Ragnvindr; it was but a mere jest!"
There was no response to that, as Kaeya outwardly dumped the drink onto the floor. He would have to mop it up later, before his father came and complained about the mess. His glass hung in the air for dramatic effect or intimidation, whoever knows, as the last few drops of the drink fell down painfully slowly.
"A jest that could have cost you an informant."
Dottore chuckled. "A jest that could have cost me but a scolding; and you, your life. Both of our senses of humor are similar in that regard, don't you agree?"
Another awkward silence passed, as Kaeya slid the glass over the bar.
"...Just make me another cocktail."
"Of course, my darling inferior."
The drink was prepared in the same manner as the first, swift and efficient, almost just like Crepus, Kaeya's mind wandered. The only difference was that Crepus was not as well-versed with the mixer, for he never made his own drinks. Not after who Kaeya could have called mother died. It was probably an unbearable thought for him, to sit and look at his children, knowing his wife would never be there to see it in actuality.
"Well, are you EVER going to give me your report, soldier?"
Kaeya sat straight, as straight as he did when he was in front of older Knights. 'Sit as straight as an arrow, for when the time comes that you must unsheathe your sword again, you will never forget the movement, even within your dreams.' Was something the Alder Knight often told him and his brother. It was strange to think she left before she could actually teach him how to wield a sword; much more to know that she never would have approved of this arrangement in the first place.
"There is but one truth these secrets uncover: the falcon has yet to turn into the owl, and its dove is still within the gilded cage of innocence. There is—"
His breath hitched as a sharp blade's tip reached his throat. Dottore's eyes looked through his quivering body straight into his soul, a challenge yet to be spoken. The eyes moved closer, shifting from Kaeya's, to his cheekbones, to his ears, where a small sentence entered with the lilt of a songbird.
"Do not lie to me, young master."
But he didn't. He swore he didn't. This was all the truth; he spoke in the right code, he even kept his stance and composure right after he was poisoned not to mention threatened for his life multiple times. This came with the job, that was the point, this is what he still remembered from training with Pierro. Was he wrong? Was he fooled? Was this Dottore simply stricter than the others that would let his faults slide? Before Kaeya could make a move to defend himself, Dottore continued to play around with the dagger, the tip dancing around Kaeya's adam's apple, seemingly enjoying the expression Kaeya made when he did. Kaeya didn't dare to utter a word after. As if he was brave enough to utter anything at all.
"Young master, I fear that perhaps I might know more than you do." Another chuckle, this time in a lower register, things that made the goosebumps rise up to his neck. "For the young falcon is being turned into an owl right now. And the dove is away, stepped out of her gilded cage under careful guidance of the vulture. As for you... My, young master, you are about to witness the death of an era!"
The chuckle turned into maniacal laughter, as Kaeya's blood ran cold. Not caring whether the blade would touch his skin, he turned around in a frenzy. The stool was knocked off of the ground, tumbling right into the drink he spilled. The replacement was entirely forgotten behind the bar, sitting as a reminder that there were two of them here. The goddamned door was locked, fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. Dottore deceived him. Dottore had multiple clones, of course he would share their memory and knowledge with them. Fumbling with the keys, he saw the shadow of the man crawling behind him, onto the door. His blood was still frozen, but his body was moving; Kaeya's brain seemed to know that there was something far more urgent than his own panic.
"If you really were that concerned, you would kick the door down, wouldn't you, Alberich?"
The door clicked open, but Kaeya made no move to open it. Somehow this man held his body in a grip only a puppeteer could, and Kaeya feared that he would end up a pawn in his game.
"Pleasure doing business with ya, kid! I hope you enjoyed the 'Death After Midnight' I made for you!" Dottore pushed the door open with a hand reaching from behind, and just as smoothly walked around Kaeya as his voice. "I sincerely hope you enjoy the show. Tah-tah now!"
His figure disappeared into the night, and only when it was entirely gone, did Kaeya move once more. Running from the Angel's Share to the Headquarters, banging on the door, begging to be let in, because he had terrible news.
The end of an era was upon them, and he didn't know how to protect those he cared about the most.