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It’s been 73 days since Kaeya passed. 64 days since his funeral. 60 days since Diluc let himself go and become an absolute mess.
Adeline was the one to find Kaeya, terror running over her as she screamed. The other maids running to her in concern and going quiet once they saw what she witnessed. Kaeya's room, a mess yet neat. His body, right on the floor, the scene too horrible for anyone to recount it with such details.
Diluc, who heard the ruckus, ran to the commotion and asked what happened before looking into this brother's room. His whole world came crashing after that, not knowing how to react much less handle the death of his last remaining family member.
He ran in, going to Kaeya's body and holding him in his arms the way he did with Crepus's body. He was still warm, an incredibly weak pulse making itself known. Kaeya's eyes were glossed, the tears making itself known as he looked over to Diluc slowly.
"Please... take care of.. yourself" Kaeya whispered, too pained to talk. But in that same moment, he had let go and was no longer in pain. His face was peaceful, a small smile on it. Diluc could do nothing, feeling himself grow weak as he hugged his now, dead, brother's body. And he screamed, Diluc screamed until he couldn't anymore and his lungs gave out.
How could Diluc not notice the things his own brother was going through. Not notice the way Keaya had slowly become more closed and off reserved. Was it because Kaeya had become so used to hiding his emotions that it was easy for him? There was no way Diluc would get answers now, and it pained him.
“Why do you keep coming back?” Diluc asked, his voice hoarse as he looked up from his office chair to Kaeya. Well, who knew if it really was Kaeya. Maybe it was a subconscious that Diluc made to feel less lonesome.
The bluenette only smiled, a soft yet sad smile, as he watched his dear brother do his work. Ghosts couldn't talk to humans, it would be impossible. So all Kaeya could do was watch over Diluc until he knew the red-head was ready to truly let him go.
Ever since his funeral, Kaeya has been watching over his brother. From morning to night, he would be close to Diluc and only leave once he knew the other was in a deep sleep. It hurt the him to know that Diluc was barely getting sleep after the events, that night terrors were becoming a thing for his brother, yet he couldn't do anything but watch over Diluc.
Diluc sighed, standing up from his chair. He opened up his drawer, grabbing something from it before closing it and making his way to Dawn Winery’s doors. “Whether you follow me or not is up to you,” Diluc chided before leaving the building and making his way to the main city of Monstadt.
Everything around Diluc hurt him. From the grape vines at his house to the familiar pathway he would take with Kaeya and their father as they walked it countless of times. Even Adeline would accompany them every now and then when she could.
“Hey Diluc! Wanna race? I bet you won’t be able to beat me!!” Kaeya said, his child-like voice proud as he looked at Diluc with a glint of taunt in his eyes. “Oh yeah? Bring it on then!” Diluc retaliated, already running ahead of his brother. “Hey!” Kaeya yelled as he ran after Diluc.
“Boys! Be careful, I don’t want you falling on a bra—” Diluc’s father began before he heard a loud ‘oof’ and a ‘Kaeya!!’ Crepus shook his head a bit before smiling softly and making his way to his two kids.
Diluc smiled a bit, recounting the memory from years before as he continued his walk. It was a memory he would never forget, one so precious to him even if it were a simple memory. Eventually, Diluc finally made it to Monstadt’s gate. “Good evening, Mr Diluc '' The guards greeted him. Nodding, Diluc made his way again to the one specific area he has been thinking about since he left Dawn Winery.
Here we are, Diluc thought as he saw the graveyard. Thankfully, it was void of people visiting their loved ones, so Diluc would be able to speak freely without the fear of judgment.
Kaeya Alberich Ragnvindr
xx-xx
A loving son, brother, and knight.
The small grave had all types of Monstadt flowers in front of it, all placed methodically so they wouldn't get ruined. It was Diluc's doing really, from picking a flower each day from Flora and putting it on the grave so it could look more lively. He went every day, not once missing out on a day because it would hurt too much if he did. Diluc sat the longest at Kaeya's grave, and everyone knew that.
Diluc sat down at the foot of the grave, reading the tomb over and over as he had done the past few months.
“Idiot…,” Diluc spoke, his eyes glossing with tears all over again. “Why didn't you say something, anything? I’m sorry for being too hard on you, for causing you pain when I should have protected you, for not being a good brother when you needed one the most. I’m sorry…”
Diluc broke, his tears now falling freely as he chanted broken sorries to his brother's grave. It was painful to see, painful to witness as Kaeya saw. In the heat of the moment, Kaeya did the one thing he could only do.
He hugged Diluc from behind, his arms holding onto Diluc tightly. In a sense, he knew Diluc could feel his last existing warmth on him as the pyro holder’s eyes widened a bit. If only Kaeya were to actually hug his brother with his real body, maybe it would feel better for them both— as reconciliation.
“I forgive you,” Kaeya spoke, voice so low one could barely hear it, “I forgive you for everything. Goodbye, big brother”
Before Diluc could turn around, he saw the small shards of gold and blue wash away with the wind as Kaeya became one with the sky and returned with Crepus. Touching his shoulder, Diluc felt one tear droplet on his jacket.
It was silent now, the sun gone as the sky was now a deep blue with stars painting it. Letting a shaky breath out, Diluc stood up before taking something out of his pocket.
With ease, he hung the now gray cryo vision next to his red pyro vision.
“Until we meet again, little brother.”