Work Text:
It was late by the time Crepus’ candle burned its way down to a stub. Snuffing out and leaving him in the dark, quill to paper (half-way through writing a word) and coughing at the sudden burst of smoke.
He reached to grab his pocket watch to check the time, but sighed as his hands grasped nothing. He kept forgetting he had accidently broken it a few weeks back. Shattering the glass case that protected the delicate gears. He had been upset, as that was one of the last things his wife had given him before her passing.
He sighed again as he leaned back in his chair, searching the desk for the said watch. Now that he thought about it, he wasn’t even sure where he had set down at. He had been meaning to get Adelinde to take it to be fixed but things had been so busy it just kept slipping his mind.
Oh, well. He shrugged. He would find it tomorrow.
His eyes adjusted as he squinted at the clock that sat near the open window. The snow and moonlight outside casting enough reflective light so he could get a clear look at the time. He sighed. It was well past midnight. Adelinde would have his hide knowing he was still up at this hour. Especially the night before the New Year.
The man’s back groaned slightly at having sat in one position for much too long. He stiffly got up. His knees cracked. He sighed at the injustice of it. He was still a man in his prime for archons sake.
The redhead stifled a yawn as he closed his office door softly behind him and began to make his way down the hallway to check on his sons before retiring to his own chambers. Diluc’s soft snores greeted him. He couldn’t help the fond smile that caressed his face as he peered down at his eldest.
The teenager’s red mane splashing out in all directions across his pillows and bedsheets. Curls spilling over his face and getting dangerously close to his open mouth. One arm flung back behind his head while the other clutched a book he had apparently been reading before sleep had taken him. His covers had been kicked off as heat radiated from the boy despite the frigid temperatures outside.
Crepus gently slid the book out of Diluc’s hands and set it on the nearby table before gently brushing the red locks off his son’s face before gently kissing his forehead. A lingering, fatherly touch to his forehead and cheek before he left. Closing the door softly behind him.
The wine master made his way to the next room, being even more quiet and cautious as he cracked this door open. His youngest son was a much lighter sleeper than the other. He often woke much too easily.
Crepus’ red eye peeked through the door. A frown fell over his face as the door swung open.
The bed was empty.
Crepus peered down the hallway. No. There was no one in the bathroom either.
The redhead began to make his way downstairs. Trying to find his wayfarer son. Perhaps Kaeya had gotten hungry or needed a drink of water? Surely Kaeya would have come to the office had he had a nightmare and needed his father if he had gone looking for Crepus in his own bedroom.
The kitchen was also empty.
Now the redhead was getting concerned.
He went to the front door. Making sure it was locked. And then began to head towards the lounge. Thinking his son might be in there. He was passing by the library when he heard a soft, frustrated sigh issue from inside.
Crepus opened it the door.
The bluehead teenager sat cross legged on the floor. A small candle beside him. Four parcels, wrapping paper, and some ribbon sat in front of him. One of the parcels rested in his lap as he struggled to wrap a strand of ribbon around it, failing to tie it into a proper bow.
“Kaeya? What are you doing?”
His youngest had been so focused on the task in front of him that he hadn’t noticed the man sneaking up on him. He jumped with a gasp and lunged forward to hide one of the gifts from sight. Wrapping his arms around it.
“Close your eyes!”
The redhead immediately turned his head and placed a hand over his eyes for good measure. “Sorry. Sorry. I didn’t see anything. I promise.”
He could hear scuffling as Kaeya made sure to properly conceal whatever was inside the box. “Okay. You can look.”
Crepus turned back around. Peering down a bit confused. “What is all of this?”
“Um,” Kaeya flushed.
He was always a shy thing. Easily getting flustered around his father when he was caught off guard. Especially when he was trying to do something nice for others. The boy never seemed to know what to do with himself when people thanked him or complimented him.
“They’re gifts,” the boy muttered, almost too quiet for him to hear. “For you all.”
“Gifts?” Crepus asked as he leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms. “Whatever is the occasion?”
Kaeya grew quiet, and bit at the inside of his cheek as though he was contemplating how to answer. He finally sighed and shot a glance at his father before looking back down at the parcel in his lap.
“When I was little,” the boy paused. “Before I came here…”
Crepus startled a bit. Kaeya never talked about his past. Claimed he didn’t remember much, and any time the wine master or someone else had asked a question the boy had immediately shut down. They all learned early on it was best to not ask the blunette about his mysterious past before arriving at the winery all those years ago.
“My family would give each other gifts at the end of a year. It would bring the receivers good luck for the new year,” the blunette shifted nervously.
“Wait,” it suddenly dawned on the man. “Is that why you would always give us flowers or crystal cores this time of year? You were giving us gifts of good luck?”
Kaeya flushed and fidgeted with the ribbon in his hand. “Yeah. But since I got a salary from being a Knight this year I could actually buy you all something nice this time.”
“I would have given you money if you wanted to buy gifts for everyone,” Crepus said.
“I know,” Kaeya shifted and fiddled with ribbon some more. “But it wouldn’t have been the same. They would have been from you. Not from me.”
The redhead sighed with a fond smile. “Well, would you like some hot chocolate while you finish wrapping those? It can be my gift to you. For your good luck next year.”
Kaeya blushed again and smiled shyly. “Okay.”
Crepus made his way back to the kitchen. Hurriedly putting some milk on the stove and finding Kaeya’s favorite cookies hidden in the cupboards.
The blunette glanced up at him as he entered the library again. One box finished, but he was currently struggling to properly tie a neat bow on the next one.
“Careful,” the man warned as the teenager reached up for his mug and the plate of cookies. “It’s hot.”
“Thank you,” Kaeya inhaled the rich chocolatey smells while Crepus moved to the fireplace.
Starting it as he noticed Kaeya’s arms had goosebumps from sitting on the cold floor. “Do you need help with those?”
“Please,” the boy nodded. “I watched Adelinde tie some the other day. She made it look so easy. I thought I would be able to do it, but…”
He shot the lopsided bow a glare.
Crepus chuckled as he eased himself to the floor. Setting his own cup of hot chocolate down. Placing his finger on the ribbon so Kaeya could properly tie it.
“So, is hiding the gifts for the people to find also a part of that tradition?” Crepus asked him.
“Uh,” Kaeya set the finished box down and grabbed the next. “No. Not really. Its just something I always did.”
“I see,” Crepus grabbed the last box and handed it to his son. “I must admit, I was always happy to stumble upon your gifts over the years. They always brought a smile to my face.”
“I’m glad,” Kaeya shot him a shy smile before piling the last gift with the other three.
The teenager then turned and scooted to sit beside Crepus on the floor. Sipping his drink while looking at the fire in the fireplace. He learned his head, so it flopped against his father’s shoulder. Taking a deep breath. Full of contentment.
“You know, Kaeya,” Crepus wrapped an arm around him and kissed his temple. “If there are any customs or traditions that you used to celebrate that you would like us to participate in we would all be more than happy to do them with you. Should you want.”
Kaeya was silent a moment. The redhead waited. He knew that his youngest sometimes needed time to get his thoughts gathered.
“I know,” the blunette finally said. Picking at his sleep shirt. Leaving it at that.
Crepus kissed his head again. Letting the matter drop as they nibbled on cookies and finished their drinks. They sat there until the log he had put in the fireplace burned down. Leaving Kaeya’s candle as the only source of warmth.
“Well, it is awfully late,” Crepus yawned. “We had better get ourselves to bed before Adelinde catches us.”
The blunette stood and gathered the gifts while his father gathered the dishes. Kaeya followed him to the kitchen. Carefully placing the gift on the counter where Adelinde would find it. They made their way upstairs together. Crepus gave his son one last gentle kiss on his head.
“Good night, my boy. Sleep well.” He turned to go.
“Dad,” Kaeya called. Causing him to pause.
The blunette offered him the first gift. The one with the lopsided bow. His starry eye trained on the ground below. A shy blush on his cheeks.
The man smiled and took it. Pulling at the ribbon—
“Good night!” Kaeya turned and hurried away before Crepus could open it. His bedroom door closing behind him. Too shy to stand around and watch his father open it in front of him.
Crepus chuckled as he finished unwrapping it. Carefully opening the box and peering inside. He paused in surprised. Pulling out his pocket watch. No longer broken, but freshly polished and looking as bright and beautiful as the day he had first received it. He held it to his ear, listening to its comforting tic tic tic.
Of course, Kaeya had noticed it was broken. His golden heart always noticed things like that.
“Thank you, Kaeya. It is perfect.” A smile shone across his face as he turned to go to bed.
He heard Kaeya’s door click fully shut behind him.
★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ ･ ﾟ☆ ｡ ｡･ﾟ*.* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ･ ｡ ☆∴｡ * ･ﾟ*｡★･ ･ *ﾟ｡ * ･ ﾟ*｡･ﾟ★｡ ☆ﾟ･｡°*. ﾟ ﾟ｡·*･｡ ﾟ* ﾟ *.｡☆｡★ ･ * ☆ ｡･ﾟ*.｡ * ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ ･ ﾟ☆ ｡ ｡･ﾟ･ ﾟ☆ ｡ ｡･ﾟ*.* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ･ ｡ ☆∴｡ * ･ﾟ*｡★･ ･ *ﾟ｡ * ･ ﾟ*｡･ﾟ★｡ ☆ﾟ･｡°*. ﾟ ﾟ｡·*･｡ ﾟ* ﾟ *.｡☆｡★ ･ * ☆ ｡･ﾟ*.｡ * ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ ･ ﾟ☆ ｡ ｡･ﾟ★ ﾟ･｡ * ｡ ･ ﾟ☆ ｡ ｡･ﾟ*.* ★ ﾟ･｡ * ･ ｡ ☆∴｡ *
Follow
For more ragbro art and stuff
Check out my main fan fic Once Upon an Eclipse