Chapter Text
Diluc’s shift behind the bar went about as normal as usual. Drunkards shouting from one end to another. Venti giving one of his famed performances where he was so drunk, that he fell off the table he'd been standing on mid song. And Kaeya in the middle of it all, laughing loud and obnoxious.
Normal.
His head had started pounding with a nasty headache two minutes into his work. Diluc sighed, wishing to be anywhere else, but where he was. Or at least, that he had decent company to distract him from the chaos of the drunken late night.
Somehow, his prayers were answered.
In the form of a mop of familiar, braided, long, blond hair, that fell elegantly over it’s owners shoulder.
Aether let the door fall closed behind him, amber eyes, that stared right into your soul, were you to lock eyes with him, scanning the room for a free seat. The bar seemed to be bursting at the seams with patrons drinking away their sorrows and frustrations of the day, with only a few available chairs, here and there. One of them being right at the counter, next to the wall.
The Traveler didn’t even bother looking up to the quieter second floor and sat down in front of Diluc. Who was still staring. Bright eyes landing on red ones.
It had been a few months since the Traveler had been in Mondstadt, doing odd jobs and little side quests, as the blond liked to call them, in Liyue. It felt like years ago, that Diluc had last seen him.
And Aether looked like it too. Or at least far worse for wear than the redhead remembered him.
Small cuts littered his face, some of them crusting over, others still bleeding slightly. A bright purple bruise was forming high on his left cheek, just under the eye. His clothes didn’t look any better, stained with dirt, grass and what Diluc guessed to be blood. Not sure who’s.
“You look awful.” He cringed at his own words, the first in a while after not seeing the Traveller and he said that.
Tired eyes blinking slowly, as if processing the words. Aether’s dark eye bags suggested he hadn’t slept for at least two nights.
“Thanks. I feel like it, too.” A slow grin spread on the blond’s face, his eyes twinkling mischievous in the light of the bar. A shiver ran down Diluc’s spine. Had he left a window open? “Nice to see you again, Diluc.”
“Likewise.” He fidgeted with a glass, polishing it again and again. “What can I get for you?”
Aether hummed, stretching and rolling his shoulders with a groan, before shifting on the bar stool to get more comfortable.
“Something strong to shoot. I feel like absolute shit.” The bartender chuckled quietly, setting down two shot glasses and filling them with one of the strongest liquors he owned, and pushed them over to the blond.
“I’ll put it on your tab.”
“Cheers. Thanks, man.” Diluc watched him lift the first glass in silent toast, tapping it back down onto the counter, before setting it against his lips and throwing his head back. He scrunched up his face, shaking his head at the strong taste. Nevertheless, repeating it with the second shot. “Fuck, that’s liquor.”
Some sort of fluffy, warm feeling overcame Diluc. Starting in his chest, moving downwards, before it settled in his stomach. It was nice seeing his friend back, and in mostly one piece. Speaking of…
“Have you gone to visit a healer.” Red eyes skimmed over injuries again, taking in the actual state in which the other person was. He scowled, eyebrows knitting together in – anger? Concern?
The Traveller froze. Head slowly lifting from where he stared at the shot glass he had been playing with, looking everywhere but at the person behind the bar. He cleared his throat, guilt written into every corner of his face.
“Aether.” Diluc growled. The blond flinched, his eyes hopping around the room a lot more frantically now.
Both . The redhead decided. It is both.
He sighed, deep and long, rubbing at his temples. His forgotten headache coming back full swing. When he dropped his hand, Aether was looking at him again. He couldn’t be mad at someone, when they looked that sheepish. (He could, but that wasn’t the point there.)
“I’m taking you to one right after my shift ends. Are we clear?” The blond groaned, his head flopping down onto the bar counter with a thud. Diluc had to fight hard to keep the smile, that was bubbling to the surface, under control.
“You sound like Paimon. Aether, you’re hurt you have to go to the doctor.” His muffled voice pitched higher, somehow nailing exactly how the small fairy sounded. His hand came up, elbow braced on the wood, opening and closing like the beak of a goose. “I won’t drag your body back to Mondstadt, if you pass out. Mimimimimi.”
“Aether.” A hum. “Are we clear?”
The blond lifted his face, chin on crossed arms now, blinking up at Diluc, distaste clear on his expression. The ginger didn’t break eye contact, staring down at the smaller man, who just groaned once more and buried his face in his arms again.
“Ugh, fine. You win.” The sound of muffled, theatrical, despair made Diluc chuckle once more.
“Get some rest there. I’ll wake you up, when it’s time to go.” Aether was knocked out, before the redhead even had time to finish his sentence. Soft snores floating over the general sound of chaos, that Diluc had successfully drowned out.
Cute.
He stilled. Staring at the glass in his hand and then back down at the sleeping Traveler. Well, that was something he’d unpack later.
Some time before the end of his shift, Kaeya came staggering to the, now empty, counter with an even drunker Venti hanging from his arm, eyes unfocused and humming to himself. Blue eyes landed on the sleeping Traveler.
A grin appeared over his brother’s features, before he stretched his arm, trying to touch the blond hair.
Diluc caught his wrist moments before Kaeya was able to feel the softness of Aether’s hair. Eye’s portraying cold fury.
“Try and see what happens.” He squeezed the other’s wrist in emphasis. Hard.
Kaeya didn’t talk back, which was not something Diluc knew he was even capable of, and snatched his arm away from the bruising grip. Gaze flicking back and forth between the Traveler and his brother. A knowing smirk made his way to replace the lopsided one from before.
“Good luck.” The knight adjusted his grip on the drunk bard and made his way out the bar. But not without knocking against a chair and almost face planting right into the door.
With the last people gone, Diluc melted against the counter, exhaustion creeping up on him. He rolled his shoulders and his neck cracked.
He turned to look at the man sleeping next to him on the counter. Aether had shifted in his sleep, lying on his right, cheek squished on his arm, and breathing softly. He looked a lot younger, when he was asleep, the time he had spent suffering on the search for his sister, finally gone from his face.
He’s beautiful.
Diluc’s brain caught up with him, when he felt soft tufts of golden hair between his fingers. Brushing Aether’s bangs out of his face, but not stopping there. He gingerly twisted a strand between his fingers, marveling at the smoothness, that seemed out of place for someone who usually lived on the road, between his adventures.
Aether shifted, his eye’s fluttering open slowly. Diluc retracted his hand at a speed that shouldn’t be possible. Stopping short of smacking himself in the face. Eyes of honey tiredly staring up at him.
“Slept well?” The blond didn’t answer, only blinking slowly. “Let’s go get you checked out.”
He walked around the counter, acutely aware of Aether’s eyes following him. He stopped in front of his friend, holding out a hand to help him hop off the stool. Which he took, falling right into the redhead’s chest. Diluc was sure his heart stopped for a second. Out of worry, obviously.
He smelled of fresh dirt, wind and wine. Latter courtesy of falling asleep at the bar.
“Paimon was right. I should’ve gone earlier.” The blond groaned, leaning against the bartender, not moving an inch. “Now everyone’s gonna be asleep.”
Diluc’s brows knit together in concern for the second time that night. Hands coming up to hold the Traveler by his elbows.
“We have a healer staying at the Dawn Winery currently.” He searched Aether’s face for something that wasn’t pure pain. He came up empty. “If you think you can make it there.”
“I’m fine. Well… I’m not, but I can make it there fine. Is what I mean.” The blond pushed himself off of Diluc’s chest, standing a bit wonky, but at least on his own. He took a few steps, then his knees buckled and Diluc had to catch him, lest he hit the floor and get even more injured and bruised.
He slung an arm around Aether’s waist, the blond’s arm placed over his shoulder, holding him up similar to how Kaeya had Venti earlier.
“Let’s go then.”
Aether lost consciousness again halfway between the Winery and the gates of Mondstadt. Only muttering a soft ‘Oh, shit.’ before he sagged against Diluc, hanging in his arms like a wet sack of potatoes.
Oh, shit indeed.
He adjusted his grip on the passed out blond, who kept sliding down. After a few moments of struggling to get a proper hold, he simply hoisted the Traveller up, opting to carry him princess style the rest of the way.
Trying his best to ignore his hammering heart and keeping Aether steady without jostling him too much, he walked the rest of the way to the mansion in outer silence. Inside his mind though, it wouldn’t quiet down.
Stepping through the front door, he was greeted with head maid Adelinde making her last round. She stopped, the candle in her hand sending soft, warm flickering light over the man in Diluc’s arms.
“Master Diluc–“ She stepped out of her stillness, taking in the state the Traveler was in. “I’ll wake the maids and ready the guest room.”
Diluc stopped her before she could turn around.
“No need to make a commotion. My room works just fine.” He walked past her, towards the stairs. “But do send up the healer, as fast as possible, please. And prepare a basin with warm water, as well as bandages.”
She hurried away, muttering a quiet ‘I most certainly will.’ disappearing towards the guest quarters.
Shouldering open the door to his room, he accidentally jostled Aether enough for a frail wince to escape the blond.
“So sorry. One moment.” He crossed the room to his bed in a few long strides and gently laid him onto the soft mattress.
That moment Adelinde and the doctor stepped through the door. The latter dressed in his pyjamas and if Diluc hadn’t been so worried about his friend he would have probably smiled, inwardly, at the night cap he was sporting.
“The patient?” He stepped to the side, letting the healer to Aether.
“He came back from an adventure, as far as I’m aware. And instead of getting himself checked for injuries, he came to the bar and passed out.” A tide of anger swept over him, as he recounted what had happened, in his head. Aether wasn’t stupid. So why?
Staring at Aether’s face as the doctor went about his task, the anger was quickly replaced by deep worry. Even in the moonlight he shouldn’t look as pale as he did. His freckles stood out way too much against his white skin. Had he been always this thin?
The doctor diagnosed. Adelinde helped dress the wounds, and DIluc sent both of them out of the room when they had finished. A curt ‘thank you’ on his lips. Eyes not once leaving the sleeping man.
He pulled a chair to the bed and sat down, taking Aether’s right hand into his. Most people felt cool to touch, because of his own naturally high body temperature. Aether felt like ice. He carefully kneaded the hand he was holding, hoping that his warmth would carry over.
Beads of sweat formed on the blond’s forehead. Glistening against alabaster skin. Even hurt he looked not of this world, which he strictly speaking was, which was also not the point.
Soft beams of moonlight fell onto Aether’s face, strands of his hair reflecting the pale rays, appearing as if they were golden streams of flowing water.
Diluc was equal parts envious and starstruck by the blond locks, so soft and gentle looking. It was astonishing how there never seemed to be a bad hair day for his friend. Luscious blond strands falling effortlessly, swinging behind him in his signature braid. Making him look like an angel, even in the midst of battle. Dangerous and divine.
Without thinking he raised the other’s hand held in his own, to his face, stopping short of kissing it. He hesitated. But only for a second. Placing a light peck onto the palm of the Traveler's hand.
What was there to think about, or unpack.