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Fuck it.
His guilt is eating away at him more and more he thinks about it.
Kaeya knocks on his brother’s door three times. With each knock, he inhales sharply.
No one answers.
That’s to be expected, he thinks.
After all, Father had died only a few hours ago.
The bluenette attempts to sigh away his anxiety, turning the doorknob. Surprisingly, it’s not locked.
“Diluc?” He calls, surveying the room, looking for the redhead. He silently closes the door behind him as he enters, taking notice of the familiar crimson hair curled up next to his bed.
His brother is crying, but it’s so quiet he can barely hear the sobs coming out. His forehead is resting on his arms, with his legs folded against his chest. It’s a heartbreaking sight to see, but he can’t conceal his lies anymore.
“Hey, hey, Diluc,” Kaeya moves closer to his brother, sitting down next to him. He offers a hand to the redhead’s shoulder, and he gratefully leans into the touch.
“I don’t know what I’m gonna do Kaeya-” Diluc uttered, his voice hoarse. “He’s actually gone- Father’s actually-” His voice erupts into sobs, as he presses against the bluenette more.
“It’s alright ‘Luc,” He whispers, partially hugging his brother close. “We’re gonna be alright. We’ll get through this together.” Kaeya’s throat closes on that last word, wondering if there was going to be a “together.”
The redhead sniffles, shifting towards the bluenette, resting his head in the crook of his neck.
“Promise?”
…
“Yeah, promise.”
Kaeya clears his throat, trying to make the lump inside disappear.
“Um, said that, I have something to tell you.” He admits, standing up slowly.
Diluc glances up, a hint of curiosity and worry reflecting off of his eyes.
“What is it?”
Kaeya clears his throat once more. Can he really do this? No, he has to.
“Meet me in the forest, the one closer to the Winery.” The bluenette opens the door to exit.
“I’ll be there.” His brother nods, wiping his tears with his sleeve. “But, Kae.. Can’t you tell me right now?”
Kaeya swallows nervously, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, but please be there?”
Diluc nods again, this time more hesitant than the last.
Kaeya walks out.
― ― ― ― ― ― ― ― ― ― ―
Diluc walks out of the Winery, heading towards the forest Kaeya had mentioned.
The cold night breeze stings his cheek, the full moon shining brightly.
Something wasn’t right.
He notices his brother a few yards ahead, observing a couple crystal flies.
“Kae!” The redhead calls, walking a bit faster than before until he was face to face with the bluenette.
“What is it?” Diluc questions, curiosity overwhelming him.
Kaeya turns away from the creatures, fiddling with his fingers.
That wasn’t right at all. His brother never played with his hands unless he was nervous.
“Um, I have a confession to make.” The bluenette holds his breath, preparing himself.
He then spews out the truth of where he was from, what his mission was, and what he was actually in Mondstadt for.
“Khaenri'ah..”
“Spy..”
“My mission..”
Diluc stares at his brother in disbelief, eyes blown wide.
Khaenri’ah? Spy? Mission?
No, no, no. Kaeya Ragnvindr was Mondstatian. He was his brother.
He lets out a hearty laugh, putting a hand on Kaeya’s shoulder.
“Funny joke Kaeya, you know you could’ve told me it at the Winery.”
Kaeya’s eyes are full of guilt as he slowly pulls away from Diluc’s hand.
“I’m not joking.”
Huh?
“You’re kidding.” The redhead extracts his hand, eyebrows raised in shock.
“‘Luc- I just said-”
“Don’t call me that!” Diluc seethes, his eyebrows pinched together.
Kaeya flinches, sorrow glazing over his features.
“That means- everything we did.. Everything father did-” Diluc’s hand is on his claymore before he can think.
“Diluc? Wait- shit- It’s not-”
“Shut up and draw your sword.” The redhead almost growls, pyro infusing with his weapon instantly.
He’s not thinking straight- a part of his consciousness knows.
But the other is screaming at him to kill the traitor in front of him, his brother.
Kaeya quickly summons his sword, blocking a hit from Diluc just in time.
“Diluc! Wait, please! You have to listen-” The bluenette struggles against the constant attacks from his brother, only defending.
“Attack me, dammit!” The redhead downs attacks on Kaeya one after the other, giving no time for the bluenette to strike. Diluc unleashes a flaming phoenix on his brother, burning the right side of Kaeya’s face entirely.
“Fuck!” His brother screams, a hoarse one at that, as Diluc steps closer to the man.
Kaeya is clutching the right side of his face with his hand, blood seeping through his fingers.
Diluc glares at his brother, the sight almost pitiful. He raises his claymore overhead, plunging it into the bluenette.
Blood spurts out of the wound as he draws back his weapon, a traitor’s blood tainted with it.
His brother’s blood.
It takes a few seconds for his vision to clear up, as he glances down at the body.
A hand flies to his mouth as he realizes what he’s done. His eyes are wide open, shock and grief clouding his gaze.
He just killed his brother.
His brother. His best friend. The person that he promised he would protect no matter what.
Shit, shit, shit-
Diluc rushes over to the body, nausea hitting his body like a fatal blow.
Kaeya’s right side of his face is completely burnt, while there are mild cuts and injuries along his body.
Then there’s the cut.
Blood is still gushing out of the wound in his stomach, his eyes lifeless and deathly still. The redhead grips his brother, shaking him, trying to wake him up.
He knows he won’t, but he tries anyway.
“Kaeya- Kaeya, oh my god-”
Diluc's heart is pounding loudly in his chest as he tries to feel for a pulse that isn't there. Panic rises in his throat as ugly tears obscure his vision, soaking into his dead brother's clothes.
“Damn it, Kae, wake up,” Diluc pleads, his head hanging over the body.
Diluc doesn’t, and probably never will believe in gods, but he needs one right now to save his brother.
“Fuck- Barbatos, Morax, anyone, don’t take him away too.” The redhead sobs uncontrollably, clutching his brother so hard, his knuckles are starting to turn white.
"I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry." He apologizes countless times as the rain pelts down on him with sorrow.
“We’ll get through this together.”
“Promise?”
…
“Kaeya?”