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Angel’s Share was closed for the day, courtesy of Diluc’s request he announced the day prior. Nowadays, the red head seems to be in a slump, unwilling to do anything he would normally do in his daily life. With purple circles under his eyes and his hair slowly becoming a tangled mess, no one was sure on what to do to help him.
“Master Diluc? You have a visitor for today.” Spoke Adeline from the other side of the door. Diluc, not having the energy to speak, simply grunted in hopes of the woman hearing him. Sighing, Adeline spoke to the unknown person before her footsteps quickly strayed away from Diluc’s room.
With a slight squeak, the door opened and closed as the person walked in. “My my, what’s got you in a slump Master Diluc?” Chided Kaeya as he made himself known. Ignoring him, Diluc continued to keep himself in bed, going as far to hide under the blankets hoping to be left alone. Kaeya, being the best brother he could possibly be, sat down on Diluc’s bed before removing the blankets.
“Now, I don’t know about you Diluc, but everyone is—” A pause, “Diluc? Are you okay?” Kaeya asked as he took his brother's appearance in. Bloodshot eyes, hair loose and messy, his cheeks flushed and broken shudders coming from him took the other off-guard. The older man turned away, feeling embarrassment creeping up on him from having Kaeya see him in his most vulnerable state.
“Diluc, talk to me, please.” Kaeya silently pleaded, a look of worry overcoming his features as he helped Diluc sit up in bed. Diluc said nothing as he kept his eyes locked on his hands, intertwined on his lap. “Let me get Adeline, maybe she can help-” Kaeya started, but before he could stand up, Diluc grabbed onto his sleeve and whispered a quick no. “Please don't get her. I don’t wish to have her see me like this.”
Without a second word, Kaeya nodded and reluctantly hugged the red-head, unsure if he’d like that. Much to his surprise, Diluc was quick to reciprocate the hug and sighed a bit before speaking.
“Ajax broke up with me. And, it hurts a lot.” He started, feeling tears welling up in his eyes again as he stayed in Kaeya’s embrace. “I hadn't expected heartbreak to hurt this much. I thought I would be fine but I suppose not. Why does it hurt Kaeya? Why couldn't me and Ajax just stay happy and in love?” Diluc asked, feeling hopeless as he sobbed into Kaeya’s shirt.
To say that Kaeya was upset would be an understatement. He could feel his heart shatter at Diluc’s words, not knowing what to say at all as he hugged his brother tighter.
“We were happy, Kaeya. Everything was okay, at least I thought it was.” Diluc took a moment to compose himself, inhaling sharply before continuing. “We were fine. I don't understand why we started drifting. I think it was my fault though, I got so caught up in everything else that I disregarded him when I shouldn't have. He was always my top priority, I don't know why I let that change.”
“You know… some things aren't meant to be sometimes. You guys were happy, and I could see that. The honeymoon phase was so incredibly strong for you guys, albeit sickening as well, but sometimes things don’t go the way you wish for them to.” Kaeya said carefully, unsure if his words would help the red head. After not hearing anything in specific from the older make, he continued. “Love puts you through a test to see if you and Childe would be able to keep the relationship going. It hurts, and sometimes couples don't make it. But that is when everything is truly tested between you both.”
Diluc hummed, taking his brother’s words into consideration as he picked out his next thoughts carefully. “I guess you’re not wrong, yet I can't help but feel like a major idiot. I hurt him, Kaeya… I never wanted for that to happen.”
Kaeya listened intently, carefully moving Diluc so his head was now resting on the other's lap comfortably. “I’m an idiot, truly. Maybe if I realized sooner, I could have saved us. I could have saved our relationship one by one, yet I didn't and now I suffer the consequences. My heart… it aches, twists, hurts, whenever I think of what we had and what we could’ve had if we never left each other.”
Before Kaeya could reply, Diluc proceeded to speak. Maybe it was best for Kaeya to listen and not interject for now.
“Maybe if I were a better boyfriend. Maybe if I had just done something. But it’s too late for that, isn't it. He looks so happy now Kaeya, better without me. I hate to admit it, because I cannot be there to experience it fully for myself next to his side, but I do not wish to be a stain on his happiness. If leaving me was what he had to do, then so be it… I just wish I could've done more before our chapter ended as lovers.”
And as much as Kaeya hated to admit it, he could see the love and adoration that Diluc held in his eyes and voice as he talked about Childe. Even after the heartbreak, Diluc still loved Childe and he was sure that he would even in another timeline. Smiling softly, Kaeya nodded and ran his hands through his brother's hair.
“Maybe, as time goes on and you both stay as friends for now, you will be able to pick up where you left off. Whether it be you both restarting from day one, or deciding to consider what you’ve gone through a break. Only time can tell you, but you have to talk with him. Be honest, and let him know your thoughts Luc, or else more heartache will come to be.”
Kaeya, ever so reserved and careful with his words, spoke truth to his brother as he stared at the desk in Diluc’s room. A picture of Diluc and Childe was propped up in perfect display. Eventually, Diluc nodded off into a deep sleep as Kaeya kept playing with his hair.
Diluc, even with his heart broken and full of heartache, still held so much love for Childe that would never diminish.
“...Where’s Albedo? This whole ordeal just made me upset and I need my husband, '' Kaeya said to himself as he laid Diluc properly in bed, making sure to cover the male before leaving his room.