Chapter Text
The air is cool and crisp, just as Diluc remembers.
When he was younger, the chill would’ve made him shiver through his coat, but twenty years later Diluc finds himself relishing the frosty breeze of Mondstadt. The wind carries the memories of his earlier, more juvenile years. All of his mistakes suddenly play on a loop inside his head, the inklings of shame painting his neck and ears red.
Diluc’s left pocket begins to buzz as all of the texts and calls from the last three hours rush in. The redhead pulls out his phone and skims over his notifications. After seeing that a majority of them are from Kaeya, he has half a mind to put his phone back in his pocket and ignore all of his brother’s whims.
Kae
Luc are you back in Mond yet?
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Diluc
…is that my room
Kae
No hello for your little brother?
And you didn’t answer my question
Diluc
Hello Kae, yes I have just arrived in the city. I should be at the winery in ten-ish
Why are you in my room?
Kae
Well my dear brother, I had heard of your return to our lovely city and I took it upon myself to add a little more happiness to your room. Do you like it?
Diluc
…Why are there so many pictures of you?
Kae
Nothing screams happiness like little ol’ me!
Diluc groaned and made a mental note to invest in a new lock for his door. However, knowing his brother, a mere lock won’t be enough to halt Kaeya’s insistent invasion of his room. Still, Diluc couldn’t find it in himself to truly be upset over it.
Minutes later, the redhead pulls into the gates of Dawn Winery, the winding path proving to be simple muscle memory. As he passes through the vineyards, Diluc takes note of all the adjustments that need to be made in order to restore the property to its optimal state. The groundskeepers have maintained it well, but Diluc fails to miss the subtle cracks in the wooden frames and the patches of weeds that penetrate the grape vines.
As his car eases to a stop in front of the manor, the maids rush out to grab Diluc’s belongings. The man steps out and stretches, his fiery hair falling from its place in warm ruby waves. A gloved hand reaches out and fixes Diluc’s hair in a firm pony at the top of his head. The man feels himself smile and he turns around to meet Kaeya in a long-overdue embrace.
The surrounding maids let out polite giggles behind their hands at the sight of the two brothers getting along. Just some years ago, they weren’t even on speaking terms. Oh how far they’ve come.
“Liyue must’ve done a number on you if you’re this happy to see me,” Kaeya exclaims, playfully shoving the older’s shoulder with a bright smile.
Diluc scoffed but there was no real bite to it. “You gloat but if it were you in my shoes…”
“What’s this? The esteemed Master Diluc is actually inviting little ol’ me to help him run the family business?”
“As if. You would drink our company to bankruptcy.”
The two walked side by side into the manor, exchanging clever quips and sharp words with every step. Had the head maid Adeline not stepped in to mediate, one of the brothers would have surely ended up thrown from the windows of the manor.
The banter comes to a peaceful end once they reach Diluc’s room and begin to unpack his belongings. Kaeya wordlessly hangs up a variety of dress shirts and button ups as he watches Diluc peel the various photos of his blue-haired brother off the walls. The look on the older’s face is exasperated, but fond.
Kaeya clears his throat as he moves onto the next suitcase. “How long are you in Mond for this time?” he asks while neatly folding one of Diluc’s many overcoats.
“Just until I finish my studies. I will be gone before the first leaf falls.” Is the response he gets.
The younger man huffs, and sends a pointed look across the room. How typical for Diluc to show up randomly and not even think about enjoying his stay. “Y’know, if you actually stayed for more than a few months you might be able to get rid of those frown lines.”
“I’ve only returned to finish my studies. Once I’ve received my diploma I’m off to Inazuma,” Diluc repeated flatly, biting back a retort about the inexistence of his so-called frown lines.
Kaeya hummed. “So be it. Just promise me you’ll at least try to make some friends.”
Diluc mutters under his breath how the younger shouldn’t get his hopes up. He’s never been the social type and he doesn’t expect 23 years of behavioral patterns to change in a mere three months.