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The first thing Kaeya saw when he opened his eyes was his former brothers concerned face. This was strange considering that he hadn’t seen this sight in years, ever since their fight.
“Kaeya?” Diluc gently shook him, the sound of chains clinking together startling him out of his stupor. “There you are, you alright?”
He sat up a little too fast, the world beginning to spin again before he blinked it away. As he looked down, he noticed that his hands were chained together and his brothers were as well. They were in a dark and grimy cell, with only one barred window high above them providing little light. “Where are we?”
“We’re…uh…kidnapped.” Diluc finished, chewing his lip nervously as he watched his brother carefully. “You were out for a while.”
Kaeya frowned. “Who kidnapped us?”
Diluc looked slightly guilty. “Uh-well, you see, when I was in Snezhnaya, I might’ve dated-“
“What?” Kaeya gasped, snickering softly.
“I might’ve dated a harbinger. Then broke up with him. His name is Childe and he’s a little deranged.” The winery owner explained, averting his eyes in embarrassment.
“So…why did he kidnap us?”
“Ah, I don’t know. Revenge? Maybe he wants us because of our ranks in the knights? Fuck if I know.”
Kaeya rolled his eyes, huffing as he crossed his arms. Him and his brother hadn’t really talked as directly as this in years. He never told Diluc what happened when he left. It wasn’t a topic he wanted to bring up with his closest friends let alone his ex-brother.
If he was here alone and kidnapped, Kaeya would be able to make it out with no issues. However, allowing Diluc to see his…new skillset wasn’t something he would enjoy. In the end, if it truly came down to it, he knew he would have no choice, judgement be damned.
The cell door opened and a tall ginger entered, a smug smile on his face. “Well, if it isn’t my little firefly and his gorgeous brother!”
Beside him, Diluc bristled at the end of his ex-boyfriends comment, subconsciously scooting closer to his brother.
Childe focused his energy on Kaeya, approaching him with confidence. He crouched down to his level, winking. “Hey there, what’s a fine man like you doing in my cells? I should bring you over to my place sometime, sweetie.”
Kaeya chuckled, leaning closer with an equally friendly expression. He hated that he had to do this in front of his brother, but he didn’t have a choice. “I’ll take you up on that offer. Just give me five minutes and I’ll take you straight to heaven.”
He could feel Diluc’s shocked stare burning into the side of his head, but he ignored it. He just needed to catch the harbinger slightly off guard and they would be out of there.
Childe’s eyes widened, and grinning excitedly, he brushed his hand against the captains cheek with delicacy. “Ooh, sweetie, you’ve got quite the mouth on you. Maybe I won’t kill you, after all. I’ll just keep you all to myself. Doesn’t that sound lovely?”
“I’m all yours.” Kaeya purred, leaning into the gingers touch, lowering his eyelids in a practiced sensual manner.
Childe brushed his fingers against Kaeya’s lips, his eyes raking over his body and he leaned in closer, only to be stopped by a hand aggressively slapping his away.
“I don’t know what the fuck is happening over here, but I don’t like it.” Diluc proclaimed, practically dragging his brother into his chest and away from the lingering hands of the harbinger.
“Oh, come on now, Diluc,” Childe chuckled, sitting on the ground as his smile grew. “We were just having some fun, weren’t we?”
Kaeya’s brain seemed to have short circuited. It couldn’t register that Diluc was currently holding him and he had actually protected him. From something that Kaeya had initiated. It had to be too good to be true.
His brothers lack of response only worried Diluc more and he tightened his grip on him. “Childe, tell me what you want and leave him out of this.”
“That would be no fun!” Childe protested, pouting at his former boyfriend. “Especially since your brother is just so attractive. I can barely keep my hands off of him!”
“Yeah, I noticed.” Diluc spat, eyeing the harbinger with distrust. He wasn’t sure why he was going to such lengths to protect someone he was supposed to hate, but he couldn’t stand by and let him get assaulted. Even if the captain had flirted back, he could tell that he didn’t want it.
“You’re such a party pooper, firefly.” Childe huffed, standing up and brushing the dirt off his pants. “Whatever, I’ve got things to attend to and all the time in the world for you two bundles of joy. I’ll be back!”
The cell door locked as the Fatuus left.
“So,” Kaeya began, his voice soft and void of his usual teasing. “Are you going to let go of me now?”
Diluc made a noise of acknowledgement, releasing the other and placing his hands in his lap awkwardly. “Uh, sorry.”
The two brothers sat in tense silence for a few moments after they parted, both unsure on how to address the situation.
Diluc was the first one to speak, his words quiet and hesitant. “Why did you do that?”
Kaeya closed his eyes, his heart dropping at the perceived accusatory tone. “I was trying to get us out of here.”
“By prostituting yourself?” Diluc snapped before he could stop himself, his eyes wide with desperate anger. He had never seen his brother in that mode before and it looked too…practiced…to be coincidental.
“Would you prefer I let us get killed?” Kaeya replied, still looking away ashamed. He didn’t want to see how his brother was looking at him now because he knew he wouldn’t be able to get that image out of his head. It would fuel his self-hatred. He despised himself for being so good at what many are disgusted by.
Diluc fought the urge to scoff at his brother, instead going for a glare, knowing the other couldn’t see him. “Well, no, but-“
“But, what? Huh, Diluc?” The blue haired man cut him off, his voice cracking softly, so quiet that the winery owner barely heard it. “It’s the only thing I know how to do, anymore. I might as well use it for good.”
“Why?” Diluc asked. He wasn’t used to being this upset.
“Why not?” Kaeya asked, the glazed expression still etched onto his face. “I don’t see a problem here.”
“I won’t let you sell your body.”
The captain let out a puff of air, shaking his head dismissively as broke eye contact. “Unless you have an actual plan to get us out of here alive, I’m going to go with my idea.”
Diluc opened his mouth to protest but his brother cut him off by lifting his hand in warning. “And you will not stop me.”
Before any more words could be exchanged, the lock clicked and the door to the cell opened, revealing the familiar harbinger.
He had the same egotistic face on as he walked towards the brothers. “Have we worked out our issues then? Can we resume where we left off, hm?”
“What do you want, Childe? Information? Plans? Access?” Diluc leaned forward, desperate to keep the attention on him and away from his younger brother. “I can give you anything you want. You want to know rotations of guards? You got it. Just ask me.”
Childe let out a pleased noise of surprise as he faces the eldest, smirking. “Oh, my! Firefly, I have never seen you this willing before. You want to give me all this for free? I don’t even have to torture you?”
Diluc nodded.
“Oh, but that’s no fun, now is it?” Kaeya’s smooth voice interrupted, heavy on the charm. He pressed back against the wall, almost presenting his body to the other.
Childe was now focused on the captain, his eyes hungry with lust once more. “I suppose you’re right, sweetie. Especially since you’re so-“
“I’ll tell you who the Darknight Hero is!” The winery owner interjected, trying to position himself in front of Kaeya. He didn’t care if his brother was set on seducing the harbinger, he couldn’t bear to see someone look at him as if he were an object.
“The stakes are high, oh my.” Childe replied, his attention flickering between the two.
Kaeya was getting irritated now. If the Fatui found out Diluc’s alter ego, he could be in serious danger. He would truly risk it all just so this man couldn’t lay a hand on him?
“Although you really are a dream, darling,” The harbinger patted Kaeya’s head, pouting as he pulled his hand away. “The Fatuus in me clearly has to take the firefly’s offer.”
Diluc sighed in relief, his muscles relaxing as his ex-boyfriend approached him. He ignored the captains outraged look and focused only on the incoming threat. “What do you want to know?”
“Who’s the Darknight Hero?”
“It’s me.” The winery owner declared, tensing once more as he prepared for what the deranged man might try to do. But nothing happened.
“Tsk.” Childe tutted, shaking his head in disappointment. “Lying to your interrogator? No deal.”
“No!” Diluc’s eyes went wide as he watched the man approach his brother again. Only this time he had no cards up his sleeve. There was nothing he could do, and that’s exactly what his brother wanted.
“What do you say to a little stroll over to my place, baby?” Childe purred, resting his hand on the captains thigh.
Kaeya matched his grin and nodded, his breathing accelerating as his brain took it what was about to happen.
He would be dishonest if he said that he’s never been in a situation like this. One where he had to escape using sex. The only issue though, was that he hadn’t had to do this in a while. The last time it happened was years ago. The captain didn’t realize it until now, but he had begun to heal.
Childe leaned forward, placing handcuffs on Kaeya’s wrists as he unlocked the chains. He pulled the latter up onto his feet.
“Please, Childe. Don’t do this.” Diluc begged, tugging at the chain as he tried to get closer to them. His heart was shattering at the hollow look on his brothers face. He knew that Kaeya was regretting it now, he was not consenting. He was dissociating.
“I’m not doing anything that gorgeous over here doesn’t agree with.” The harbinger quipped back, his grip painful on the blue haired man.
Kaeya didn’t say a word, his eyes forward and unseeing as Childe led him out of the room. He knew what to do, so why was he so inexplicably terrified?
Childe led him through the halls and stopped at an unmarked door, digging in his pocket for the keys with his free hand.
Kaeya knew he should be scanning his surroundings and finding any clues on how to escape, but he couldn’t focus. His mind wasn’t there and he didn’t know how to bring it back. It was all out of his control.
The door unlocked and opened, the hand on his arm bringing him inside. It was a master bedroom, no doubt belonging to someone of his class. There was a chandelier on the ceiling, that illuminated the king sized bed centered in the room. It was one of those fancy beds that had red curtains framing it.
“Now, where’s that five minutes in heaven that you promised me?” Childe whispered in his ear, making him jump.
Kaeya tried to respond but it was as if he was frozen. He couldn’t move. Why couldn’t he move?
Childe let out a thoughtful sigh before deciding to drag the captain towards the bed, shoving him onto it. “What’s happened to your words, darling? Am I really that stunning?”
Kaeya’s breathing picked up as the other gently pressed against his chest, causing him to lay flat against the silk sheets.
He found that it was hard to think. Flashes of bad memories were appearing in his mind and he couldn’t remember where he was anymore.
“Kaeya, dear?” Childe’s husky voice asked, almost sounding distorted.
He could feel the bed dip as the harbinger straddled him, he could feel the warmth of lips on his own, but he wasn’t there.
Suddenly, Childe turned into a much older and muscular man, and his lips were not gentle against his.
Kaeya wasn’t sure when he began to cry, but the tears wouldn’t stop flowing. Whoever was on top of him either didn’t mind or didn’t notice.
Everything was out of his control.
——
Diluc couldn’t believe his luck.
In his rush to get Kaeya out, Childe had dropped the key. At first, he was sure it was a trap. It couldn’t be that easy to escape.
After remembering his brothers expression as he was forced out of the room, he decided he didn’t care if it was a trap. As long as he could stop the harbinger from taking things too far, it was worth it.
Unlocking the chains only took him a few moments and he discovered that the same key worked for the lock on the cell door.
Childe must’ve been enamored with the captain to be this reckless.
Unfortunately, there was a guard posted at the door, but that was no problem. He disarmed him and pressed the barrel of the gun against his head. “Where is Childe?”
The pyroslinger raised his hands in surrender, his eyes wide behind the mask. “I don’t know, I promise, I don’t-“
Diluc pulled the trigger, moving on as the body fell to the ground. He didn’t have any time to waste dealing with people like that. If they wouldn’t give him the information he needed, their life was no longer relevant.
He continued down the halls until he found another guard, this one a Fatui agent. With his new weapon, it wasn’t a hassle to bring the guard to his knees.
“Where is Childe?” He asked again, pointing the end of the gun at the agents face.
“He-He went to his room with some guy. He is not to be disturbed until-“
“I don’t give a shit, take me to him now.” Diluc demanded, harshly grabbing the collar of the guard and following him.
After a few minutes of leading him, the agent stopped at an unmarked door. “It’s-It’s this one. He-“
The guard dropped dead.
Diluc kicked the door open, his gun aimed forward. He steeled himself for whatever scarring sight he was about to witness.
Kaeya was on the bed, laying down with his eye fixated on the chandelier above him. He was still fully clothed apart from his shirt being unbuttoned. He didn’t even notice him entering.
Childe was next to him, his hand on the captain’s face as he grimaced. He turned to Diluc, raising his hands to indicate he wasn’t a threat. “Hey, I promise you I didn’t do anything to him. He just stopped responding. And while I’m a bad guy, I’m not that bad of a guy.”
Diluc wasn’t impressed. “Get off the bed, to the wall with your hands up.”
Childe obeyed without a fuss which was unusual. “He started crying. So, I stopped.”
Diluc approached the bed, gently touching his brothers wrist. His hands were not cuffed anymore. Tear stains were evident on his face and his lips were moving but no sound was heard. “Kaeya?”
“You can take him. I won’t stop you. Just don’t kill me.” Childe offered, keeping his hands up as he focused on the gun still aimed at him.
Diluc carefully lifted his brother from the bed, holding him with one hand while threatening his ex-boyfriend with a gun with the other.
It didn’t take long to find the exit, and he wasted no time in getting out of there.
——
Kaeya opened his eyes, his mind still foggy. The air was colder than what he expected, was he outside? That didn’t make sense, he was just with-
He sat up quickly, scanning his body for any signs that things went too far. Surprisingly, he found nothing.
“Kaeya?” Someone touched his shoulder.
He startled away, shielding his face with his hands as he involuntarily whispered, “Please, don’t hurt me.”
He didn’t remember much. He was pretty sure that he was kidnapped. Or he was at least in someone’s bedroom. Either way it wasn’t good.
“Kaeya, it’s me.” The voice was familiar but for some reason he wasn’t comforted by it. “It’s your brother, Diluc.”
The captain lowered his hands, finally looking at the other. He didn’t say anything, instead opting to take in his surroundings. They were in the woods, trees and grass all around them. If he had to guess, he would say that they were near Dragonspine due to the cold temperatures. His brother was kneeling next to him, staring at him with thinly disguised concern.
“Do you remember what happened?” Diluc asked, his tone soft and comforting in an attempt to not frighten the other.
It all came back to him. The kidnapping, the harbinger that couldn’t keep his hands off him, talking with his brother, the bedroom, everything. He remembered it all and he didn’t want to. He never wanted his brother to see him that way, in that situation.
Kaeya was supposed to be calm, cool and collected. He was the independent calvary captain that everyone could depend on. He never let anyone see beyond his mask.
Until now.
“Oh, gods.” Kaeya whispered, covering his mouth with his hand as a wave of nausea overcame him.
“Kaeya? Are you okay?”
Kaeya promptly leaned over and threw up all of his stomach’s contents.
Diluc held his hair back instinctively, allowing his brother to finish before gently leading him to the stream of water nearby. He washed off the captains face, not bothered by the intimacy like he usually would be.
After Diluc was finished caring for him and he washed his mouth out, he leaned against a tree sighing. He wanted to speak but he didn’t know what to say.
“Want to tell me what happened?” Diluc asked softly, careful to keep his tone even.
“I-I don’t…” Kaeya whispered, not sure where to start. He was still stuck in the past and he was afraid if the other asked him again, he would tell him what truly happened that fateful night. He didn’t feel here yet.
“It’s okay.” Diluc placed a hand on his shoulder, biting his lip as he worked out what to say. “Take your time. I won’t judge you.”
“He took me in.”
Diluc nodded, keeping his expression neutral as he encouraged his brother to go on.
“He offered me a place to stay.” Kaeya’s eye was wide and unseeing, staring at the ground. “I thought he was just being nice.”
Diluc frowned, trying to remember what the other could be talking about. Unless his memory was failing him, Kaeya knew perfectly well what Childe was implying. It wasn’t just friendliness.
“It was raining and I was hurt. I wasn’t paying attention.” Kaeya shifted in the grass, bringing his knees to his chest as he retold his story. “He offered me medicine, for the burns.”
Diluc had a sinking feeling that the event his brother was describing wasn’t the one he just experienced, rather one that happened on a very specific night. He hoped he was wrong.
“He gave me an eyepatch.”
He wasn’t wrong.
“Then he told me that I needed to repay him. I took his medicine, his supplies, it was only fair.” There was a distant look on Kaeya’s face, as if he was stuck in the past. He breathed out slowly.
“Kae, when was this?”
“The night that you disowned me.” Kaeya replied, still not meeting his brothers eyes.
Diluc felt himself tearing up. He knew what Kaeya had to do to repay this man and it was all because of him. He kicked him out knowing he had no place to go, as injured as he was.
It was his fault that Kaeya felt that he had to seduce Childe to set them free. It was his fault that his brother even knew how to do that.
“I’m so sorry.” Diluc whispered, letting his face fall in his hands in defeat.
Kaeya finally looked at him, blinking a few times before his eye lost its glassy look. A flash of hurt flickered across his face before he composed himself. “It’s okay. If it makes you feel any better, Childe didn’t do anything to me.”
“I’m glad he didn’t, but that man did, didn’t he?” The winery owner wiped his eyes, turning towards the captain. “Didn’t he?”
“I…” He trailed off, lost for words.
That was all the confirmation Diluc needed. “Were there others who took advantage of you like this?”
“Well, not really.” Kaeya frowned, determined to keep his reputation up. He didn’t want to seem like a helpless victim, he was strong. It was fine. “I sometimes exchanged it for information, but I initiated it.”
Diluc shook his head, allowing his anger at how others treated his brother to show. “Doesn’t matter. Give me their names.”
Kaeya let out a sound of surprise, his lips quirking upwards as he chuckled. “What, you’re going to kill them?”
“Every last one.”
He let out a disbelieving scoff, crossing his arms. “You can’t just go around killing people. The knights will have you arrested.”
“Good thing I’m the Darknight Hero.” Diluc shrugged, before gesturing towards his brother again. “Tell me their names.”
Kaeya partly didn’t believe that his estranged brother would go out on a killing spree on his behalf, but considering the man’s acts in Snezhnaya, it wasn’t too much of a stretch. He decided he would compromise. “I’ll only tell you the first guys name, okay?”
Diluc didn’t look pleased but he nodded anyway, listening carefully.
——
A week after both of them were safe back in Mondstadt, Kaeya caught wind of another one of the Darknight Hero’s impulsive actions.
A knight was found dead at his desk, severe burns littering his body and the mark of a claymore in his chest. After some searching, there was a note folded under his hand. It read: Retribution -DNH