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"This is our younger brother, Kaeya," Diluc introduced.
"We have a younger brother?" The younger redhead seemed to almost be vibrating in his spot in excitement. "I don't have a younger brother yet."
"I don't think I'm still the younger one in this case," Kaeya commented, a questioning look shot in Diluc's direction.
"He's the best younger brother we could have," Diluc whispered conspiratorially.
"You're a Knight!" The younger Diluc seemingly couldn't hold himself back anymore and dashed towards Kaeya with starry eyes.
"He's the Cavalry Captain."
"Captain?!"
Kaeya shot a disbelieving look at Diluc as the younger gushed over him.
"Young Master Diluc, there you are. Weren't we going to be making the pie for lunch together? Master Kaeya, it's good to see you. I hope you're planning to stay for lunch?"
Kaeya didn't have to answer as the younger Diluc yelled in excitement, covering any reply he could have made. Diluc slumped as soon as his younger self disappeared into the kitchen. His hand rose to massage at his temple.
"I don't remember you being that loud," Kaeya commented as he followed Diluc up the stairs. "Not that I'm complaining or anything. You were plenty loud already."
"This was before my lessons started. Mother must have passed around a year before, and Father usually just left me to run wild in the Winery." Diluc grimaced.
“Before we start, I hope I can make a request of you to occasionally keep an eye on my younger self, if you have some time. Adelinde is glad to keep an eye on him, but I’m afraid she isn’t quite as young as she used to be.” Diluc’s eyes flickered towards the door as if expecting Adelinde to walk back out of the kitchen.
“I’m sure I can keep an eye on him when I’m watching over Klee,” Kaeya agreed.
“Thank you.”
"Where did he come from? Was it a leyline abnormality? I know Albedo was looking into leylines with you."
"In the broadest of terms, you could probably call it a leyline abnormality," Diluc said slowly. “It’s a bit more complicated than that, I’m afraid. I don’t have all the details I would like to have just yet, but I do believe this will affect you.”
“Oh? The great Master Diluc freely offering information? It must truly be my lucky day.” Kaeya caught a flash of something on Diluc’s expression before he turned towards the stairs with a motion for Kaeya to follow him.
… oOo …
“Kaeya!”
Diluc caught the way Kaeya’s expression lightened as his younger self gleefully rushed up to him. He knew Adelinde had a similar expression when interacting with his younger self, one that easily gave way to a tenseness of worry when she laid eyes on his older self. Diluc could recognise the fondness in Adelinde’s expression when she watched the two of them interact.
He could only offer his empty office a tired sigh as the door closed behind him. A fresh pile of notes rested on his previously empty table. They finally had enough information to start cautiously scouting for unstable leylines and dead zones. Dragonspine would be the most obvious dead zone and Diluc already dreaded having to comb through the mountain. But…
Diluc needed to know for himself if any of this would work.
This was all he could do for now: complete the droves of paperwork, clear the random camps that popped up, and keep away from Mondstadt city so their enchantment with his younger self would not break. That meant leaving everything within the city walls to Rosaria, or better yet, taking care of them before they got anywhere near the city.
The more elemental traces Diluc left around Mondstadt, the easier it would be to hide his younger self’s presence. The simplest solution was to have the child be around Diluc all day, but Diluc didn’t have the patience to keep up with the boy’s energy.
The lack of attention also meant that, other than Adelinde’s occasional disapproving looks when he was egregiously loud in returning, Diluc was free to do as he pleased.
Which, unfortunately, seemed to be scouring Dragonspine until nightfall.
… oOo …
Kaeya idly flipped his coin as he trotted back to Mondstadt City. Diluc had been safely returned to Adelinde with only some sand in his hair after a full afternoon of fish blasting with Klee. The young girl had been thrilled to have a new friend and eagerly introduced Diluc to both Dodoco and her precious treasures.
Charles would be manning the bar, and Kaeya would slip out after the larger crowds had left to see if he could catch sight of their infamous Darknight Hero.
Kaeya froze in place. A Darknight Hero that was most definitely not a child that Klee would happily play with. Scrolling through his recent memories, Kaeya had seen neither hide nor hair of the man for at least two weeks. Usually, they’d discuss new treasure hoarders or Fatui camps that had popped up, or plan for a late night rendezvous at a camp where a Lawachurl had been spotted, at Angel’s Share once the crowd had gotten drunk enough to not notice. Or Diluc would send him a note through Dawn.
The camps were still being cleared, Kaeya had no doubt about that. Had Diluc sent him the notes and he had just missed them? Or had Diluc found another partner in crime?
Even more importantly, had he really been so engrossed in the younger Diluc that he had really forgotten all about his brother ? He’d walked into Dawn Winery almost daily, far more frequently than he would have dreamed of even a month ago. Diluc had surely seen or heard his younger self greet Kaeya enthusiastically knowing that Kaeya was only visiting for that Diluc.
No matter what kind of relationship they had, that would undoubtedly have hurt.
… oOo …
“There should be enough of my energy on the boy and around Mondstadt to cover his presence until I get to the crossroads.”
“You know how foolish all of this is, right? I know why you don’t want to tell them and let them decide, but what if their decision is different to your expectation? Don’t you think that if no one else, at least your brother deserves to know?”
“I’ll tell-”
“You’ll tell him in a letter before you disappear for good?! Do you think he will just go on with his life just because there’s a younger version of you to replace you?” Kaeya barely heard the long sigh from the blood rushing through his ears. “Diluc, you know I’ll support you however I can, but please reconsider this.”
There was a screech of a chair being pushed back, and footsteps approaching the door. Kaeya willed his legs to move. He didn’t know if he wanted Diluc to know he had overheard all of this. Would it change Diluc’s mind, or push his plans forward to leave sooner?
“I know you’re trying to do what you think is best, but this is just you selfishly running away, Diluc. You will end up regretting it.”
“I know… but they all deserve better than what I’ve become.”
The footsteps paused.
“I saw some of your records …before, do you regret that you were rescued from Dottore before he removed your memories?”
“No! I would never -” A pause. An extended exhale. “I see. I-I’ll think about it.”
This time Kaeya managed to get about halfway down the stairs and turn around by the time the door opened.
He was offered an exasperated glance in passing.
“Diluc~” Kaeya waltzed into the room with the most annoying tone he could muster.
“Kaeya,” Diluc breathed. There was guilt hidden among Diluc’s wild curls. “If you’re looking for the younger Diluc, he just stepped out with Adelinde.”
“I had just been thinking I hadn’t seen you in a while. Has the great Master Diluc been skulking in Dawn Winery this entire time?” Kaeya teased. The surprise that flashed through Diluc’s face for a moment stoked the guilt that had gnawed at Kaeya since his revelation the previous evening. Diluc had expected to be forgotten, and Kaeya, and probably the rest of Mondstadt, had met that expectation.
Considering that, Diluc’s plan to just disappear would probably work. Kaeya stretched out on the couch in Diluc’s office. Kaeya frowned when Diluc didn’t comment, reaching for a nearby stack of papers and a quill.
“So, do we have a plan to get the cute little you back home yet?”
Diluc’s quill snapped.
“Wouldn’t-Wouldn’t you want to keep that me?” Diluc asked weakly, eyes on his hands and the slowly spreading splotches of ink. “Sure, it will be different. I wouldn’t be able to clear camps with you anymore, and there would be no Pyro Vision, but he’ll probably want to try for the Knights and …”
Kaeya closed his eyes. All Diluc was, was a man who had been rejected too many times. Who rejected his own worth as easily as breathing. Who had lost his easy smile but not his kindness.
“No.” Kaeya caught Diluc’s shocked gaze as he reared back. “No.”
“But I hurt you. I scarred you. I broke the trust you gave me when you needed it most. Why…? Why wouldn’t you…?”
It all came back to that single series of unfortunate events.
Kaeya had broke Diluc’s trust just as much as Diluc claimed to break his. Kaeya’s visible scars had been new and noticeable, but Diluc’s had been attributed to the fight with Ursa the Drake. The wound to his stomach hadn’t been completely healed and had torn open in their fight. The blood just hadn’t registered until Kaeya had already made his way to the Cathedral. Diluc never arrived to be healed that night, or the next morning. Kaeya knew better than anyone that Diluc had also scarred himself.
“You are still the only person I would willingly shove off Venessa’s tree at Windrise.”
Diluc let out a shaky laugh. Kaeya looked away as Diluc’s hands came up to swipe at his eyes.
“Do not lie, I’ve seen Bennett falling out of that tree while you were in it.”
“Bennett would be falling out of that tree with or without me, and you know that,” Kaeya complained. “I was just lucky he didn’t somehow manage to set the tree on fire.”
“Indeed, pushing Bennett out of the tree was the better option.”
“Of cour-Wait! I just told you I didn’t push Bennett out of the tree!”
… oOo …
Diluc stepped back into his office with the cup of tea he had managed to sneakily (miraculously) make himself without Adelinde noticing. Kaeya was idly amusing himself in Diluc’s office for the third time that week.
“Do the Knights really lack so much work that you’re here again ?” Diluc grumbled.
“Klee wanted to see the other Diluc. Adelinde had already agreed to take the other Diluc to Falcon Coast, so I let them go together.” Kaeya shrugged, snatching Diluc’s tea. “None of them were upset when I decided not to join them.”
“So you decided you would rather sit there and stare at me the entire day?”
“I’m protecting our most treasured Master Diluc,” Kaeya crowed.
“If you’re going to sit there all day, at least make yourself useful.” Diluc pulled a stack of documents from a drawer, split it in half and dropped the top half on Kaeya’s legs.
“Hey! I’m not doing your paperwork for you!” Kaeya complained, but picked up the first page anyway. The first thing he realised was that none of it was about Dawn Winery or wines or anything of the sort. The second thing was the notes that Diluc had made down the margins in the old code they had used when Diluc had been captain - like he was expecting Kaeya to read it later.
Both brought with them a strange nostalgia.
“Fine, but I’m staying for dinner!”
Diluc snorted.
“I’m heading out of the Winery after lunch. If you’re still determined to keep me company at that point.”
“I’m not that much of a slacker,” Kaeya whined.
“So, that’s a no then?”
“I can’t believe Adelinde still puts up with you!”
… oOo …
“Kaeya? I thought you said you weren’t coming?”
“I-I changed my mind.”
Diluc’s expression softened.
“I told you, you would want to say your goodbyes to him.”
“No, I meant. I changed my mind about sending him. I’ll accompany you to the gate.”
Diluc offered him a wan smile.
“I see.”
… oOo …
That child is not Diluc .
Adelinde had rushed into his office out of breath and terrified. Kaeya had left her there, knowing if nothing else she was safe. He’d mentioned it to Amber as he ran out of the city. He would have to hope Amber got the message to one of the other captains.
Kaeya had promised himself he would never be late again, but he’d also turned down Diluc’s offer on travelling to the unstable point with them. The only reason he knew where to go were those notes he had reluctantly read through.
“Diluc!”
It wasn’t two Dilucs that greeted him. Rather, there was a second Kaeya instead.
“Step away from that gate, Diluc.”
Diluc took a step away from the gate in confusion. He looked between the two of them.
“Don’t listen to him, Diluc. You know the pain of having two of the same people in the same place. It hasn’t faded, has it?”
“Get away from him!” Kaeya yelled, lunging at the duplicate. A Favonious Sword came to meet his. Anyone looking on would think the duplicate was defending Diluc from him.
Kaeya scoffed. He’d never raised a weapon with the intention to truly injure Diluc in his life.
He could see Diluc hesitating to summon his claymore. He glanced between the two of them and the gate.
“If you take one step towards the gate, I’ll kill you myself,” Kaeya bellowed, summoning his circling icicles.
Diluc started. Kaeya’s duplicate was startled enough for Kaeya to manoeuvre around him and closer to Diluc. Kaeya noticed when the realisation that the other hadn’t used his supposed Cryo Vision this entire time hit Diluc.
“What exactly were you thinking?”
“He told me you changed your mind. That you would rather keep the younger me,” Diluc said, “and you were there to accompany me to the gate.”
“And you believed him?”
“It made more sense.”
Kaeya resisted the urge to kick him. The worry that had fueled him into hurrying all the way from Headquarters boiled into rage. He threw an annoyed flurry of ice at his duplicate instead. Diluc was refusing to use his Vision to make the fight any easier for them.
“It truly is a pity I couldn’t get you this time, Delusion Thief.” The eye patch was gone, and red eyes glared at them from behind a mask and a face that looked out of place on Kaeya’s body. “It seems your Knights are arriving and I don’t particularly enjoy fighting, unlike some of my comrades, so perhaps next time?”
Diluc threw his claymore and it embedded into the wall behind where the duplicate was standing seconds before.
“That’s not one of your throwing knives,” Kaeya complained to hide how impressed he was.
“I should have known,” DIluc grunted.
Kaeya glared at him.
“How were you supposed to have known when you could barely tell me apart from that imposter?”
“Are you upset about that?” Diluc blinked.
“I’m upset that you would think I would ask you to do something like this! Did you really expect me to change my mind so easily?”
“I trust your judgement, Kaeya.”
“I don’t need you to trust my judgement! I need you to trust that I don’t want you to leave me behind again,” Kaeya hissed. “Now come on, Adelinde is likely still stressing herself in my office.”
It took a few moments for Diluc to start trailing after him.
“You literally handed me over to the Fatui within six months of me returning to Mondstadt,” Diluc pointed out.
“And you escaped in less than a week,” Kaeya groused. "You weren't planning to come back from this."
“Would it make it better if I sent a gaudy vase to your office as compensation?”
“Is that seriously what you got out of this? Besides, do you think that vase was easy to come by? It took weeks of scouting Majorie’s store for that vase.”
“Who said anything about your vase being from Majorie’s store?”
… oOo …
A week later, Bruce carefully stepped into Kaeya’s office bearing a large, gaudy vase that wouldn’t look out of place next to its sibling in Dawn Winery.
Kaeya stared at the vase. He had been sure to check Majorie’s store every day that week to make sure there were no vases on sale. Yet Diluc had managed to get his hands on an eerily familiar one nevertheless. Kaeya truly should have remembered not to tempt the power of enough Mora.
The clinking at the bottom of the vase was far more audible without Bruce’s gasping breaths.
A pair of keys and a note fell out as he tipped it.
If you don’t want me to leave you behind, you had better not leave me behind. Not that you would succeed. -D
Kaeya huffed a laugh, clutching the familiar keys that he had left in Dawn Winery years ago.