Chapter Text
Diluc Ragnvindr had returned to Mondstadt approximately two days ago. He hadn’t talked much to anyone, heading straight for the Dawn Winery. The first thing he did was retrieve his vision, after being parted from it for so long he ached to feel it in his hands again. He strapped it to his belt, sighing contentedly at the familiar weight.
He had no plans on going into the city, happy to stay far away and isolate himself in his room. His trip to Snezhnaya had been an eventful one. He hadn’t gone one day without starting a fight. His muscles were sore and all he wanted to do was rest.
However, Adelinde insisted that he got checked by Barbara for any injuries he may have received during his time away. Despite him telling her that he was completely fine, she refused to listen.
So, to appease her, he found himself in a bed at the cathedral. He was deeply annoyed by all the hassle the nuns were going to. They prescribed him a day of bed rest, specifically the bed he was laying in now, not the one at Dawn Winery.
Barbara had told him it wasn’t safe for him to travel that distance while unwell, though he rested his case that he was perfectly healthy.
Jean walked in the door, holding a tray of food. She set it on his nightstand, giving him a sympathetic smile. “How are you feeling?”
“I am fine.” Diluc groaned, fighting the urge to roll his eyes at her. He knew she only meant the best, besides it wasn’t her keeping him here. “The nuns just won’t let up.”
Jean chuckled softly, leaning against the wall. There was something behind her eyes that he couldn’t quite make out. He chalked it up to her seeing him again for the first time in a while.
“I hear you’re the Acting Grandmaster now?” Diluc asked, trying to change the subject.
“That’s correct.” Jean sighed, crossing her arms. “It’s quite a workload. I’ll be glad when Varka gets back.”
A smile crossed his lips and he nodded. He’s known Jean for practically his whole life. If anyone could handle that job, it would be her. Varka likely knew that too.
Jean’s expression shifted and she bit her lip as if conflicted. “Hey, when Kaeya comes in here…be nice to him. Nicer than you would usually be, okay? For me?”
Diluc cocked his head at this, furrowing his eyebrows. She knew very well that he wouldn’t do that. He didn’t even truly know how. Things were left on a bad note with Kaeya when everything happened. He wasn’t sure how to act around him.
Jean noticed his lack of reply, but didn’t say anything about it. She took a deep breath, as if steeling her emotions, before giving Diluc a forced smile. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
Watching her leave, Diluc wasn’t sure what to make of any of that. To bide his time, he took a bite of the biscuit that Jean had brought him. It was too crumby. He scowled as he set the messy treat down.
The door opened and the familiar face of Kaeya walked in. The calvary captain sat down in the chair next to Diluc’s bed. “Look at this, the mighty Diluc on bed rest. What have you done now to get yourself in this position?”
“Nothing, the nuns are being dramatic.” Diluc replied, still greatly inconvenienced by being required to stay at the cathedral.
Kaeya gave him a calculated smile, allowing the silence to grow tense and awkward. Neither of them had seen the other in a long time. The last time they did see each other, only resulted in pain. Kaeya coughed lightly into his sleeve before regaining his composure. “So…how was your trip to Snezhnaya?”
“Productive.” Diluc said, shrugging a little. He didn’t necessarily want to see Kaeya right now, still holding the grudge from that fateful night, but he remembered Jean’s words. He supposed it couldn’t hurt to tolerate his estranged brother for her sake.
“How did you possibly manage it all without your vision?” Kaeya asked, chuckling a little when the red haired man refused to reply. “Oh come on, brother, don’t be a stranger.”
Diluc sighed, becoming irritated with the questions already. He knew that his brother was merely trying to make conversation and Diluc was being horribly unhelpful, but he couldn’t be blamed when he would rather talk to a dung beetle.
Kaeya seemed to take the hint, a flash of an unknown emotion in his visible eye, though he quickly masked his emotions. He stood up, albeit a little shaky. “Well, do you need anything? I can get you another drink or some more food.”
“Do they have any better biscuits?” Diluc asked, trying to soften his tone but just ended up sounding congested.
“I’ll go see.” Kaeya said, nodding his head at him before he left.
Diluc frowned to himself, confused at his former brothers behavior. He wasn’t sure how he expected the man to act around him, but it certainly wasn’t this. He expected more hatred, clever insults, and blatant glares. Instead, he got calculated smiles, quiet coughs, and tense conversations.
Jean returned a few moments later. Her face still had that same expression that he couldn’t identify. She smiled sadly at him, sitting in the chair beside him. “Did you and Kaeya talk? I saw him leave the room.”
“We didn’t really talk.” Diluc grumbled, shrugging a bit.
Jean didn’t look pleased at this information, her jaw clenching in disappointment. “Why not? I asked you to be nice to him, Diluc.”
“I was!” Diluc defended himself, not able to stop himself from rolling his eyes. He sighed a little, sensing her growing frustration. “Why do you want me to act differently around him?”
Jean was quiet for a moment, mulling over what she should say in her mind. After a minute, she furrowed her eyebrows. “I don’t think he’d want me to tell you this…but I know he’s too stubborn to say anything to you before..”
“Before what?” Diluc prompted.
“Kaeya’s sick.” The acting grandmaster said, worry written all over her features.
“He’s sick?” Diluc echoed, his heart pounding harder at the revelation. “With what?”
“His heart. It isn’t pumping well enough. The muscles are weakened and bruised. The nuns say his veins are working overtime trying to get the blood to where it needs to go. This backup is sending fluid and blood into the lungs by accident, hence the cough.”
Diluc’s eyes widened and he found that he was speechless. He had never truly imagined a world without his brother. When he had injured Kaeya that fateful night, he tried to ignore the fear that he wouldn’t survive his wounds. No matter how much he hated Kaeya, he couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving this world.
“He’s had it for a while, ever since you left. It’s been getting worse. I…” Jean sniffled a little, quickly wiping the moisture from her eyes. “I don’t think he’ll get better.”
The winery owner had no idea what to say or do. His mouth was dry, opposite of his eyes which were now brimming with traitorous tears. He took in a sharp breath, trying to regain his composure. “Is it fatal?”
Jean didn’t have to answer due to the fact that Kaeya had entered the room with a freshly cooked biscuit in his hands. It was placed on a napkin and he set it on the nightstand proudly. He was breathing heavily, as if the trip had winded him.
Kaeya then seemed to notice the tense, somber atmosphere of the room and smiled nervously. “What’s the matter? Has Diluc decided to run off to Snezhnaya again?”
Jean coughed into her sleeve, presumably trying to hide a small sob. She wiped her eyes subtly, making an excuse and leaving the room.
Diluc watched her leave, now understanding why she was so insistent on him showing Kaeya some mercy. He now understood why the nuns required him to stay and why Adelinde sent him off to the city hurriedly.
They all knew.
They all knew that Kaeya didn’t have long and they didn’t want the winery owner to regret his harsh, ignorant attitude towards his brother.
Diluc steeled his resolve, letting out a slow breath before turning to Kaeya with a small and forced smile. “I’m not leaving Mondstadt anytime soon, don’t worry.”
Kaeya didn’t seem convinced, now only appearing confused at Diluc’s sudden change in behavior. He gestured to the biscuit, still warm on the nightstand. “I had them make it fresh. It isn’t crumbly, I know how you hate getting crumbs all over yourself.”
Diluc eyed the biscuit, feeling a bit nauseous thinking about it. He was touched that his brother tried so hard to deliver him the perfect biscuit, but he couldn’t eat it now. Not with everything he knew. “I’m not hungry anymore.”
Kaeya tried to hide the way his face fell, but he didn’t conceal it well. He tried for a smile, though it didn’t seem genuine. “Okay, do you need anything else before I go?”
The question was innocent enough but Diluc still winced at the phrasing. He knew he didn’t want Kaeya to go, either way. He couldn’t figure out how to make him stay and it was killing him inside. He was never a wordsmith like his brother. “I..I’m good. But come visit me? Again. Um, soon.”
At this, Kaeya’s expression flickered, more sadness filtering through. He steps forward shakily, his hair disguising the sweat on his forehead from simply standing. “Can I share something with you?”
Diluc nodded, his eyes softening as he took in how sickly and pale his brother appeared.
“I have unfortunately been given the news of my poor health. Although, to you I suppose it can be interpreted as good news.”
Diluc frowned at the last sentence the captain added, but decided not to bring it up. It wouldn’t help to start an argument now. “How bad is it?”
Kaeya shifted his weight, averting his eyes out of habit. He always did this before he told a lie, though Diluc never told him. “I probably have less than a week left, that’s what the nuns estimated. I wasn’t going to tell you, but I think you deserve to know. Everyone else does.”
Even though Diluc already knew of his brothers sickness, hearing the news again made a pit form in his stomach.
Anybody else in this situation would begin crying uncontrollably if they learned that their loved one didn’t have long. But Diluc could form no tears. His eyes burned as if tears were beginning to form, but nothing happened. “And the healers…?”
Kaeya gave him an amused smile as he shook his head. “They can’t heal internal injuries. I’ve tried everything to at least slow the inevitable, but a broken heart can’t be mended.”
“So…you’re dying?” Diluc said matter-of-factly. His brain hadn’t yet caught up with what the news meant, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted it to.
Kaeya sat in the seat beside Diluc’s bed, not needing to respond to the question. They both knew the answer.
“Can I ask you a favor?” Kaeya whispered quietly, fidgeting with his fingers.
“I suppose.”
“When I go,” Kaeya started, trying to phrase it as delicately as possible. “Would you want to be there with me? I was originally planning on walking to a field somewhere, laying down, and closing my eyes. But, I don’t think I want to be alone.”
Diluc didn’t have to think twice about his response. Even if he still hated his brother, he would never force him to be alone on his deathbed. “I’ll be there.”
Kaeya nodded, his emotions hidden beneath his cleverly constructed smile. He let out a cough, holding his handkerchief to his mouth until he was finished. He tucked the fabric back into his pocket, inhaling deeply. “We have some time. Would you like to go to dinner with me? My treat.”
“I would love that.”
——
Diluc fidgeted with his napkin, waiting for his brother to come back with the food.
Kaeya had wanted to order his favorite dish, the fruity skewers, and who was Diluc to deny him? He ordered the same dish and he would every time he came back to Good Hunter. He would just have to imagine he wasn’t alone. He’d have to picture Kaeya’s face, smiling in front of him.
Kaeya sat down with two plates of food. He handed one of them over to Diluc before digging into his own. “Enjoy! Sara gave them to me on the house.”
Diluc nodded, understanding why. He held his fork loosely, his appetite nonexistent. He had skewers before and he recalled how the other always teased him for sliding the meat and fruit off the stick and eating it with a fork.
Kaeya was already on his second skewer, closing his visible eye as he savored the taste.
“How are you feeling?” Diluc asked, taking a bite off his fork and chewing slowly.
“Happy. Eating my favorite dish, free of charge, with my favorite brother? Heaven on earth.” Kaeya chuckled, the corner of his eye crinkling as he smiled genuinely.
Diluc stiffened at the captain’s words. He wasn’t sure how to react to affection from Kaeya ever since their fight. Even little things like this were hard for him to handle. “I’m your favorite brother?”
He knew it was stupid to get all emotional over two words, but he hadn’t thought that Kaeya still regarded him as a brother. Relief washed over him, along with regret.
“You’re my only brother. But that’s not the reason why you’re my favorite. I grew up with you. I chased you around the grapevines and got frustrated when you were too fast for me. I pretended not to notice when you purposefully slowed down so I could catch up.”
“I wore a proud smile when you first got your vision, helping you find wooden targets to practice on. I shared so many memories with you, all outweighing the bad.” Kaeya finished with both his sentence and his food. He coughed into his sleeve, specks of a dark liquid staining his blue coat. He took a sip of his drink.
Diluc was momentarily caught off guard by Kaeya’s reply, deeply moved by it all. His expression warmed at the words, his lips quirking upwards as he took another bite of his food. “Oh…thank you. I also enjoy your company.”
Kaeya smiled, a part of him surprised that Diluc was being more open with him. He knew why, however, and he was slightly disappointed that it took him being on his deathbed for Diluc to smile at him again.
He sighed, shaking his head at his thoughts. This wasn’t the time for that. “Do you want to take a walk with me to the Dawn Winery? I haven’t been there in a while.”
Diluc stood up with Kaeya, nodding in agreement at the idea. He was headed back there anyways. “That’s fine with me.”
The walk to the winery was a slow one, the breeze doing nothing to cool Kaeya down. He was sweating with the effort of walking so far, but he was determined to do it. He wanted to see the Dawn Winery, no, he absolutely needed to see it.
Kaeya coughed into his handkerchief, wiping his mouth before Diluc could see the crimson on his lips. He inhaled shakily, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “I haven’t had the chance to take many walks lately. I missed the scenery.”
Diluc nodded, a soft smile on his face. He allowed his brother to take as many breaks as he pleased, not wanting to rush him. The winery came in view in the distance and he couldn’t help but remember fond memories of them as children. “Remember when you climbed to the roof of the winery? We were playing hide and seek and it took me forever to realize where you’d gone.”
“I was impressed by your feat but could also tell you were too afraid to get down. I had to call Father for help and he grounded both of us for a week. That didn’t stop you from trying again the next time we played the game.”
Kaeya had a reminiscent look in his eye, chuckling a little at the memory. He was a little surprised that the red haired man brought it up. He had thought that his brother wanted to disown him entirely, even from his own memories. “I do remember that. You can’t beat the view up there. I don’t think you ever climbed up there, did you?”
Diluc shook his head, scoffing. However, his tone wasn’t harsh like it would normally be. It was almost gentle. “Of course not. I’m not as brave as you, brother.”
The last word filled Kaeya’s broken heart with joy but he refused to cry. Instead, he coughed again into his sleeve. This cough seemed to be a harsher one and he eventually ended up leaning against a nearby tree when he got woozy. His strength was sapped and he sagged against the tree, allowing himself to sit against the trunk. This time, he didn’t even try to wipe the blood from around his mouth.
Diluc rushed to his brothers side, a flash of panic in his red eyes. He knelt down beside the tree, carefully examining Kaeya with a soft but worried expression. “Are you okay?”
“Mhmm…” Kaeya rasped, his shoulders moving up and down rapidly as he tried to breathe. “Just…regaining my breath.”
Diluc wasn’t convinced, his eyebrows pinched together in concern.
Kaeya used the tree to help him stand up, his legs shaking more than usual with the attempt. His face was paler too, his forehead shining with sweat from the exertion. “Let’s…keep going.”
Diluc stood as well, his hands hovering by his brothers shoulders, unsure if he should help. “I can carry you if you want. I don’t mind.”
Kaeya immediately shook his head, his lips pressed together in concentration as he stared ahead at the Dawn Winery. He was moving slow, slower than a turtle, but he would do it. “No need. I…I want to walk there myself.”
A perturbed sigh escaped Diluc’s mouth. He knew how stubborn the other could be so he didn’t bother trying to convince him accept his aid. All he could do was walk beside Kaeya, offering moral support. “Alright, but don’t push yourself. We can take as many breaks as you want.”
“No!” Kaeya responded, his voice almost desperate which alarmed the red haired man. A cough bubbled up in the captain’s chest but he pushed through it, wiping the blood from his mouth. He knew that if he allowed himself to cough now, he wouldn’t have the strength to get back up.
“Why not? Kaeya? You don’t look so good.” Diluc noted, his heart tearing at his brothers broken state.
Kaeya only picked up the pace, his eyes never leaving the Dawn Winery. The edge of the vineyard was approaching along with the sign welcoming guests to the building.
As they stepped into the vineyard, Kaeya’s strength began to slowly fade away. He held a gloved hand up to his mouth as if that would help prevent the cough from escaping.
A sense of desire filled him as he watched the winery come closer in his vision. A hopeful smile tugged on his lips as he staggered closer. He was going to make it there. He would finally walk the steps of the winery feeling welcomed and invited.
Kaeya’s legs failed him, his body tumbling to the ground. He barely caught himself with his hands, his muscles shaking with the strain. His cough built in his chest and it took everything in him to not let it win. Defeated tears filled his eyes and he barely stopped himself from full out sobbing.
Diluc rushed over, his eyes wide with fear as he knelt down beside his brother. He was breathing fast, knowing exactly what was about to happen but refusing to accept it. “Kaeya? Are you okay? Do you want me to carry you back to the cathedral?”
“D-Diluc, I-“ The cough interrupted Kaeya’s sentence, violent and never ending. His shoulders shook with each cough, all of his muscles burning. Blood frothed out of the corner of his mouth, trickling down his chin and onto the ground in front of him. He coughed so hard that eventually his tears mixed with the blood.
After what seemed like ages, the cough ended and Kaeya collapsed against Diluc’s chest. His visible eye was squeezed shut in pain and misery as he tried desperately to catch his breath.
Diluc held his brother close, tears of his own trailing down his face. He felt helpless, he had no idea how to comfort or relieve his brother of the pain. His heart hurt just seeing Kaeya in so much pain. When he spoke, his voice was shaky. “You said you had a week left. Why is this happening now?”
Kaeya tried to laugh nervously, but it just ended up evolving into a cough. “Oh…I might’ve lied.”
Diluc pressed his lips into a line, exhaling out of his nose in an attempt to calm himself. For the first time since his fathers death, he wasn’t feeling anger, he was feeling grief. “How long? How long do you actually have?”
A sad smile was on his brother’s lips. “Maybe a few hours, at most.”
Diluc didn’t respond, he couldn’t. He wouldn’t allow himself to cry when Kaeya needed him to be strong.
“I was worried I wouldn’t get to say goodbye to you.”
Diluc held Kaeya tighter at that statement, a sense of guilt overwhelming him. He didn’t want to admit it, but if Adelinde and the nuns hadn’t insisted he stay in the city, he wouldn’t have looked for Kaeya. He would’ve avoided him like the plague. He wouldn’t be able to say goodbye. He mentally wrote a note to thank his head maid, along with the nuns at the cathedral.
Kaeya looked up at the sky, small coughs still rising in his chest. The sunset shone back at him, the sky blood red to match his appearance. Still, he wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to be at the Dawn Winery, not at the edge of it. He inhaled shakily, black dots appearing in his vision. “Diluc?”
Diluc held him tighter, biting his lip to keep his sob from ripping out of his throat. “What is it, Kaeya?”
“Carry me closer would you? I want to feel at home before…before I go.” Kaeya whispered, tears clouding his vision. He didn’t want Diluc to know how scared he was, how much he was regretting not doing more to prevent his heart from failing. All those nights in the tavern certainly didn’t help.
Diluc felt his heart break into a million pieces. He was happy that Kaeya considered the Dawn Winery his home still, but that thought alone brought on more tears. He wished his brother could’ve come back to his home on a more positive note. He wished it didn’t have to end like this.
However, he couldn’t deny his dear brother his last wish. Diluc gently picked him up, noticing just how light the blue haired man was with a frown. He carried him closer, the blood red sunset almost mocking him as he stared up at it.
The servants had long since gone home, leaving the Dawn Winery quiet and dark as the dying captain was placed gently on the grass in front of it. Diluc still held him close in his lap, his tears falling into the blue hair of his brother.
A wave of desperation washed over Diluc and his eyes filled with more tears. “Kaeya, please. Is there anything I can do? Is there anything that could help? Please tell me there is.”
Kaeya gently brushed his fingers over Diluc’s arm in an attempt to comfort him. He shifted slightly so he was facing his brother in his arms. The captain smiled sadly, his one visible eye only focused on the man in front of him. “Please…just hold me.”
Diluc couldn’t help but let out a grief stricken sob at those two words, holding his brother tightly. “Of course, just like old times.”
A strand of hair moved with the wind and fell in front of Kaeya’s face. Diluc gently tucked it behind his brother’s ear with fondness. Kaeya closed his eye briefly at the kind touch, relishing in the rare affection he was receiving.
Opening his eye again, he stared at the sunset, thoughts churning in his slowing mind. “I need to tell you something that you need to hear…”
Diluc was quick to shake his head, refusing to accept it. “No, you’re not saying goodbye.”
“No, no, listen.” Kaeya whispered, his skin pale in the dimming light. The sun had met the horizon, the darkness creeping forward.
Diluc nodded, sniffling a little as he allowed his brother to continue with his sentence.
Kaeya moved his eye from the setting sun to his brother, offering him one last small smile. His voice was soft as his strength faded away. “I forgive you.”
Diluc couldn’t respond, sobs filling the silence as Kaeya’s eye slipped shut, his muscles going limp. The vision at the captain’s belt turned from the familiar shade of light blue to an eternal gray.
Seeing this only sent a spike of panic through Diluc’s heart and he shook Kaeya’s body in a feeble attempt to wake him up. “Kaeya! Kaeya, no…Kaeya!” He screamed, rage building inside of him as he searched for somebody, anybody to blame for his little brother’s death. In the end, he could only blame himself.
He held his brother close, squeezing him tightly in his arms, just like Kaeya would’ve wanted when they were kids. He sobbed harder, resting his forehead on the top of Kaeya’s head as he cried.
He wasn’t sure how long he sat on the ground in front of his home, holding the body of his childhood best friend and adopted brother. The last real family he had. When he looked back up at the sky, the moon was there to greet him.
Diluc reached his hand toward Kaeya’s dimmed vision, unclasping it from his belt and holding it like a lifeline.
He took one last look at Kaeya’s face, his lips and chin stained with dried blood. Tear tracks stained his cheeks as well, his only visible eye staring forward unseeing.
Diluc gently closed his brother’s eye forever.