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… oOo …
Diluc stared up at the Knights of Favonius Headquarters. The grey stone was far more weather-worn. The mould that he had once carefully traced out was now wilder than ever. He could see the scorch marks from Klee’s treasures littered on the face of the building.
He’d never thought that the child he had once rescued from within the vines of his father’s Vineyard would eventually be the youngest official Knight in history.
“Master Diluc?”
“Is the Acting Grandmaster in?” Diluc asked, ignoring the odd looks he was receiving. His dislike of the Knights was well known since his return. Usually he would have someone else visit the Knights’ Headquarters instead of doing it himself.
“She returned not too long ago.”
“Thank you.” Diluc climbed the stairs he had once eagerly bound up daily. He had hoped to feel any trace of the awe that had once filled him when he opened the double doors to enter. He hoped to find a spark of that determination to work harder, and do his best to protect Mondstadt, that had once filled him every time he had stepped into the entrance hall.
Only disappointment greeted him with the almost empty entrance hall.
Diluc knocked on the door to the Grandmaster’s office. The conversation within the office paused, and Jean’s exhausted voice welcomed him in.
“Master Diluc? Is something the matter?” Jean stood quickly, worry lacing her expression.
Lisa was with her, and Diluc found himself glad he wouldn’t need to make the side trip to the library. The library had been his favourite haunt once. Diluc didn’t think he could stomach seeing it today.
“Nothing urgent, Acting Grandmaster.” Diluc hesitated for a moment in the doorway before stepping in. “I found a recipe in Fontaine that I thought you may enjoy. Miss Lisa, Razor mentioned you wanted to try some of the Mourning Flower Tea. I managed to pick some up on my return.”
“Oh?” Lisa’s eyes lit up. “Has the Akademia managed to make contact with the Lost Darshan again? This is rare tea. I couldn’t possibly drink it myself. Would you care to join me for a cup in the library some time next week, Master Diluc?”
“I’m afraid I will have to disappoint you. I’m planning to return to Fontaine by the end of the week.” Diluc tried for a smile. “Although, our Acting Grandmaster looks like she could use the break.”
“That is unfortunate. I suspect that would also leave you busy for the rest of the week?”
Diluc inclined his head.
“Remember to also take breaks when you need them, Diluc,” Jean reminded him. “When you return we can find some time to try this recipe.”
“I will keep that in mind,” Diluc promised.
Diluc hastily offered his greetings and turned around to leave the office. Jean’s touch on the office was minimal as if she didn’t want to grow too comfortable with the looming reminder of Varka’s eventual return.
But Diluc could still see it in the rearrangement of the desk that held similarities to how he had organised his own as Cavalry Captain. Jean was naturally familiar with the layout from when Kaeya, Jean, and Diluc had poured over meals, plans, and paperwork alike. When it was him cajoling Jean out from under her mother’s strict watch, and Kaeya egging her on.
“Master Diluc? This is a surprise.”
Diluc blinked and Kaeya was smugly standing in front of him.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, Sir Kaeya?”
“Oh? You must be in a very good mood, Master Diluc.” Kaeya smiled. “Since you’re in such a good mood, I’m sure you won’t mind me escorting you to the gate? It’s about time for my afternoon patrol, and I shouldn’t be slacking.”
“Do as you wish.”
Kaeya hadn’t moved by the time Diluc pushed open the doors.
“Is there a problem?”
“None,” Kaeya assured him, quickly catching up.
… oOo …
Diluc spent the next few days thinking about the awkward silence that had surrounded him and Kaeya on their walk through Mondstadt. He had been the one to initiate conversation with Kaeya before, but no matter how hard Diluc tried, there didn’t seem to be any neutral topic he could bring up. There was little he could say that wouldn’t dredge up old memories.
To think Diluc couldn’t even start a conversation with the person he had once been the closest to. Now there was no one who held such an intimate position. Not mutually, at least.
Diluc dropped his head into his hands in frustration.
Deciding that there wasn’t going to be much work done until he had cleared his mind, Diluc grabbed the nostalgic Favonius Greatsword and hoped to run into as many hilichurl and Treasure Hoarder camps as possible.
The movements were ingrained into his body, Diluc thought, cleaving into a hilichurl archer. The greatsword, though, was noticeably not one he was comfortable with any more. It was a weapon that was now slightly unbalanced towards the hilt, and more obviously useful with multiple Vision holders seeing as he was able to gather energy far quicker with it.
…but that wasn’t how Diluc fought anymore. There wasn’t a team; there wasn’t backup - it was just him hacking at whoever stood in front of him with only his flames and the bare steel of his blade. There was a phoenix that shot out of his Vision instead of the chains that had shot out of his body with or without a blade. Those chains had probably saved his life far more often than his Vision ever would.
Diluc had given up that comfort, even if he often felt the aching regret of destroying yet another faithful companion.
It had been for the best. He had seen that look in Kaeya’s eye. The same suppressed fear that Kaeya had woken with as a child. Diluc wasn’t willing to be a bigger contributor to that than he already was.
Waving Vind off as she thanked him for clearing the hilichurl-infested watchtower, Diluc settled at the edge of the cliff. The wind was fresh, and Diluc welcomed the soothing smell of the sea. The rhythmic, thundering sound of the waves breaking against the sheer cliff faces steadily calmed his racing mind.
Pyro Vision holders rarely liked water. Diluc couldn’t say he was an exception, but his experience in Snezhnaya, and his childhood memories playing in water with Kaeya, ensured that he disliked ice far more than he disliked water.
Ironic that Cryo had become Kaeya’s element.
That Cryo seemed to be melded in everything he tried to run away from.
“Oho. Do I spot our great Master Diluc slacking?”
For a second, Diluc was tempted to throw himself off the cliff. To safety his brain told him.
“Is it time for your patrol, already?” The moment passed, and Diluc turned to Kaeya. He hadn’t meant to have met any of the Knight’s patrols. Kaeya’s patrol was usually one of the last patrols of the day that far out.
“Oh? As much as I’d hate to admit it, I’m actually running a little late on this patrol. How long have you been out here? I met Vind returning to Springvale on my way. I was expecting to have to save her from the hilichurls again.”
Diluc would swear he had only just greeted Vind. He saw Kaeya crouch next to him from the corner of his eye.
“This is truly a nice spot, Master Diluc. Personally I’d prefer a drink as well, but I know you have a questionable taste in drinks.”
“And you have a questionable alcohol tolerance.”
“I certainly will let you know when I find alcohol that can knock me unconscious for three days.” Kaeya snickered at Diluc’s scowl.
The wind blew past them. An evening chill joined the sliver of remaining sun.
“Kaeya, if… if things had been different, would you have preferred to run the Winery?”
“And have access to almost all the wine in Teyvat? You must certainly think highly of my self-restraint. And my alcohol tolerance.” Kaeya scoffed. “Besides, there’s no better job in Teyvat than a Cavalry Captain with neither cavalry nor horses. Or were you hoping to slack off as much as I can? I’m sorry to say, we would probably have been on Varka’s expedition. No slacking for you .”
Diluc found himself snorting despite himself.
“Aren’t you going to finish your patrol?”
“I have no doubt you’ve cleared all the camps from here to Mondstadt during your afternoon stroll. I only walked this far out to get the smell of burned grass out of my nose.” Kaeya only stood when Diluc made a movement to stand himself. “Tell me, how many forest fires have you started in Sumeru? Mondstadt is fortunate with a plentitude of grass for you to burn. Sumeru is either forest or desert. When you travel there, I wonder if Sumeru will be all desert when you return.”
“Don’t worry, I try to travel around the major forests. I’d hate to be banned from a second nation. Especially one as central as Sumeru.”
Kaeya stared dumbfounded as Diluc brushed grass and sand off his coat and pants.
“Was-was that a joke, Master Diluc?”
“I’ll let you decide.”
… oOo …
A familiar box landed in front of Kaeya with the drink he ordered. Kaeya didn’t need to look inside the box to remember the pair of quills within it: one red, one blue, and both stolen and reluctantly returned several times during his and Diluc’s childhoods. Their father had been the only person who could ever convince them to give those quills up. Yet a quick, curious peak told him that both lay in a box in front of him.
“This is a surprise? Woke up on the wrong side of bed today, Master Diluc?” Kaeya asked, waving the box in front of Diluc as he took a seat at the counter. “Your father treasured this quill set.”
“He was your father too. You’re still his son, that’s not anything that anyone but Father could take away from you. Besides, those will see more use with you than with me with your flair for extravagance.”
“Come now, Master Diluc,” Kaeya drawled. “We both know this was never truly a set. Besides, red just really isn’t my colour.“
“Yet you always insisted on trying to use that particular one.”
“But you always ended up using it.”
Diluc sighed. “I will not be taking either of the quills back, Sir Kaeya. You may do what you wish with them.”
“Well, if that’s the case, I’m not one to spurn someone else’s kindness. Thank you, Master Diluc.”
Diluc turned away from the counter, and Kaeya couldn’t help watching DIluc a little closer than he usually did. There was a smooth robotic nature to Diluc’s movements that was occasionally present since he had returned, as if DIluc had relegated such a precious task as mixing alcohol to a series of automatic movements. Diluc’s drinks were still somehow perfect, so Kaeya didn’t have reason to complain.
Yet.
“Are you not feeling well, Master Diluc?”
“Why do you ask?”
Kaeya motioned towards Diluc’s Vision that glowed far dimmer than it should have since Diluc didn’t look sick and his movements hadn’t faltered all night. Kaeya had cared for the Vision long enough to know what normal looked like at a glance.
Diluc stepped closer to the counter, hiding his Vision from view.
“Do not worry yourself. It will pass.”
“If you say so, Master Diluc.” Kaeya drained his glass. The sting of the alcohol couldn’t mask the worry at Diluc’s dismissive behaviour. He had always been almost guaranteed to get a rise out of Diluc, a flicker of irritation in his otherwise emotionless face when their father was brought up. Not to mention Diluc’s behaviour the entire week. Kaeya desperately wanted to ask.
“Have a good night then, Master Diluc,” Kaeya said instead.
“Stay safe,” follows him out the tavern.
… oOo …
“Thank you for everything,’ Diluc tells Adelinde and Elzer, a bouquet of flowers in his arms. Both of them know his destination is Crepus’ grave again. Diluc had made it something of a monthly ritual to start with picking a few Cecilias from Dawn Winery’s own gardens. The air of melancholy followed him religiously on those days.
“Are you certain you wouldn’t like me to come with you?” Adelinde offers.
Diluc shakes his head. He grants the worried pair a small smile.
He can feel their gazes on him as he picks the Lampgrass from the damaged Seelie Court just beyond Dawn Winery, and even until he walks around the edges of the property and past the bend that renders the mansion out of view. Diluc sinks to his knees then, just out of view and in the shadow of the looming cliffs. He should feel something . He should feel regret; he should have looked back a few times. He should have burned the image of the sun setting against the roof of the winery into the back of his eyelids.
Diluc remembered admiring the view of Dawn Winery set against Dragonspine and the shimmering water glittering next to the property so often in his youth, even when he knew he would be returning that evening. There was some sort of feeling in those memories that had disappeared through time just so they were lost to him now.
He tried desperately to drag those feelings out from his memories every time he left. If he could fake the feeling a few times, then surely it would become real again.
It never did. Diluc could never summon even the barest wisp of those feelings.
They had left with him, but unlike him, hadn’t bothered to return.
… oOo …
Diluc lays the bouquet near his father’s headstone. Ceclias, whirlwind asters, and lampgrass. He hadn’t wanted to ruin the bouquet with the waterlogged Calla Lilies that quickly died almost as soon as they were removed from the water they grew in. Not this time.
“Thank you for everything, Father. You gave me more than I deserved and everything I could possibly have wished for.”
Perhaps if Father was still here, maybe … maybe it would feel like there was still a small space in Mondstadt where he belonged. Maybe there would still be some familiarity blowing through the winds that had once relaxed him. Familiarity that he now had to seek in the cold of Dragonspine and the sound of violent crashing waters against cliff faces and the clang of metal against metal as he fought desperately to feel anything.
Maybe Diluc could have been strong enough to carve out a small space he could squeeze himself into.
If he could find something to hold on to.
But he wasn’t. Diluc was a weak man who couldn’t find a lifeboat.
“You always wanted a Vision, Father. I remember how happy you were when I received mine so many years ago.” Diluc unclipped his Vision from his belt and stared at it for a few moments. He tucked it next to the bouquet on the grave. “This was always as much yours as it was mine.”
Diluc stood. His Vision stared back at him from within the flowers.
Resolutely turning away from it and the grave, Diluc walked out of the graveyard.
… oOo …
Restlessness followed Kaeya from the moment he woke that morning. It followed him through his paperwork, through his morning patrol around Stormterror’s Lair, and even after he returned from his unfortunately short afternoon patrol around Starfell Lake. He almost decides to veer away from the headquarters and to the graveyard behind the cathedral, but Diluc strides past with determination and a bouquet of flowers and there’s no question where his destination is.
Not wanting to interrupt Diluc was only enough to fend Kaeya off for so long - however long it took for Diluc to finally leave. Diluc never lingered beyond the time when Angel’s Share opened for the night, which gave Kaeya the opportunity to visit the graveyard before he headed to the tavern.
The bouquet he had seen Diluc carrying into the graveyard looked untouched since it was set down. The buzzing energy that had filled him since the morning seemed to settle. It was some kind of special ability the Ragnvindrs had. The Cecilias that Kaeya had heard Diluc’s mother had loved; the Windwheel Asters that Crepus had always ensured were fresh in his office, the flickering Lampgrass that had always fascinated Kaeya, and…
… flickering… red ?
Kaeya’s hands scrabbled for the glinting Vision, pulling grass, stems, and flower petals from the bouquet in his haste. It’s Diluc’s, of this, Kaeya has no doubt.
And the last time Diluc had left his Vision behind had been…
“If things were different, would you have preferred to run the Winery?”
Had the ‘things’ that Diluc referred to been their fight, or Diluc coming back from his travels alive?
He doesn’t think he knows Diluc well enough to guess, especially if Kaeya had missed all the signs of Diluc abandoning his Vision again. If Kaeya had believed Diluc had been opening up with him visiting the Knight's Headquarters and even offering the occasional joke.
But he had the feeling, now, that Diluc wasn’t planning on coming back. He rarely was after abandoning his Vision. Especially with a Vision that was duller than usual and flickering.
And he wasn’t planning on being found this time either.
“Do not worry yourself. It will pass.”
Kaeya knew that someone who didn’t want to be found, and knew all of the Knights’ patrol routes, would look to the most deserted, and thereby least patrolled areas in Mondstadt. Undoubtedly, they were Musk Reef and the unmarked island. Years of patrols tell him that he can only reach one, and if he chooses wrong Diluc may have long since disappeared before Kaeya reaches him. Kaeya would never know how close or how far away he was from Diluc if that happened.
“This is a nice spot, Master Diluc,” Kaeya had said only a few days ago.
Kaeya headed for the unmarked island.
He took a brief few moments to gather some basic supplies - food and medical - because returning from that island would not be easy. The long glide ate into Kaeya’s mind - what if he was wrong? What if Diluc had indeed gone to Musk Reef anyway? DIluc wasn’t that sentimental anymore. Diluc wouldn’t have just handed Kaeya their father’s quills if he had been.
How had he not noticed? How had Diluc gone through the entire week, maybe even a few months, planning this with no one noticing? Kaeya himself had thought Diluc’s behaviour odd, but hadn’t thought to do anything about it. Would he have to be racing to find DIluc now if he had just spoken to Diluc a bit longer? If he’d asked the questions he’d desperately wanted to ask last time?
It’s raining when Kaeya finally lands on the unmarked island. Kaeya curses at the already poor visibility becoming worse. The island was utterly still even with the steady rain. A short scout around the island reveals a long abandoned camping site of an unfortunate adventurer and no hint of damaged foliage or footsteps whatsoever, other than his steps that were left icy in his wake. Had Diluc not come to the island after all?
A dull ripple of red catches Kaeya’s eye. It quickly disappears beneath the dark waves. Kaeya releases his burst and runs atop the quickly freezing water to where he had spotted the flash of colour.
Kaeya recognizes it as the ceremonial robe Crepus had made for DIluc when Diluc had become captain. Kaeya didn’t understand why it was floating out to sea from an empty island.
Unless Diluc had literally all the way out to sea until his glider literally couldn’t glide anymore. Why would the Anemo Archon even let him glide out that far?
Kaeya continued searching the sea’s surface for any sign of Diluc. As far as Kaeya knew, that ceremonial robe was supposed to still be gathering dust in Dawn Winery. Perhaps even sold off with the Manor.
Kaeya couldn’t tell why it was the lack of consistently splashing water that he heard first. He saw the steady bobbing of a person who had stopped moving against the waves next. It was impressive that Diluc had managed to swim as far as he had in the frigid water, but it was equally as frightening now that he had stopped.
“Diluc!” Kaeya yelled, racing towards him. The figure didn’t turn around or make any indication that Kaeya had been heard. Instead, he seemed to look up into the cloud-darkened sky.
Then, he was sinking.
Kaeya reached out to grab him and missed. Steeling himself, Kaeya dived into the water himself. He nearly lost his breath as he hit the frozen water, but he was determined to reach Diluc before he disappeared into the darkness of the ocean. In this weather, Kaeya knew he wouldn’t be able to find Diluc again if he looked away for even a moment.
Finally. FInally . Kaeya grasped onto Diluc’s arm and started tugging him back to the surface.
Reaching into his Vision to freeze the surface of the water again, Kaeya spluttered as he broke through the surface. The cold still tried to steal his breath and energy as he dragged Diluc onto the ice.
Their wet clothes were not doing them any favours and without Diluc to dry them off it wouldn’t be long until both of them got sick.
Diluc who wasn’t coughing. He wasn’t moving. Yet he looked so much at peace that Kaeya hesitated. Kaeya hadn’t seen Diluc look so peaceful in all the time he had known him as an adult. There was the weight of blood and death and whatever answers he had found on his travels that always clung to him.
But Kaeya was the selfish younger brother. Diluc had always promised him that was why he had an older brother. And Kaeya had once promised himself he would fight the gods for his older brother if he had to.
He had never imagined it would have to be his brother that he fought.
But right now, Kaeya would make sure Diluc survives. On this island of ice, there were no gods; there was no history, no Khaenri’ah, no Mondstadt. There was just a little brother trying to get his older brother to live. And Diluc couldn’t fault Kaeya for that.
“Do as you wish,” Diluc had told him only days ago.
Kaeya could have cried when Diluc gasped again. Kaeya turned him on his side so Diluc could cough out as much water as possible. Kaeya surreptitiously swiped at his eyes.
Diluc’s gasping and coughing slowed.
“Why?” He rasped instead, through the water that still dribbled out of his mouth. “Let me just…”
Kaeya grabbed Diluc, hugging him from behind as Diluc tried to move closer to the edge of Kaeya’s ice island.
“Diluc, please .” Diluc’s movements paused at Kaeya’s voice. “ Please. I can’t…”
Diluc didn’t make any further movements towards the edge, but he didn’t say anything either.
“Let’s.. Let’s go back to Mond, okay?”
Kaeya felt Diluc’s Vision heat up in his pocket, and Kaeya’s clothing dried.
“Yours… Yours too, Diluc.”
Kaeya could feel Diluc’s unwillingness in the spluttering warmth in his pocket despite Kaeya’s own clothing continuously drying.
“Alright, let’s get back to the island. Then you can start a fire to keep me warm?”
Kaeya felt the fledglings of relief when Diluc nodded against him.
Ice bridging back to the island took longer with Kaeya being extra careful to avoid getting ice on Diluc’s still soaked clothing.
Both of them tumble on to the sand once they hit shore. Kaeya felt the exhaustion finally hit him as Diluc lit a fire as promised. Diluc makes no move for the Vision they both know is in Kaeya’s pocket as he settles himself on a broken block.
“Why?” Diluc asks again. His head doesn’t rise from where he stares at the sand.
Kaeya remembered the peace and relief on Diluc’s face when he found him and swallowed around the lump in his throat.
“You could be warm and dry and safe in Mondstadt right now. You could be in the tavern with Rosaria and Venti.” Diluc’s hands clenched on his thighs. “Why did you…?”
Kaeya sank down to his knees in front of Diluc. He hated this. Diluc had always been that bright, guiding light for as long as he knew him. Diluc’s light was the only hope he had known his whole life, and he hadn’t noticed that light spluttering. No, instead, he’d been more surprised to see its occasional glow.
Diluc looked away. Kaeya grasped Diluc’s hands instead. Kaeya squeezed them, still not knowing what to say, what to do, but knowing that Diluc was somehow hurting. Hurting enough to want to disappear without telling anyone.
It was easy when it was Klee, when all Kaeya needed to do was mention one of her treasures and she was excited again. Diluc had always comforted Kaeya so easily, so naturally. Why was it so difficult for Kaeya to do the same for Diluc?
Diluc moved to pull his hands away and Kaeya panicked. Kaeya lunged to wrap his arms around Diluc instead. He would keep Diluc right here until he was sure that Diluc wouldn't run back into the water again. Diluc stiffened in his arms, but Kaeya held tighter. Then Diluc’s head was resting on Kaeya’s shoulder and his hands were clutching at Kaeya’s back and Kaeya could feel his eyes burning again. Diluc wouldn’t notice a few more drops of water on his already soaked clothing, right?
Even now, even when Diluc was probably at his lowest, how could Diluc still be offering him so much comfort with just his warmth? Kaeya could only hope he was offering a fraction of the same in return.
“If you won’t… if you can’t live for yourself… yet … then, then… live for me, please,” Kaeya whispered, voice catching in his throat. Diluc made a noise of protest. “I will always need my big brother.”
Diluc seemed to crumple against him.
“You don’t-” Diluc’s fingers dug into Kaeya’s back. “You don’t-I already-Please just let me-”
“It’s a big responsibility, you know. Not just anyone can be my big brother. And since it’s such a big job, sometimes there are going to be mistakes.”
“Not like-”
“I know you’re the only one that can do this.”
Kaeya pulled back. Diluc reluctantly released his coat. Dluc’s eyes were dull and tired. Disbelief lingered on his face, but it was heavily faded by the utterly lost feeling that now clung to Diluc.
“Please?” Kaeya begged. “For me?”
Diluc seemed to search his face. Kaeya could only hope that whatever DIluc saw would convince him. Diluc’s hands clenched on his thighs again and Kaeya could feel his stomach drop. While Diluc’s clothes had dried from the wind and the fact that the rain had thankfully moved on, there was no telling if there were any after effects of him nearly drowning. He would have to willingly see a healer for that. Kaeya also didn’t know how else to try and convince Diluc to not try this again.
“I-I’ll try.” Diluc’s eyes flickered upwards for the barest of moments. “But I can’t promise anything.”
Relief flooded Kaeya. It was something. It was a rock bottom that Kaeya could work with.
“Good,” Kaeya said in a tinny voice that was still choked with tears. “Now you have to do everything I say, since I’m the younger brother.”
Diluc tilted his head waiting for Kaeya to go on. Kaeya wanted an eyeroll, but he would take the baby steps he got.
“First, we’re getting off this island.”
… oOo …
It’s a dream , Diluc told himself, despite the icy sinking darkness being extremely real in his memory. He followed Kaeya wordlessly. He would wake up tomorrow with Kaeya taking jabs at his personality as he walked in and out of Diluc’s life again. Probably.
Diluc rarely returned to Dawn Winery this late. He opted to rest in the cot above Angel’s Share instead. In fact, the last time was probably when he and Kaeya had tried to sneak back into Dawn Winery to give their father a surprise breakfast on his birthday.
He looked up as they passed through the last of the trees and into the vineyards. The dying moonlight was delicate on the Manor and Vineyards, casting parts of the building and racks in shadows. The lanterns offered spots of meagre warmth as the sky started to brighten in the distant horizon.
But Kaeya was leading them back. Kaeya that he had kicked out years ago, yet was back on the doorstep of Dawn Winery for Diluc. Diluc didn’t think he could possibly be more selfish, yet the image of Kaeya with the backdrop of Dawn Winery made the place feel more familiar than it had been in years.
Kaeya with a pensive expression as he stared at the wooden doors in a way that seemed to be straight out of Diluc’s memory.
“Kaeya…” Diluc whispered.
“Hmmm?”
“We don’t have to sneak in.”
Diluc whistled softly and a hawk swooped down to land on Diluc’s arm. Diluc could feel Kaeya’s disbelieving eyes on him as he produced a key from the bird’s collar.
Both Kaeya and the bird squawked when Diluc tossed the keys at Kaeya. The bird poked at Diluc’s head.
“I’ll give you another soon,” Diluc told the bird. The hawk poked Diluc’s head again, then flapped its wings and took off into the sky.
“You trained a bird to give you your keys?” Kaeya asked as he slipped the door open.
“One of the cats keeps the spare key to Angel’s Share.” Diluc shrugged.
“Are you raising an animal army?” Kaeya asks once the door is closed behind them.
“I’m afraid to say, they’re currently better at dealing with slimes than most of the Knights.”
“So that’s the reason for the decreasing number of slimes around the city?” Kaeya flopped onto a couch. “They don’t even need you to be there, do they? Is this how you keep up the persona even when you’re not in Mond?”
“You can say, I was preparing the… cavalry .”
“You take that back, right now!”
Diluc snickered at Kaeya’s affronted expression.
“Go upstairs and rest, Kaeya.”
“If you think I’m taking my eye off you for even a second, you are sorely mistaken.”
“You can’t follow me all the way to Fontaine.”
“Give me a parchment and quill and I’ll send a message to Jean right now.” Kaeya straightened on the couch expectantly. “No? Fine!”
Diluc watched Kaeya march over to Elzer’s desk and claim the requested stationary.
This was the person he gained his Vision for, and the one who returned his Vision to him. Twice.
“Your little business trip is supposed to be a week long, right?”
Diluc blinked. Kaeya made an impatient motion with the quill in response.
“If you have the leave for it, and you’re absolutely certain you want to join me, we can stay in Fontaine for an extra week.”
“Oho! A two week vacation! Even if I don’t have leave, I do have leave after hearing that .”
“You have doubts even after your whole slacking speech?”
“Diluc, you can’t possibly take everything I say so seriously.” Kaeya paused to squint at Diluc. “Did you train all the animals in Mondstadt to be a cavalry because you heard me complain about not having a cavalry?”
“Of course not.” Diluc scoffed. “That would be silly.”
“Uh-huh,” Kaeya muttered, returning to his letter.
Yes, this was the person his Vision could continue burning for, Diluc thought.