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Albedo looked up from his experiment and startled at the Winery Master that was waiting silently near the entrance of his Dragonspine laboratory. The snow and frost that had likely covered him as he made the journey there had long since melted, and the man was looking curiously through his various jars.
"Master Diluc, I apologise. I hadn't seen you come in. Were you waiting long?"
Albedo couldn't say it was the first time Diluc had visited him in this laboratory - he certainly refused to step foot in the Knights Headquarters unless there was little other choice - but it wasn't a common occurrence either. This was, however, the first time Diluc had arrived on Albedo's request and little to no explanation.
"Well worth the time to have a look around your ever changing laboratory," Diluc responded. "You said you had something to ask of me?"
Albedo hesitated.
"I'm sure you're aware of the Knight's tradition around Halloween?" Albedo waited for Diluc to nod before continuing. "I was tasked with it this year. This may be a bit of a strange request, but may I borrow your claymore for a day or two. I can provide you with another from the Knights' stores temporarily."
Diluc frowned. Then shook his head. Albedo could feel the disappointment flood him. He could try and draw the claymore from memory, but the differences would easily be noticed by any of the many people who were familiar with the blade already.
"A day or two takes you right up to Halloween," Diluc noted. "I will not be in Mondstadt at that time. I will carry one of my own spares with me. I expect my blade to be returned to the Dawn Winery once you are done with whatever you're planning, preferrably before I return."
The blade was thoughtfully in a sheath when it was placed on an nearby empty desk.
"I hope you manage a decent trick this year. The previous years' efforts were truly absymal."
"I remember you were the legend at these tricks while you were in the Knights' ranks. Could I ask you to give me some pointers if you have some time?"
Albedo watched humour flash across Diluc's usually stoic face.
"Certainly, send me a note and I'll be sure to respond."
Albedo blinked at the man's fading back, wondering why Kaeya always complained about how difficult it was to get Diluc to help the Knights with anything. The man hadn't even asked exactly what he was planning on using the claymore for. Not to mention leaving Dragonspine without another weapon despite the mountain's many dangers.
But Albedo wasn't about to look the gift horse in the mouth.
And he wasn't about to potentially get the one person Aunt Alice warned him not to anger, upset over Albedo losing or damaging his claymore.
He dragged the blade into his experiment room, marvelling at how the other sometimes swung the blade with a single arm.
There was not going to be a single person that fell for his trick, Albedo knew from the many smaller trick attempts he had made over the past two months, but Albedo was already invested.
He'd also have to think of some way to repay the Wine Master for his kindness.
… oOo …
Kaeya wondered what Albedo had come up with to trick the city with on Halloween. Albedo wasn't exactly the type to trick others - not as a prank, at least - Kaeya himself had watched Albedo trick Klee into going to sleep early on many occasions.
What Kaeya did know to expect, was some sort of alchemy joke, possibly with the help of Klee's bombs. That said, Klee would only need to leave the shells of her bombs all around the city to scare the entire population of Mondstadt City witless. Albedo could simply convince Klee that all she was doing was introducing her treasures for everyone to enjoy.
Kaeya shivered.
Jean would be the most terrified of all of them.
Albedo probably wouldn't want to actually scare anyone that badly, but it was also Albedo. He wasn't as easily scared as most people, and often reasoned his way out of being scared before he actually felt it.
It was already late afternoon, though, and there hadn't been any sign of the prank. He hadn't seen Albedo in days, but that could have meant anything. Albedo could very well have forgotten all about it and holed himself up in his lab in Dragonspine.
And that could be the trick as well: building up their expectations only for there to be absolutely nothing.
With a sigh, Kaeya trotted through the northern gate, greeting Guy and hoping for at least one slime to be jumping around, if just for something to do.
Someone had gotten there before him. Kaeya could see the slightly dry slime goo splattered on the grass. There was only really one person who was always this eager to take out every threat to Mondstadt in sight, despite Diluc only supposed to be returning tomorrow. Unless they turned into a problem, most Knights with more experience returned with more junior knights.
He ignored the glint that caught his eye at first. With the setting sun, the reflection on Cider Lake was always blinding. The unmistakable black and red stood out after he moved his head.
"My, you couldn't even-"
Kaeya froze.
The claymore had clearly still been ablaze when it had been stabbed into the ground. The blade was chipped and nicked and looked to be kept together solely because of how it was positioned against the scorched bark.
The splatters of red around the damaged claymore turned Kaeya's stomach. He had seen blood before, but never so much of it - not since that day.
Guy confirmed he hadn't heard the sounds of any fighting. Kaeya raced to Angel's Share, because surely...
"Charles, have you seen Diluc?" Kaeya asked, trying to keep his breathing as even as possible despite the bubbling panic.
Charles shook his head. "Master Diluc will only be arriving tomorrow. Would you like me to pass on a message for him?"
"No, thank you," Kaeya said, almost sprinting out the door.
It was getting late but he could still make it to Dawn Winery and back if he had to. Diluc wouldn't want to step foot into the city if he was that badly injured, after all. Diluc was a prideful fool, and would rather walk all the way back to Dawn Winery than be seen at the Cathedral if he thought he could manage.
Heading back out the main gate, determined not to look at the broken claymore and bloody tree again, Kaeya traced his way to Dawn Winery. His eyes were peeled for any other drops of blood, or the marks of an injured person stumbling through.
It couldn't have been anyone other than Diluc.
First, Diluc wouldn't lend his claymore to just anyone. Or, as it stood now, anyone at all.
Second, Diluc always returned to Dawn Winery before entering the city.
Third, Adelinde would never lie to him about Diluc being at the Dawn Winery. She would lie about him being busy with some thing or the other, but never about where Diluc was.
"Master Kaeya? It's a surprise to see you here at this hour, is there anything you need?" Adelinde asked, ushering Kaeya inside.
"Is Diluc here?"
"There were a few delays during his trip. He will only be returning in the afternoon tomorrow," Adelinde said. "Is there something you need from him? He did say to offer help if the Knights requested it."
"Kaeya, you're here?" Albedo frowned at Kaeya's expression. "You seem upset. Is something wrong?"
Kaeya glanced at Adelinde and Elzer who were hovering nearby. If something was wrong, would he want to say it in front of Adelinde and Elzer without knowing where Diluc was?
"Ah, no. I just wanted to confirm something with Master Diluc. It can wait."
Albedo nodded.
"Shall we head back to the city together then? Miss Adelinde, thank you for your time."
"Please be careful on your way back," Adelinde called after them.
"Thank you, Miss Adelinde. We will be."
… oOo …
Kaeya gaped when he spotted Albedo and Diluc standing over the crime scene the next morning.
"Thinned boar blood? Not bad, Alchemist. The colour is a bit off though. Pigeon blood might have worked a bit better with some slime condensate. But I suppose there are very few in Mondstadt who would look that closely if they thought their wine supply to be in danger."
"You owe me an explanation!" Kaeya yelled, ambushing Diluc. He ignored Albedo's and Guy's startled glances.
"What—?" Diluc stumbled with the additional weight before steadying himself and Kaeya. "Sir Kaeya, what is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with me??? What's wrong with you!"
"Would you stop yelling in my ears?" Diluc asked. "I assure you, I would like my hearing intact."
"I thought you were bleeding out alone somewhere and no one knew you were in Mondstadt!"
"I arrived during lunch. I'm sure Charles or Adelinde told you that my trip had some delays. I haven't even returned to the Winery in person yet." Diluc frowned. "I trust you've returned my claymore, Albedo?"
Albedo nodded. "Miss Adelinde assured me she would ensure you receive it on your return."
"You really lent Albedo your claymore? For this?"
"Albedo asked to borrow it, and I didn't see a reason to refuse," Diluc explained. "I suppose this idiot brother fell for an attempt at a more bump-in-the-night kind of monster? I'm interested to know what kind of monster you were thinking of to manage all this. I can’t imagine it’s any of the usual Abyss sort?"
Brother... Had Diluc even realised what he said? Kaeya doubted it.
"I can send you the document I put together with the characteristics I had planned—"
"Who wants to be your brother?" Kaeya muttered anyway, arms tightening around Diluc's neck vindictively. He refused to feel remorse as he felt Diluc's body stiffen. He'd lent his claymore to Albedo and hadn't even asked what exactly for. Diluc also had Albedo return the sword to the Dawn Winery when it would have been much easier to let Kaeya keep an eye on it.
Albedo looked between the two of them thoughtfully.
"I would, actually. Master Diluc, I meant to bring this up when I borrowed your claymore, would you like to be one of my siblings? I think your relationship with Amber is already reasonably good. Klee will warm up to you in no time. Aunt Alice was delighted with the idea," Albedo offered. "I'm working on getting Bennett to agree, but he doesn't want to upset his Dads."
Diluc was definitely going to reject—
"I thought Klee believed I was a bit too grumpy for her," Diluc replied thoughtfully.
"You can't actually be considering— Albedo, I'm not going to let you steal my brother!"
Kaeya clung tighter to Diluc, only letting up slightly when Diluc started choking.
"This was your plan all along, wasn't it? You just wanted to add my brother to your collection of Pyro siblings. You used the Knights' trick to get closer to Diluc without anyone noticing!"
Diluc sighed, hoisting Kaeya more securely onto his back before returning to examine the duplicate sword while Kaeya continued to throw accusations and complaints at Albedo. For his part, Albedo made sure to stay out of arm's reach of Kaeya as he watched Diluc re-examine the scene.
Kaeya didn’t really pay attention to whatever other comments Diluc made to Albedo, focusing instead on chewing Albedo out, even though he knew both of them were ignoring him.
"I will keep that in mind, thank you, Diluc. I must return to my experiments soon. My offer still stands," Albedo said, waving as he left.
"How could you try to steal my brother right in front of me? I thought we were friends!"
"Would you rather not know until Master Diluc has already agreed?" Albedo called back. Diluc made sure to grab Kaeya's tightening arms to stop himself from being choked again.
"You would never agree, right? Diluc?"
Diluc sighed.
"You're tired, Kaeya. Possibly hungover, maybe even drunk for all I know."
"This is an easy 'yes' answer, Diluc," Kaeya complained.
"You can rest in the cot in Angel's Share. I'll let Jean know."
"No! You're going to secretly meet up with Albedo and agree to be his brother instead of mine. I'm going wherever you're going."
Diluc took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"You're not going to just let this go, are you?"
"Absolutely not."
"A
whole
Cavalry Captain... Alright. Let's go back to the Winery. You can rest in my study."