Chapter Text
“Master Diluc,” Kaeya said, sweeping into Diluc’s office.
“This had better be important, Sir Kaeya,” Diluc grumbled.
“I was thinking—”
“—you should probably stop that—”
“Our little Spark Knight wanted a treehouse—”
“—and what exactly does that have to do with me?”
“—so I was thinking , what better place than Dawn Winery?”
Diluc paused. Blinked.
“I can think of several better places, actually.”
“Come on , Diluc. You have a whole lot of trees, and we have that half-built tree house on one of them.”
“It’s hardly going to be stable enough now to still be used to build a treehouse.”
“I’m sure it can still be used though, if some of the wood was replaced and the entire thing was finished,” Kaeya argued.
Diluc abandoned his paperwork to cross his arms and lean back on his chair to look at Kaeya.
“You’ve already promised Klee a treehouse, haven’t you?”
“Ahaha, that might have happened.”
Diluc was silent for a few moments that seemed to stretch just to make Kaeya uncomfortable.
“Alright.”
“...alright? Just like that?” Kaeya yelped. “What happened to ‘You need to stop spoiling Klee so much’?”
“I’m going out on a limb to assume you intend to accompany Klee in the treehouse?” Diluc asked, reaching for a clean parchment. “And it’s better off being bomb-proof, but I can test that easily enough.”
Kaeya stood with his mouth agape.
“Is there anything else you promised Klee?”
“Diluc, are you feeling okay? Have you slept in the last week?”
Diluc huffed. “I’m perfectly well. And rested. Besides, I expect at least you to be putting some effort into building the treehouse with me.”
“With you? You’re going to be making the treehouse?” Kaeya moved to sit down on the couch opposite Diluc’s table. His head dropped into his hands as he tried to process everything.
“Will that be a problem?”
“No, of course not. I just…” Kaeya searched desperately for the words that seemed to eagerly escape him since the moment Diluc agreed to his crazy request.
Diluc whistled. His bird flew through the window, and had disappeared almost as soon as the parchment was secured.
“I’ll let you know once I’ve got the updated plans. You can go through it with Klee, and tell me if there’s anything missing. The original wasn’t really designed to include adults.”
“Am I dreaming right now?” Kaeya asked wearily.
Diluc squinted at Kaeya. “Do you want me to help confirm if you’re asleep or not?”
“You’ll knock me right out,” Kaeya complained.
“Then you’d know that you were awake.”
“I also wouldn’t still be awake!”
… oOo …
It was probably half a week later when Kaeya found the plans for a treehouse on his desk in the morning. He’d written it off as a fever dream that Diluc had agreed so easily, but the plans clearly reminded him otherwise.
He was only due to keep an eye on Klee after lunch, but he couldn’t help but roll out and have a look at the plans himself. It did basically seem similar to the one he and Diluc had bugged Crepus for. It was unfortunate that Crepus had a sudden emergency and hadn’t had the time until a few months later to continue building it with them. They had all forgotten about the planned treehouse by then.
Or, as it looked now, they had all just not mentioned it again.
Diluc had clearly sent a drawing or image of Klee’s Dodoco and bombs to whoever the architect was. Kaeya honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Alice had somehow managed to contribute to the design of the treehouse as well. The design seemed almost perfect for Klee.
“What are you looking at, Big Brother Kaeya?” Klee had already clambered up his chair to peer at the plans over his shoulder. “Is this the treehouse???”
“Yes, Master Diluc agreed to build one on Dawn Winery grounds. He’s just sent me these as an idea of what it will look like.”
Klee’s eyes shone with excitement. “Really? Will it be near the fish?”
“I’m not sure. How about we go ask him, huh? I think he’d like to hear your thoughts on the plan as well.”
“Is Master Diluc in?” Kaeya asked Adelinde after a quick walk to Dawn Winery. Klee had been eagerly running ahead of him the entire way leaving Kaeya slightly winded.
“He stepped out a few minutes ago. He said he’s going to have a look around the lake.” Adelinde smiled knowingly. “I think he’ll be glad to know you’re happy with the design.”
“It’s great!” Klee agreed.
“Let’s go find Master Diluc and tell him,” Kaeya whispered to Klee.
“Yes!”
Diluc was standing at the end of the path that led to the waterfall off Dragonspine. There was occasionally a family of slimes at the end of the path, and Kaeya wondered if that was Diluc giving Klee an excuse to test her bombs from the safety of a treehouse. With the added benefit of clearing out a common Adventurer’s Guild commission.
Kaeya definitely wouldn’t put it past Diluc to think of something like that.
“Is the treehouse going to be here?” Klee exclaimed.
“I wasn’t sure if you would prefer a spot a little closer to Springvale, but this seemed like a better spot with your hobbies, Klee.”
Klee’s excitement seemed to be contagious. Kaeya could see a slight smile on Diluc’s face, and could feel one on his own.
“Turner will also be nearby if you need anything urgently. Otherwise, Adelinde, Hillie or Moco will be happy to provide you with anything else you might need.” Diluc turned to Kaeya. “Or that’s the idea, at least.”
“And there’s fish to blast!” Klee added.
“And there’s fish to blast,” Diluc agreed.
“You’ve put more thought into this than I expected,” Kaeya commented.
“I’m glad to finally put those plans to use.” Diluc shrugged.
“Uhuh, that’s why you want to build it yourself.”
“Oh? Did you already forget you’re building it with me?”
“Klee is going to help too!” Klee interrupted.
“Of course, the treehouse can only be a perfect treehouse with our Spark Knight’s help,” Kaeya agreed.
“Will you be visiting us in the treehouse when it’s done, Mister Diluc?”
Kaeya saw Diluc hesitate for the first time in the entire plan.
“I think we’ll have to kidnap him into our treehouse sometimes,” Kaeya whispered to Klee. “Or he’ll never visit us after building the treehouse.”
Klee nodded seriously. “You kidnap Mister Diluc, and I’ll distract Miss Adelinde.”
Kaeya agreed without mentioning how impossible it would be for him to kidnap Diluc and somehow get him up a treehouse. He’d actually have to rely on Diluc being in a good mood and old fashioned begging.
Diluc’s raised eyebrow told Kaeya exactly how difficult the other was going to make that job for him.
But Kaeya could also always have Adelinde help him.
He would succeed.
(Probably.)