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… oOo …
There were many times when Kaeya wondered if Diluc had any hobbies that were just for his own relaxation. His nightly patrols didn’t count, nor did his claymore crafting; he mixed alcohol that he didn’t like, and stared into paperwork and meetings for what seemed like all his remaining time. Diluc’s interest in TCG had insultingly waned after he grasped the basics.
Kaeya was sure that Diluc must have something that he did for no other reason than the fact that he enjoyed it, even as an overworked man. But what would a person like Diluc enjoy doing?
Crepus had enjoyed his long afternoons behind an easel. Kaeya enjoyed frequenting the Cat’s Tail for several rounds of TCG during the afternoons and on the nights he didn’t patronise Angel’s Share. And Diluc… ?
Kaeya glanced over his glass at the counter where Diluc was slipping some paper into his pocket as he nodded at an order. Kaeya watched as Diluc reached for the required alcohol. He could just ask. That didn’t mean Diluc would answer him, but that also sounded far too easy if Diluc did answer honestly.
For a brief moment, Kaeya wondered if he really was about to stalk Diluc on his precious days off just to find out.
It definitely was worth knowing.
… oOo …
Kaeya groaned as he followed Diluc into yet another hilichurl camp. If he had any doubts about Diluc being a workaholic before, which he didn’t, they had disappeared two camps ago.
Diluc hadn’t even stopped to eat or drink all morning. Kaeya was a moment away from jumping out of the bushes and dragging Diluc out to have an actual break. Just sneaking around, watching Diluc chase camp after camp, was making Kaeya tired. It was a small mercy that Diluc hadn’t woken with the desire to venture into Dragonspine. If Jean complained about his exhaustion tomorrow, Kaeya was absolutely going to blame it on Diluc.
Windrise looked to be Diluc’s next destination. Unfortunately, that left Kaeya on a nearby rocky hill, hoping that Diluc didn’t venture too far before he had a solid plan on how to follow him.
Diluc wandered around Vanessa’s tree a few times. He picked up what looked like a few Snapdragons and a few Whirlwind Asters before clambering up the tree. The tree at Windrise was apparently Diluc’s chosen resting spot as Kaeya didn’t see him climb back down.
Which left Kaeya with the dilemma of whether or not to get closer. If Diluc had settled into the wrong spot and Kaeya approached, he would literally see Kaeya coming. But from this distance, Diluc could also very easily set off again without Kaeya noticing.
Well, that also depended on whether or not Diluc had noticed that he’d been tailed the entire morning. Kaeya could just be hungry and tired for no reason.
(If Kaeya was to be honest with himself, there was absolutely no way Diluc didn’t know Kaeya had been following him. Not after he had startled a few stray hilichurls and a spectacular total of three whopperflowers.)
“Have you finally decided to stop hiding?” Diluc asked suddenly.
Kaeya yelped.
“What if I told you I wanted to continue?” Kaeya asked defensively, once his heart had stopped thundering in his chest from the shock.
“Then I’d have to wonder if you’re a masochist,” Diluc commented. “It’s your day off, isn’t it? Surely there are better ways to spend your time?”
Kaeya was silent. There were better things to do, of course , but the curiosity that niggled at the back of his mind every time he stepped into Cat’s Tail to play TCG refused to let him play a single game in peace. He’d tried .
Diluc sighed.
“Let’s have lunch at Good Hunter while you think.”
Diluc offered his hand to help Kaeya stand. Grumbling, Kaeya took it.
… oOo …
Not for the first time, Kaeya wondered if Diluc’s hobby was simply being annoying. It probably took no extra effort, and appeared to give Diluc all the satisfaction a person could ever want.
Kaeya watched from the sidelines as Venti whined at the counter. The regulars all already knew about the unlikely friendship that had been struck between Diluc and Venti. Charles usually cut the banter and served Venti his requested drink, but Diluc always went on about how Venti looked far too young to be drinking. It never grew old because Diluc somehow always found a slightly different stance to take, and Venti was never any less dramatically offended.
No one, except maybe Venti, doubted that he would eventually get his drink. Kaeya knew since he had suffered under similar teasing when Diluc first came back. He hadn’t taken it well for the first few months, often choosing to hide at the Cat’s Tail…
Well, Kaeya now knew better and, after scolding Diluc viciously under the unyielding protection of Adelinde, was rarely the target of Diluc’s amusement.
Not so publicly, at least.
… And, not that it mattered anymore since Diluc’s tells hadn’t changed in the slightest, with a reasonably fair indication that it was just a joke.
All of which naturally made Venti’s daily complaining far more entertaining than it was nerve wracking.
Venti finally returned to their table victoriously with his single glass of Dandelion Wine. A quick glance at Diluc, even while he mixed a new drink, gave Kaeya the impression that Diluc was both satisfied and still mischievously planning his next argument with Venti.
Kaeya would feel sorry for Venti, but Venti looked just as content to needle Diluc when given the opportunity.
… oOo …
Kaeya was fortunate that Diluc’s hair was so recognisable within Mondstadt. It stuck out amongst the civilians, and it most certainly stuck out against the grey rock and green grass outside the city if you managed to miss his black coat.
Diluc had settled himself on that pathway between Dawn Winery and Stormterror’s Lair, undoubtedly having cleared the entire road prior. Kaeya would easily admit it was a good spot since the Knight patrols in the area had decreased to once a week after the Stormterror incident had died down.
Whatever was in Diluc’s hands had been set on fire just as Kaeya had settled himself in the bushes on a ledge above Diluc. Kaeya recognised the easel that was set before Diluc as one of Crepus’. A new canvas was set on it and Diluc reached for the paints Kaeya had only just noticed.
Painting, huh? Kaeya didn’t think it looked particularly relaxing for Diluc, with his shoulders set tightly and each brushstroke being placed with a stiff arm.
Kaeya watched as an attempt at… was that some kind of bird ? … went up in flames. Diluc didn’t leave any evidence of his failed attempt behind, and instead yet another blank canvas was pulled out of his Vision space as if Diluc had never started.
Idly, Kaeya wondered if even Adelinde knew about any of this. It was fascinating, really: was the hobby the painting or the burning of canvas?
The process repeated itself another three times until either the canvases ran out or Diluc’s patience did. Diluc’s shoulders slumped forward in defeat and the easel and paints quickly disappeared.
Kaeya was about to crawl out of his hiding spot when Diluc settled on a nearby rock instead of walking away and back to the winery. Hunched over, he fiddled with something in his hands. Diluc’s bird landed on his shoulder not long after but Diluc didn’t acknowledge her even when she poked into his hair.
Was Kaeya finally going to witness this mysterious hobby of Diluc’s only to miss whatever it actually was because it was too small?
That would be utterly frustrating. Who knew when he would be able to catch Diluc like this again?
Kaeya inched forward, intending to scale the cliffs again to find a better spot. A weight on his shoulder made him pause. The subsequent affectionate nudge to his hair almost made him groan, but he lifted his hand to pet Diluc’s bird anyway.
“I was curious why Dawn didn’t go too far,” Diluc said a moment later, pulling himself up and onto the ledge Kaeya had been hiding on.
“Diluc, this is not what it looks like!”
“What does it look like?” Diluc questioned, sitting down next to Kaeya. Dawn didn’t move, so if Kaeya moved, he risked dislodging her altogether. Then she’d come back to tug on his hair in annoyance.
“...okay, it’s exactly what it looks like,” Kaeya admitted, trapped in his hiding spot. “What were you doing?”
“Is that why you were hanging onto this uncomfortable ledge instead of just walking up to me?” Diluc asked, sounding more amused than annoyed.
“ You are the one being all secretive about it,” Kaeya grumbled. “Why else would you choose an abandoned place like this?”
Diluc’s hand came to rest by Kaeya’s shoulder, and Dawn finally hopped off Kaeya.
“Dawn was supposed to deliver this to you, but I guess the honour is mine now.”
A little paper peacock sat in front of Kaeya.
“Did you make this?” Kaeya cradled the little paper bird in his hands. “Is this what you were making on that rock?”
“I finally figured the tail out,” Diluc explained, “ And I am fairly sure you’ve caught glimpses of me working on this before.”
“So… we’re not going to talk about the painting before that?”
“What painting?” Diluc coughed, looking incredibly interested in the grass below them. Kaeya could spot the hint of red on Diluc’s neck.
“Ahahaha, must have been my mistake.”
Kaeya cast his attention back to his paper bird, rotating it in his hands to have a better look.
If Diluc hadn’t admitted it himself, Kaeya would never have believed Diluc had the patience for something as delicate as this. In fact, Kaeya could still barely believe the same man who had thoughtlessly burned canvases for ages had just sat down and carefully folded paper.
But Diluc had drawn out another piece of paper from within his coat in the silence and had started folding it.
Kaeya watched in fascination from his closer viewpoint as the paper was slowly folded, unfolded, and refolded into the familiar Cecilia. Diluc offered it to Kaeya when he was done.
“You’re really good at this,” Kaeya noted, spinning his flower around.
“I’m afraid I’m never lacking in paper.” Diluc huffed a small laugh.
Kaeya snorted at the understatement.
“Have I finally figured out the mystery of how unwanted documents mysteriously go missing at Dawn Winery?” Kaeya elbowed Diluc. “I will say, this is a much better use for them. So, no complaints from me!”
“Do you think Jean would agree?” Diluc asked dryly.
Kaeya patted Diluc’s shoulder. “That part is on you.”