Chapter Text
Diluc had a problem.
It wasn’t the imposing threat of the Abyss Order, his familial problems, or even the drunk bard who often tried to swindle his way out of paying for his drink by screaming that he’s Barbatos (that one never worked; no one believed him but Diluc).
No, Diluc's problem was the woman who often sat next to the bard at his bar rail, Sister Rosaria. Whenever she came into the Angel’s Share, she would send Diluc these frightening glares when no one else was looking. He’s never even gotten her alone to ask about it either, seeing as she leaves at the same time Kaeya does, and if not him she’s dragging out the bard by the collar of his shirt much later in the night.
But today, finally, he was going to ask her. Kaeya had yet to come in, and the bard was out with the Traveller, in some domain. Sister Rosaria entered the tavern, and took up her usual seat at the bar rail. Diluc took a deep breath, then faced her, and was met with the familiar glare.
“Sister Rosaria, I have a question for you,” he said. Rosaria stared at him.
“Get me my usual first and maybe I’ll answer it,” she said. Diluc had no qualms about giving her a drink; she always paid her tab and never seemed to be too drunk to communicate or walk. He handed her the drink, and she took a sip.
“Alright, what’s your question?” she said, placing her half-empty glass on the table.
“Why do you keep glaring at me when no one is looking? I mean, I understand if you have taken a dislike to me for whatever reason, but there is another tavern just across the road if you wish to not see me. So why continue to come here?” Diluc interrogated. Rosaria glanced around the tavern before answering.
“I’ll tell you after you close. I don’t want any of these drunk idiots invading,” she sighed, finishing off her drink. “I’ll be back later, gotta go do some nun duties. May the Anemo Archon bless you, or whatever.” Rosaria got up and left. If she was returning later, she’d certainly pay later as well. Diluc watched in confusion as the nun left the tavern.
....................
As she’d said, Rosaria returned later that day with Venti in tow. Kaeya didn’t show up that night. When Venti asked about it, Rosaria said it was ‘none of his business’, which made Diluc slightly suspicious. When the night came to a close, Rosaria escorted the bard out as per usual, then returned to her seat. She waited until the regulars had entirely filtered out before speaking.
“So, you wanna know why I keep showing up here, hunh?” she asked, swirling her drink around in her glass.
“Yes, that and if possible, I would also like to know why you look at me like you’d rather see my grave than my face?” Diluc replied, throwing a towel over his shoulder.
Rosaria huffed, then set down her glass.
“Kaeya.” She said, staring at Diluc.
“Pardon me?” What did Kaeya have to do with this?
“I come here for Kaeya. I glare at you for Kaeya. Simple as that,” she said.
“I don’t follow...” Diluc told her. Rosaria rolled her eyes.
“I know what happened that night, Master Diluc. When Kaeya got you to try and off him? Yeah he told me all about it. About a year after you left, I found him piss drunk behind this place, crying. He spilled his guts to me and I helped him to the Church to sober up. After that, I made him my best friend and made you my worst enemy. No one deserves their family trying to kill them, even if it’s what they wanted,” she said, crossing her arms. Diluc stared back at her.
“Kaeya and I have reconciled, though. Or at least, we’re trying. Even Albedo has become less weary of my being around him.” Diluc reasoned. He thought Rosaria was simply Kaeya’s drinking buddy, he didn’t think they’d actually had a close relationship
“Albedo didn’t watch Kaeya nearly accidentally off himself over you. I did. I have every right to not trust you, Master Diluc. While you were gone he tri- he was a wreck I mean- it wasn’t fun for anyone involved. He needed to be around people 24/7, and that was after a year. I can’t even imagine what it was like for Jean and Lisa before I came along. I saw Kaeya almost destroy himself over you. So there. Now you know.” Rosaria got up to leave, but she heard Diluc mumbling.
“What was that?” she asked.
“He never told me any of that…” he said, a worried look crossing his face. Rosaria sighed.
“He didn’t want you to know. He didn’t think you needed to because it was in the past.”.
“If I may, why did he not come to the tavern tonight? He’s here nearly every night without fail.”
“He didn’t wanna see that look on your face. And for your information, he’s only really here for long stretches when you’re bartending. Otherwise he’s holed up in his office or patrolling, which is where I suspect he is right now, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
“I need to go talk to him,” Diluc said, placing the rag on the counter and stepping out from behind the bar. But Rosaria stopped him before he reached the door.
“Not so fast. Kaeya’s not having a good day. Save it for tomorrow, or something.”
“What do you mean, he’s not having a good day?”
“That’s it, plain and simple. He has bad days, just like the rest of us. You’d think you’d have realized that.”
Diluc paused, realizing that was an absolutely rational train of thought. Silently, he nodded, agreeing to wait until tomorrow.
“Good. Now I’m going home. See you tomorrow Master Diluc,” Rosaria said, throwing a mora pouch towards Diluc before walking out into the night.
Diluc finished closing the bar, thinking hard about what he would say to Kaeya.”