Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Kaeya was pretty happy today. He had the whole week off, and that was pretty rare. Most normal knights don’t get many days off, let alone the cavalry captain himself. But after a long month of very hard work, many late nights without sleep, and lots and lots of fights, Jean gave him a week off to make up for everything. Of course, he wouldn’t be doing anything special with his time. He planned on walking around Mondstadt and then spending his nights at the Angel Share.
He had a soft smile on his face as he left his house on the first day. Sleeping in felt nice, and he felt very refreshed. It was around midday and he was now making his way to Good Hunter. When he turned onto the main walk way he slowed slightly, shocked by the scene before him. There he saw his brother. His red fiery hair stood out in the crowd of all the other people.
He was going to go up to him and bother him as he normally did, but was stopped short when something caught his eye. A blonde boy standing next to Diluc’s side, a bright smile resting on his face, but what made Kaeya’s blood run cold was the way Diluc was looking at Aether. Because that was the way he used to look at him. That was how Diluc used to look at Kaeya. At least that's what Kaeya thought. Diluc had looked at Kaeya with such hate and distaste for so long that he didn’t fully remember the way Diluc used to look at him, but he knew it was with love.
Then one movement shattered Kaeya. Diluc raised his hand gently and placed it on the younger boy's head. Kaeya didn’t know why watching that hurt so much, surely he should be happy that Diluc had found someone to lift the heavy weight that he knew Diluc's had resting on his shoulders. Kaeya couldn’t help that his fist curled up into tight fists, or that he trembled every so slightly, or like he couldn’t keep the jealousy out of his gaze, or that he just couldn’t look away.
He stood there watching the two for a moment before he managed to pull his eyes away from them and practically ran back to his house. He slammed the door behind him and struggled to steady his breathing. There was only one thought going through his head.
Just how long until they replace me?
If Aether could make his way into the now cold and distant Diluc’s heart, surely he could make his way into everyones. Probably already has. Aether is stronger and surely more capable of protecting Mondstadt than Kaeya. Then of course there was the main thing, he wasn’t a traitor.
Suddenly Kaeya found it harder to breathe. Why was he acting like this? He himself was good friends with the young traveler. Why did it matter that he was with Diluc? Why did it matter that Diluc looked at them like they were brothers? It shouldn’t matter.
But it does. It really really does.
Kaeya found his way to his sofa and practically collapsed onto it, almost just spacing out there. He took a deep breath, and just tried to calm himself down. Maybe the past month of overworking himself had taken more of a toll then he thought it had.
Kaeya found himself left to his own thoughts, and this was never a good thing. He truly wanted to go back into work now - anything to keep his mind off of the matter at hand. Then an awful idea popped into his head.
If I’m gonna be replaced, then I'm not truly needed… Am I?
Mondsadt had been very peaceful after getting rid of Stormterror, which was the traveler doing the saving. Most that has happened was some monster getting a little too close and some treasure hoarders. Nothing the Traveler hasn’t dealt with before. Why would Mondstadt want him anymore?
He stood up, an almost dull look to his eye. He made his way to his room, grabbing a couple pieces of paper and his pen. Then he began to write.
Diluc was out shopping when he ran into Aether. He's grown to enjoy the young traveler being around. Mainly because part of him saw a younger Kaeya within them, and also because they were just a nice calm person to be around. Now joined by Aether, he finished up his shopping then stopped for lunch at Good Hunter.
While they were talking he really couldn’t stop himself from seeing his baby brother in him. The way he smiled, and laughed,little things that took him back to his childhood. He lost himself for a second, and placed his hand on Aethers head, just like he used to do to Kaeya.
Aether looked a little confused at first then smiled. Diluc smiled back but pulled away from them, feeling awkward after he came back to his senses.
Suddenly he was hit by a sudden feeling that something was wrong, he looked around to see if something happened that he needed to help with, but nothing seemed out of place. Just a normal day in the city of Mondstadt.
Unknown to him, Kaeya had been watching them the whole time they were at The Good Hunter, and had ran away just as Diluc turned to look his way.
This was weird. Diluc knew Kaeya had the whole week off, and he didn’t see him at all today. Not even at the tavern. He was sure that Kaeya would spend his days walking around the city talking his break away, then going to the taverns when they opened to drink the rest away.
So when The Angel’s Share closed for the night, and there was no sight of Kaeya that day, something felt a little off.
Diluc brushed it off as Kaeya just wanted to rest his first day of break, and didn’t pay it much mind anymore. But he just couldn’t shake the idea that something was wrong, but it was not his place to meddle. He and Kaeya hadn’t been close since… that night. He didn’t like thinking about that night at all, so he did what he did best. He ignored it.
He grabbed a wet washcloth and began to wipe down the counter, but it felt weird to not have someone there. Normally Kaeya or Venti at least would try and stick around a little longer after closing to maybe get another drink, even if it never worked.
It was oddly quiet.
Too quiet.
Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
Diluc knew something was off when he didn’t see anything from Kaeya the whole time he was supposed to be on break. He even worked every night at The Angel’s Share that week because he couldn’t shake that feeling.
He really knew something was wrong when none other than Acting Grand Master Jean walked into his Tavern the day Kaeya was supposed to return to work.
“Grand Master Jean..” Dilucs voice was questioning, and he did his best to cover up the worry he was feeling deep inside. “What brings you to my tavern tonight?”
Jean looked nothing short of worried and panicked. She glanced around the Tavern, clearly looking for something, someone.
“Ah.. My apologies Master Diluc. I was hoping to find Sir Kaeya here tonight, me and the other knights have grown worried. There hasn’t been any sightings of him from anyone in the city, and he didn’t come into work today. I was hoping you would know something?”
Panic filled Diluc, but he tried to not let himself over think this. Maybe Kaeya was just sick or something, Nothing to be worried about. Just Kaeya being as annoying as he normally was. They would go to his house, find him sleeping or something, and everything would go back to normal. No need to panic.
“I'm afraid I haven’t seen Sir Kaeya around either, but I can come with you to see if he is home. I'm sure he just drank his break away at his home, or he's sleeping.” Diluc set the cup he was cleaning down. “We can go together after the Tavern closes. We just so happen to close early today, many 30 more minutes give or take.”
Jean only nodded and sat down at the bar, trying and failing to mask her concern with a serious expression. He was never one to truly slack on his duties -in fact, he did more work than most of the knights in Mondstadt. Surely he is just at home sleeping.
Diluc closed up the bar, kicked all the drunk people out, then he cleaned up as fast as he could and turned to Jean. “Let’s go. I’d Rather not be out super late, but if this all calms your nerves then I suppose I don’t mind.” Jean only nodded silently and stood up.
Both of them left the tavern, walking the streets side by side to Kaeya’s house. It wasn’t a short walk but it also wasn’t a long walk. When they finally did get to his house, something still felt… off. All the lights were off, his mailbox was full, and it was just quiet.
Jean walked up to Kaeya’s door and knocked pretty loud. They waited for a little but there was no response, so she knocked twice, thrice, then five times before she finally backed off.. Diluc walked up to the door and then saw it was unlocked.
“Kaeya we're coming in!” He called out before pushing the door open. Still, there was an overwhelming silence. There was no one in the lower level of the house, but that was to be expected. Kaeya had to have been in his room, so that's where the two of them went. Both of them walked up the stairs, and for some reason that short walk felt like forever. Diluc hesitated before pushing Kaeya’s bedroom door open.
Once again there was no one there. His bed was made, his desk was organized, his clothes were put away tidily. It honestly looked as though no one had been here for a long time. The only thing that was out of place was a pile of neatly stacked letters left on the desk. Diluc felt panic rise in his chest again. Just where had Kaeya gone? Why did he leave? How long had he been gone? What is going on?
Jean walked up to the desk and picked up the letter, her face paling slightly. “Diluc..” she said softly, turning to look at him. Hemet her gaze, now feeling dread filling his body. “These letters are all addressed to people within Mondstadt, written by Kaeya…” Diluc’s eyes widen. He even began to shake.
What? Was the only thought going through Dilucs head. He left? He’s gone? He’s missing. Panic filled Diluc. “What?! What do you mean?” He rushed over to take the letters from Jean's Hands. This isn't right. Kaeya would never just leave! He has so much for him here, the people love him, his knights love him, and while he would never admit it, he loved him too. Why would he just up and leave?
He quickly looked over the letter and found the one addressed to none other than him. His heart was pounding in his chest. There were also letters addressed to Jean, Lisa, Amber, Klee, Bennett and lastly, the traveler. He took his letter out of the pile and handed the rest back to Jean. He hesitated, his hands trembling over the soft paper, before opening it and reading it.