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The once-pristine white snow is now stained with a vivid shade of vermilion, the result of the blood slowly seeping through the fabric of his vest. The sight is both hauntingly beautiful and unsettling at the same time. The vibrant red hue stands out starkly against the snowy backdrop, creating a stark and vivid contrast that is impossible to ignore. The pain is unbearable like a surge of flames set ablaze inside his skin. Kaeya can barely breathe. It hurts too much. It's too painful...too hot. He doesn't know how long he's been lying on the ground but it's already begun to feel numb as a result of being in one position for so long. From the faint line of vision his eyes provide, Kaeya can make out the panicked figure of his brother kneeling before him, trying desperately to stop the bleeding. Kaeya doesn't have anything left within himself to do except lie there helplessly while the world begins to spin around him. He feels numb to everything. His body hurts. His soul hurts. He feels as if he has been turned to stone. "Kaeya....what- what happened?"
Diluc asks, fear and desperation leaking into his tone, the latter causing Kaeya's breath to come in short gasps as the pain grows sharper, more painful by the second. Kaeya feels numbness creeping up his face. He looks down at his hands to make sure that he's still holding onto consciousness. "Kaeya- answer me!" Diluc pleads desperately. "Tell me what happened."
"I don't think I-I can...hurts too much," Kaeya says weakly. A soft moan escapes his lips as the world starts to fade from view. He squeezes his eyes shut tight, trying to keep awake. But it becomes difficult when the pain reaches the point of no return.
He thinks he hears Diluc spit out all sorts of profanites in frustration which only serves to worsen the pain even further. Kaeya wants to cry, too, but he's unable to. Tears pooling in his eyes are frozen together by the cold. The numbness has reached the point of no return. "No-" he rasps out in a pained whisper, trying to hold back his cries, his pain. But they burst forth, unbidden, forcing their way out of his chest and making their way down the side of his face where the icy wind whips them away like raindrops. Kaeya's entire being feels as if it's going to shatter under the weight of so much pain. It feels like he might explode just from the force of this pain. And it won't go away until the end of time.
Kaeya's breaths come in ragged gasps, his body wracked with pain and exhaustion. Diluc kneels beside him, the concern etched on his face as he whispers words of comfort to his younger brother. "Kaeya, hold on, okay? Big Brother's got you. I've got you." Diluc's hand, rough and calloused from years of swordplay, wraps gently around Kaeya's waist and pulls him close. Kaeya feels the warmth of Diluc's hand and it soothes him, easing the pain and the fear that had gripped him moments before. The sensation feels familiar, like the sun on their backs as they played as children in the sand. It feels good, and Kaeya wonders if this is how it would feel to be held by his brother forever.
As Diluc holds him, Kaeya's mind drifts back to those carefree days of their childhood. He remembers the laughter, the games, and the warmth of the sun on their skin. The memories bring him comfort and he begins to relax. Maybe this is an easier way for him to pass on, surrounded by the sweet memories of his past and the warmth of his brother.
His eyes began to close and the idea of sleep lured him in, like a siren luring its prey to the depths of the dead. Kaeya feels lightweight, his brother's arms are the only things holding him steady. Kaeya sighs happily as a warm wave of fatigue washes over him. He knows he will die soon after, probably from blood loss or maybe because of hypothermia, but he will never feel this kind of pain again. The thought brings peace and serenity to his heart. Perhaps he doesn't need to suffer anymore.
"Diluc...?" Kaeya's voice is weak, barely audible, as he struggles to speak through the pain. Diluc's arms are wrapped tightly around him, and he can feel the concern and fear in his brother's voice. Kaeya's eyes drift to his brother's face, and although his vision is fading, he can make out the bright red eyes in the darkness. He sees the tears streaming down Diluc's face, adding to the shimmering glow of his eyes. Kaeya smiles softly. "Thank...you...for being...my brother." He takes one last deep breath, his mouth hanging open in an expression of utter relief. He lets his head drop forward, unconsciousness overtaking him completely. As the light in his eyes fades, Kaeya hopes it means he can finally rest. The pain fades.
"Nonono, stay with me, Kaeya, stay with me!" Diluc begs and pleads yet his brother's eyes do not open. Tears flow freely down Diluc's cheeks. With a small sob, Diluc cradles his sibling's face tenderly in his hand. "Come on, Kaeya, please...please wake up..." The older boy's heart aches painfully as tears cascade uncontrollably from his eyes and onto his brother's...oddly peaceful face. The rain seems to weep with him too. "I still haven't apologized to you damn it!"
But Diluc won't let the incidents of the past happen again, he won't let this day be a repetition of his 18th birthday never. He ever so carefully rests Kaeya's body down to the ground, taking off his jacket and wrapping it around his brother's body, ignoring how his brother's blood seeps into the jacket's fabric. "You'll be alright, I- I swear on it." He lifts Kaeya's body from the ground bridal style, adjusting him in his arms so as to not stress the wound anymore. "Just hang on a bit longer, Kaeya." Diluc prays silently, placing his lips on his little brother's forehead. Kaeya is so cold. Diluc shudders involuntarily as he pulls his little brother tighter against his chest, trying to fight back another bout of tears. His legs are shaky, they tremble with each unsteady step, his breath wavers but he fights against it all to save the life of his brother whom he is holding in his hands. He refuses to accept defeat. Diluc refuses. He can't lose Kaeya. He can't. Not when they are yet to apologize to each other and make up for their past mistakes. Diluc will do everything he can, whatever it takes to protect Kaeya. Because Kaeya is family and family sticks together...family is supposed to stand up for each other.
And when Diluc finally sees the familiar gates of Mondstat towering over him, he collapses. There isn't anyone to catch him, but he falls anyway. His knees buckle beneath him and he drops into the snow, arms protectively wrapped around Kaeya. He can see his own reflection in his brother's starry blue eye. This is all his fault. When the guards stationed at the gate reach them and hold them both to rush them to the cathedral, Diluc's eyes have already closed.
.
Diluc's eyes snap open as the sunlight greets him through the window. In shock, he sits bolt upright in bed with a start. "Kaeya!?" Diluc's first thoughts are for his brother. He glances about the room frantically and searches the surrounding area for any sign of Kaeya, only to find his brother sleeping peacefully next to him on the opposite end of the bed. Relief washes over Diluc, and he relaxes slowly once more. Slowly, the events of the night before flash through Diluc's mind, and he suddenly wishes that it hadn't happened in the first place. How could something have gone wrong? What went wrong? He had so many questions, yet no answers.
He slowly moves off his bed, making his way to Kaeya's side to find the other fast asleep. Kaeya's head was tightly bandaged all over and the usual eyepatch over his eye was replaced by a medical one instead. There are other bandages around the other's waist and chest. The ward is filled with the faint scent of medicine and a sickly feeling. Diluc notices that despite the painkillers and the medicine Kaeya's been given, he is pale, almost lifeless, except for the tiny amount of color he has regained. He reaches out for a nearby abandoned stool and drags it to his brother's bedside. Kaeya's face is peaceful as he sleeps, no sign of fatigue or pain is visible. The redhead unconsciously cards his fingers through his brother's hair, tucking the stray strands behind Kaeya's ears.
After a few minutes of observing his sleeping figure, Diluc's eyes shift to the light penetrating through the window in the room. If the memory replaying in his mind of what took place yesterday and the frail, injured figure of his brother lying next to him on a bed weren't testaments to the tragedy that occurred yesterday, Diluc would almost think that it was just another normal day for him. Diluc sighs. That was wishful thinking, wasn't it? He leans over Kaeya's sleeping form, pressing his head to Kaeya's temple and presses a kiss to it, It's nice to get some semblance of normality back in his life. Diluc's gaze softens at the sight of Kaeya, and he runs his fingers over his brother's cheekbone lovingly. "You're alright, Kaeya...You're going to be okay."
The other's eye opens up slightly, and the starry eye pupil looks at him hazily, blinking...once...twice. Diluc thinks it's all some sick dream or hallucinations of his until Kaeya breaks the silence with his shaky voice, "...Master Crepus?" Diluc's smile falls immediately upon hearing those three words leave his brother's lips. "Kaeya..." Diluc doesn't even know what else to say. All those years ago just after his father's death, it was so painful to look in the mirror and see a reflection of his father in himself. Diluc hated it. Even if he didn't want to admit it then, he hated his appearance and all the people who looked at him with pity in their eyes.
"Kaeya...it's me, Diluc." His brother blinks slowly a couple more times, "...Luc?" The older can't help but shudder again, what was the last time Kaeya called him by this nickname? When he attempted to kill Kaeya in a fit of rage and feelings of betrayal? When the bond they shared snapped into nothing in one, tragic moment? Diluc's voice shakes as he says his name, "Yes, Kaeya...it's me."
He moves away from the other and reaches for the glass of water placed near the bedside table. He helps Kaeya sit upright and holds the glass of water to his mouth, helping him drink the liquid to soothe his throat. "...Thanks." Diluc returns him a small smile and places the empty glass back on the table, seating himself back on the stool. They both sit there quietly, neither knowing what to say, unsure how to proceed from here. It feels like an eternity before either of them speaks again and Diluc clears his throat nervously to break the awkward silence between them, "How do you feel?"
"Like someone punched me in the stomach," Kaeya replies dryly and Diluc chuckles lightly.
"...Well, you aren't wrong. There was...a lot of blood you know?"
Kaeya winces at the reminder, bringing his uninjured arm up to rub at his middle. "It stings though." Diluc grimaces at the thought of how much pain Kaeya...might still be in. "And you saved me didn't you?" He asks, his lone eye focused on Diluc's face. Diluc nods, "Of course I did." He whispers softly, reaching out to take Kaeya's hand in his and squeezing gently, "You didn't think that I'd leave you to die did you?" Kaeya laughs bitterly, "I knew you wouldn't..." Then, the other's face shifts, and he stares at Diluc intently, "Will you stay this time?"
Diluc looks at him, holding his hand in his. "I will."
And that is enough of an answer for both of them.