Chapter Text
Diluc was back in Mondstadt before he made it known. How else could he manage to cover the sudden appearance of a certain vigilante if it was at the same time as his reappearance? In fact, Diluc had been back in Mondstadt for months before anybody knew. He sent letters to his staff, of course, preparing them for his return. Adeline was particularly thrilled to hear from him already setting things into motion back at the winery. Elzer also knew ahead of time; he was Crepus’ right-hand man, after all, so it was only right for him to know the full scope of Diluc’s return. The most trusted staff of the winery were not fools. Even if Diluc tried to hide his late-night activities, they were sure to catch on quickly.
Yes, Diluc had been home for a while. That is, if he could still call it home. It seemed as though nothing and everything changed in his four years away. The injury that sent him back home was still raw, the memories of his sojourn still fresh. He wasn't looking forward to the enthusiastic and well-intentioned questions about his whereabouts these past few years.
He treated it like another mission once he arrived. Find shelter, seek information, infiltrate. The mountains above Wolvendom served him well as a host for his small campsite. Deep in the wilderness, he was less likely to be found by any meddling knights, yet it was close enough that a well-timed gliding leap could get him just outside the walls of the cathedral in no time.
There were a few faces he didn't recognize on his first trek through the city. It felt wrong to hide in his own nation but he had to be sure. He had to make sure there were no other rats hiding in the shadows or, gods forbid, the spotlight. No, he had learned from his mistakes. There could be no trust other than what he had in himself.
Try as he might he couldn't put the fear of this nation’s fall out of his mind. He couldn't do that to his home, to his father. He didn't plan to come back so soon. Sure he was worried about Mondstadt, but he knew Jean could handle it. He knew Mondstadt could depend on her even if she didn't deserve that pressure.
Diluc grimaced slightly as he pulled himself out of his tent, scar tissue pulling uncomfortably under his tunic. The moon was high above him by now, something ominous yet familiar about its silver glow. It had been about three months since his injury sent him back home, and he knew it was about time to make his presence known as Diluc and not just as the Nighthawk, a name he quite liked when he thought of it for himself while undercover a year ago. He figured by next week he may as well take up a shift at Angel’s share, no need to make a fuss.
Diluc rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He knew eventually he would have to fix his nocturnal sleep schedule, but it had done him well in the past few years and it would be a tough habit to break. Putting on his boots which he had left just inside the tent he slipped his hood over his head and pulled the mask in place. He then took down his campsite leaving his singular bag of supplies hidden in a hollow log. All things he could do without if a knight or wandering adventurer decided to go shopping in the woods, but it was safer to hide the evidence of his camp while he was away. He didn't want to come back to somebody deciding to move in during the early tastes of dawn.
Once the dirt around his makeshift camp was kicked around enough he headed up the mountain to the highest point in Brightcrown Mountains. He had to time this right, the wind up here could be fickle and send him straight into Cider Lake. He made that mistake once and ended up swimming his way to the city shores rather than landing just outside the cathedral as he intended. After a few weeks he learned to listen to the wind again, it was an old trick he had forgotten as a child.
“Feel that my boy?” a head of red hair whispered behind him, “when the wind tickles your nose just right,” he felt the phantom of a squeeze on his nose. “that's when the gliding is easiest.”
Diluc quickly shook his head at the memory rubbing his nose with his sleeve as he neared the edge of the cliff. It was November, the crisp autumn air was just beginning to bite with the threat of winter. He took a deep breath closing his eyes softly as he waited to feel the wind against his cheeks. Slowly breathing out he let himself relax, this was what he missed the most from home. That crisp air, the faint smell of wolfhooks floating in the breeze from behind him, the promise of freedom.
His hair brushed across his forehead some strands getting stuck in the angles of his mask, he opened his eyes, exhaled sharply, and lept. Just as he expected, the wind carried him smoothly outside of Mondstadt’s walls.
‘Honestly,’ Diluc thought ‘what good are all these turrets if there are no knights to watch from them.”
He found himself rolling his eyes at the thought as he expertly climbed the wall and leaped over to the other side. He snapped his head to the side as he noticed movement in his peripheral. Glancing up at the cathedral he spotted the culprit: the nun.
Diluc sighed. He had run into her a few times while on patrol, and neither of them seemed particularly trusting. They never actually spoke, but after one fight tossed them both together against a hydro abyss mage and its friends they came to a silent agreement to stay out of each other’s way. They clearly had the same goal in mind, that much was clear. Diluc appreciated the thought that he wasn't the only one making up for the knights’ inefficiency. They both had their own reasons he supposed, but he loathed to admit he was fortunate to be on her good side. She dipped her head at him and Diluc did the same in return, then she was gone.
Diluc turned his attention back on himself following that brief interaction. He had a job to do after all. The Abyss had been particularly quiet as of late, their silence was starting to bother him. Luckily, he had other matters to occupy his time while gathering information on their plans. He couldn’t spend all day pacing Mondstadt waiting for the Abyss to show their cards. In fact, he had heard of a treasure hoarder plot brewing just under the knight’s noses. Of course, he had to be the one to pick up the slack. It was a wonder how the city hadn't been completely overrun while he was away. After pulling his hood down more firmly over his head feeling a pinch at the back of his neck from his hair tie, he started to make his way into the deeper parts of the city; avoiding the knights’ headquarters and stuck close to the wall instead. He had stolen a copy of the knight’s patrol routes a few weeks ago. Although stealing was too generous, all it took was stumbling upon Miles taking a nap just inside the city gates. Diluc grit his teeth at the memory, how could the knights get so lazy?
Diluc was lost in thought when he heard voices up ahead. He quickly concealed himself behind a corner as the voices slowly got louder. A horse’s hooves slowly lumbering behind two quieter sets of footsteps gradually inched down the road.
“I’m serious Kaeya, I don't want to hear about you running off to a tavern tonight. You know I have eyes everywhere around this city,” a female voice, Jean, Diluc’s distracted mind supplied, gently chided.
Diluc felt himself stiffen as the weight of her words fully landed against his chest. ‘Kaeya’ he swallowed a lump in his throat and quietly shifted further into the shadow behind him.
It wasn't as though he expected to never run into his brother after returning- or no… he wasn't his brother anymore, was he? Kaeya had signed away his ties to the Ragnivindir clan years ago. Regardless, he hadn't heard any word of him since he arrived. Diluc put Kaeya out of his mind completely. Just before he could succeed in closing down the train of thought, he heard the gentle laughter of his brother- no, Kaeya flit in the air.
“Ah... honestly Jean,” Kaeya crooned, “I'm a big boy now I don't need to be walked home and tucked into bed.” he teased, “Besides, that last mission has thoroughly exhausted me.”
Diluc could hear a smile on Kaeya’s lips, “I’m afraid the nightlife of Mondstadt will have to wait upon my return for another night.”
Diluc saw the gentle light of a lantern drifting ever closer along with the echos of shoes on cobblestone. His gaze fell to Jean first. He had seen her from the shadows a few times by now. She looked just as he remembered, with kind eyes, a warm smile, and a responsible aura in her gait. She looked tired every time he saw her, dark circles rested below her eyes, creases that had made a permanent home between her eyebrows, and her posture gave away that she must be stuck sitting at a desk for much too long. Diluc didn't pity her- no, she would never want that- but a part of him felt the weight of guilt at leaving her behind with his position to fill once she became the acting grandmaster.
Jean was holding the reins of an Arabian mare, one Diluc recognized as Dicey from when his father had purchased her years ago.
“Are you sure?” a shy voice asked barely above a whisper.
“Why of course my dear boy!” a boisterous laugh echoed in his mind, “It's about time you graduate from my old gelding, he may be a perfect lesson horse but you've exceeded his teaching!”
“Yeah! And besides, you need a faster horse than Painter to beat me when we race!”
giggles resounded in his ears as he snapped himself back into the present.
Beside her walked Kaeya. He looked… different. Diluc’s eyes unwillingly bulged from his head at the choice of his attire. Where was the shy reserved Kaeya he used to know? Now stood a much taller boy- no, a man who walked with the swagger and confidence of somebody he never knew. His eyes drifted towards his face, lingering on the eyepatch that adorned his right eye. Kaeya wore a smirk on his face, but it was clear to Diluc he was walking with an almost unnoticeable limp, his back curled in slightly as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“Although I do appreciate you waiting up for me tonight.” Kaeya smiled at Jean, that smile Diluc recognized. The shy but sincere smile he always used around him and Jean as kids.
Jean sighed softly at that and stopped walking. Causing Kaeya to still alongside her, his back now facing Diluc, who held his breath. They were close, but surely they hadn't noticed him hiding.
Jean gently placed her hands on Kaeya’s shoulders “Promise me you'll be alright tonight?” she asked.
‘Odd,’ Diluc thought, ‘why did this seem so emotionally charged all of a sudden?’
Kaeya simply chuckled breathily again “Of course my ever-present Acting Grandmaster,” Kaeya tilted his head to the side gently guiding her hands off of him. “I’ll be alright” he gave her hand a squeeze “Now then,” Kaeya turned to Dicey gently running his hand up the side of her face “Be nice to Jean now, she deserves a break just as much as us.”
The mare snorted in response, stomping her foreleg against the pavement in irritation. Diluc remembered she was quite the impatient horse, always wanting to be moving. It took a lot of training for her to be suitable for an expedition with the cavalry while Diluc was still leading the charge.
Kaeya huffed out a laugh and turned away from the two of them. Diluc could swear he made direct eye contact with him before walking towards the building Diluc was hidden up against. Diluc’s blood ran cold. This was not a great way to have his first interaction with the knights, let alone Kaeya, while donning his Nighthawk persona. His worry was once again subdued when Kaeya instead climbed the short steps to the front door and dug around his pocket for a key. Diluc could swear he heard an almost silent whine as he rounded the last step into the house. The door gently shut behind him and not even a moment later Diluc heard a lock click shut. Then another, and another.
Diluc turned his attention back on Jean, who by this point had already started to lead Dicey back towards the cavalry stables. Diluc let out a deep sigh of relief once she was well out of sight. His heart was pounding- he didn't expect seeing Kaeya would bring him such anxiety, then again, he didn't exactly think he would see Kaeya. At least that’s one question answered, Kaeya seemed to have been out on some sort of expedition since before Diluc started his nightly routine.
He rolled out his shoulders standing up straight, he had matters to attend to tonight. Putting the thought of Kaeya and Jean out of his mind he continued his silent path through the city towards where his intel suggested a meeting of two rival treasure hoarder gangs would take place. He didn't necessarily plan to barge in delusion in hand to break them up, he only wanted to get a better idea of the underbelly of the city before he bothered making his official return to the hustle and bustle of Mondstadt. Diluc found himself a nice spot to hide out in wait for the two parties to show up and decided to plan out his next reconnaissance mission to follow up on The Abyss’s silence.
It was only about two hours later when he heard the telltale sounds of a fight in the distance. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and glanced down at his pocket watch. He had lost track of time in his planning. The meeting was supposed to have taken place at least an hour ago by now. He figured whatever fighting he was hearing up ahead must have scared them off. He ground his teeth together in annoyance before quietly making his way toward the sounds of battle on the rooftops. He noticed the night air felt cooler as he got closer, fearing another appearance of an abyss mage within the city limits diluc picked up his pace, whatever unsuspecting knight was battling this beast was bound to need help.
Up ahead he could make out about five figures engaged in a struggle. Two of them were encased in ice up to their knees and were frantically hacking at it with their daggers to free themselves. The other three were currently in motion he heard the whizzing of an arrow being released from a crossbow and followed its path until it was sliced in half by its mark. Just as soon as the arrow was taken down another one flew by this time missing by a significant amount as a blast of frigid air was forced into the treasure hoarder’s face. Diluc’s head whirled around to take in the assailant and once again felt the breath knocked out of him upon seeing Kaeya.
“Did you think I wouldn't find out about you lot trying to bite off more than you can chew in my absence?” The knight scowled as he dodged out of the way of a large hammer aiming straight for his head.
“We considered it a trial run,” one of the treasure hoarders snarled back.
“Now we’d like the subscription” another shouted, appearing behind Kaeya who was just a second too slow to avoid being pulled into a headlock.
The arm of a shovel held him firmly against the assailant, squeezing his neck. Kaeya wheezed but wasted no time in fighting dirty. He elbowed the treasure hoarder hard in the side and slammed the back of his head up into his nose. He stumbled slightly as he was released no doubt a little off balance from the force of that headbutt. Still, he took up his stance again and grit his teeth narrowing his eyes at the remaining treasure hoarder while holding his sword out in front of him.
“Did you miss my humor so much?” Kaeya smirked “You should stick to your side of the deal and leave the jokes to me”
“Deal?” Diluc scowled to himself, a mistake he realized when Kaeya’s attention snapped over in his direction.
“Oho- did you find yourselves a new boss? Is that why you're all acting u-” Kaeya cut himself off with a pained gasp. It seemed the treasure hoarder Kaeya had initially blasted with Cryo had recovered his crossbow and this time his aim was true, it didn't help that the shot came from his blind side. Kaeya stumbled slightly, almost losing his footing as his free hand flew to the arrow now sticking out of his thigh
“Shit…” he whispered swallowing hard as he glanced around him at the two remaining treasure hoarders and at Diluc.
Diluc noticed the slight tremble in Kaeya’s sword hand as he painfully squared his feet again and snapped off the stick of the arrow leaving the spearhead stuck in his thigh. Then, without warning kaeya seemed to almost teleport behind the marksman hitting him over the side of the head with the hilt of his sword and freezing his hands to the ground when he fell to the side unconscious. Diluc decided he made enough of a mess to let Kaeya keep assuming he was on the wrong side and rushed towards the remaining treasure hoarder while Kaeya refreezed the other two; locking their hands in place with two blocks of ice. They would be lucky to leave tonight with all their fingers.
Kaeya had intended to take care of his new opponent next but instead found him clashing his sword against the crusher’s hammer. Kaeya stumbled once more feeling his body grow heavier as sweat started to bead at the back of his neck. Diluc released the chains of his delusion wrapping them around the arms of the treasure hoarder and yanking him forward. As soon as he was within range Diluc smashed him in the side of the head with the flat end of his greatsword. He released his flames and the chains retreated back into his sleeves as he dismissed his weapon and unwillingly turned back to face Kaeya.
Kaeya stared at him wide-eyed, Diluc couldn't tell if it was terror or just the blood loss that was giving him such a strange expression. As Diluc took a step forward Kaeya raised his sword in front of himself breathing heavily. He had one hand clutched tightly over the growing bloodstain on his leg but it was clear to anybody that he was in no shape to put up a fight. Diluc silently put his hands up, a silent plea for a truce. Kaeya still stared at him strangely and took a shaky step backward almost tripping over his own feet, but he slowly lowered his weapon. He let out a weak laugh.
“Well… strange yet respectable traveler,” Kaeya swallowed hard “Please state your identity so I may thank my…” he chuckled again “My Dark Night Hero” he sneered at him.
Diluc paused, he didn't recognize him? This was good… this was a way out of this horribly awkward confrontation he could leave it for another day.
But “Dark Night Hero”? What a ridiculous name. That thought faded as he saw Kaeya finally trip over his own feet and crumble to the ground panting heavily. Kaeya stared at the ground below him as Diluc couldn't help but notice a strange sense of deja vu, he could smell the phantom notes of smothered-out flames, could hear the pounding of rain.
He shook away the thought, Kaeya needed a healer and Diluc was definitely not one. He had managed to patch himself up out in the field more times than he could count but that didn't mean he knew how to save a life. Kaeya’s life, he realized a sudden cold chill flowing through his veins. He quickly closed the distance between them not missing the way Kaeya flinched away from him as he landed on his knees in front of him. Diluc knew better than to speak, it was dangerous enough being this close to Kaeya, he hoped in some twisted way that the blood loss was enough to keep him from being recognized. Diluc pulled out a length of rope from his pouch located on his hip, he knew it was much smarter to keep supplies for a tourniquet with him while going out to battle like this. Kaeya sucked in a breath as Diluc moved to tie it around his thigh just above the wound. He still had that strange look on his face. Diluc tried to ignore his staring and yanked the rope tight on his leg. Kaeya bit down a yelp and blinked heavily a few times the pain turned his vision spotty. Diluc quickly stood up and pulled Kaeya up by his arm not giving him much of a chance to recover, draping it over his shoulders. He looked straight ahead as he walked, or rather dragged, Kaeya up the several sets of stairs towards the cathedral. He tried to ignore the quiet whimpers in pain Kaeya sometimes let slip as they walked in silence.
Kaeya must have decided the silence was too much because before they reached the courtyard with the statue of Barbados he was trying to speak. His voice was heavily laced in pain and obviously took a lot of effort, “You really had me fooled there Mr. Dark Night.” Kaeya smiled weakly “I could have sworn you were the one trying to release the treasure hoarders from under my thumb”
He winced as Diluc pulled him up the final set of stairs towards the doors of the cathedral. “What? Not even an apology? They only got the slip on me because of you after all” Kaeya grunted as Diluc let go of his arm.
Without another word, Diluc turned away and quickly walked back into the shadows of the night.
Diluc went to pull his hood back further down his head when he finally noticed it had fallen down completely. He normally kept it somewhat pinned in place, but it seemed tonight the pins didn't hold as his hair flew freely from the ponytail that was by now hardly holding his hair up.
“Shit…” Diluc cursed glancing back towards Kayea in time to see the disgruntled nun from before shove him inside.