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Diluc’s been acting strangely all morning. It’s the result of Kaeya’s rather astute observational skills — and his vast knowledge of human body language — that allows him to believe so.
Sprawled out upon the rich velvet sofa in the main room, Kaeya tracks his brother’s pacing across the floor. The rythmic thunking of his heavy-heeled boots becomes a ticking metronome, a predictable melody.
Perhaps the crimson-adorned man is oblivious to the fact that he’s practically a symphony of methodical stalking, eyes avoidant as they cast themselves upon the wood-paneled ground and its impeccable gloss.
His arms cross in front of him, one gloved hand nestled beneath his chin; he’s either steeped in a labyrinth of thoughts, or perhaps the position is a self-soothing gesture.
Or perhaps it’s both.
And it’s a tad concerning, given that Diluc is clearly under some form of distress; his brow wrinkles from time to time, and sometimes the pacing becomes more frenetic, more harsh; even Cantus cannot ignore the man’s odd behavior, perking its head to watch with a level of apprehension in its own tautly-pulled face.
When they say that animals can sense a human’s energy and emotional state, it’s not a mere turn of phrase. The dog’s subtle licks of its nose and white-rimmed eyes personify the stressful atmosphere.
“As much as I’d hate to disturb your little dance, ‘Luc," Kaeya says, pushing himself upwards into a sitting position to face his brother directly, "It’s making us all a little uneasy."
Diluc ceases his stalking, glancing over his shoulder to meet Kaeya’s gaze.
”Oh. Sorry.” He shakes his head as if he’s ridding himself of a self-imposed trance. ”I guess I got stuck in my head for a bit.”
“For a bit? You’ve been my sole entertainment for almost an hour.”
There’s clearly remnants of his thought process still evident as Diluc’s gaze wanders, trying to find some way to express what’s eating at him.
Finally, the silence is imbued with a heavy sigh. Kaeya perks up. Diluc pauses, hesitates.
”Are you up for a ride, Kae?”
The midday sun beats down on the brothers as they ride through the rolling hills beyond the Winery’s reach, with nothing but the span of silence stretching between the two of them.
Kaeya lags only a pace behind, puzzled as to why they’re heading in the direction they are — he knows Mondstadt well, but this particular region isn’t one he’s wholly familiar with.
“‘Luc, where are we going, exactly?” Kaeya asks, hoping to garner some response. He’s been following his older brother for some time now, and looking behind him, even the manor is out of his sight.
Cantus trots some distance away from both of them, tracking each and every wayward scent that hits its nose. Clearly it’s unbothered regardless of where they go; it’s content to simply enjoy the outdoors.
Diluc finally glances back from his saddle, his expression unwavering from the troublesome stare he’s had all day.
”We’re getting close. Just a little further.”
The emerald hills give way to a small alcove of sorts, nestled into a small valley. If Diluc hadn’t led Kaeya right to this spot, he would’ve missed it; overgrown bushes and hedges line the area, concealing it as if it’s a secret meant to be undiscovered by prying eyes.
It’s..oddly placed. Their path leads right to it, as if it’s meant to be there. Yet Kaeya has probably ridden right past it many times, without giving it so much as a second glance. He looks over to Diluc, confused as the man halts his horse and dismounts.
”This is getting a little weird, ‘Luc,” Kaeya mentions, but he dismounts as well, not wishing to be left behind. ”You could at least give me a hint at what you’re trying to show me.”
Diluc slips past a gap in the bushes, giving his brother a moment to shuffle in after him. What lies beyond their vision is something rather unexpected.
It’s a plot of land. Clearly it’s been maintained despite the outward appearance; tilled soil covers a massive square of earth, lined rows ready for seeds to be planted.
Kaeya lets his eyes scan the place, still not able to put it all together. ”What is this?”
”It’s your land, Kae. Land that Father bestowed to you.”
The captain snorts. ”My land? Since when?”
Diluc pulls out a small scroll from his coat pocket, unfurling it to reveal a letter. Not any ordinary one either, it’s a will. He passes the paper on to Kaeya, who scans the parchment.
At first, he’s unamused. He’s aware that his brother essentially disowned him after their fight — so why would there still be any mention of a will left to him, of all people? It’s nearly incredulous, unebelievable, and a flare of irritation rises in his chest as he continues to read through the ink-scrolled words.
What a joke, ‘Luc. Taking me all the way out here for some patch of dirt and a paper that probably isn’t even legitimate—
And then he pauses. Because there, in Crepus’s sharp yet elegant handwriting, is his full name.
Kaeya Alberich-Ragnvindr.
He has to re-read it several times. The name sinks in, deeper and deeper, until it hums like a mantra inside his head. Their father..accepted him as family. Even gave him his last name, on official documents at that. The date is marked several years prior to his death, and his signature swoops across the lower right corner of the parchment, sealing his identity.
When he finally glances up from the letter, Diluc’s gaze is still clouded over. He looks..guilty. Extremely guilty. Troubled thoughts muddle his expression, furrowing his brow as his eyes remain downcast. He can’t even look at Kaeya in this moment.
”I’ve never seen this before in my life, ‘Luc.”
”I know. Truth is, I never wanted to show it to you until now.”
Kaeya finds his next course of action difficult to conjure. For someone so decisive and quick witted, he’s lost. Part of him is angry, enraged. Wants to yell at Diluc, interrogate him about why he’s hidden such a crucial document — out of pride, no less? To gain the upper hand, while he was crushed under the weight of his own burdens?
Hot phrases practically light his tongue and he’s ready to snap when Diluc utters a most surprising few words.
”Kae, I’m sorry.” There’s a pause, and whether it’s deliberate or because his tone suddenly tightens is unclear. ”For everything, I mean. I never actually disowned you, I just said that because I was angry and I wanted you to leave — and it was wrong. Really, really wrong.”
The other part of Kaeya wants desperately to forgive. To give his brother some grace over the sheer tumult they’ve both experienced these past few years; because there’s no doubt they’ve both suffered.
There’s no contest, no need to place the weight of the world on one set of shoulders. They’ve both had to bear it, and they’ve emerged..for better or worse.
But when it comes down to it, Kaeya finds his latter response get the better of him. To find some flicker of hope in their ability to reconnect. To find solid ground. To find some peace, for once.
Kaeya shakes his head. ”No, I’m sorry, too. It’s not your fault.”
”But it is.” Diluc’s solemn eyes trace back up towards his brother’s, as if searching for some response. It’s as if he’s anticipating anger, retaliation, rather than a calm conversation. ”I feel like it’s my fault you were drunk that night, too.”
Even Kaeya has to pause. Oh. The fuzzy memories of the night he’d stormed out of Diluc’s tavern with frost-tipped words emerge, but surely his brother knows better — his actions are his own.
He pushed him away to keep him from getting too close, for fear of that night reoccurring. It had happened in the midst of rage, spur of the moment, and he didn’t wish to relive such a catastrophic event again.
Ever.
”I just wanted to escape my own burdens. We know those all too well, don’t we?”
Diluc sighs heavily. ”I just..didn’t know what to do. I wanted to help but I knew you’d push me away. That’s what I blamed myself for.”
Cantus suddenly reappears from behind one of the bushes, tail wagging so violently it’s by some miracle it doesn’t lift its rump off the ground. It greets the two brothers with a few sniffs and licked hands (which Kaeya adores, and Diluc cringes before wiping off the drool hastily on his coat).
”And then when I saw you with Cantus, the way you were smiling..you were happy. Truly happy. And..I guess I just didn’t want to keep things hidden anymore.” The look in his eyes is pleading — hoping for forgiveness. ”Secrets practically tore us apart. Why relive that again?”
He’s got a point. Secrets are powerful agents; capable of massive damage when hidden for so long as Kaeya’s have. Capable of flames and smoke. Capable of fractured ice. Moreover, they’re capable of tearing apart the innocence and serenity of their loves before.
Though he can’t help but hold some blame for his part in their big fight, he knows he can’t shoulder it all forever. Diluc is offering the opportunity for them to bear it together, as the brothers they used to be.
The brothers they always will be.
”You’re right,” Kaeya says eventually, ending the standstill of silence between them. The words sink in amongst them, like drops of rain hitting soil. ”Let’s not have more secrets to harbor. What’s done is done.”
It should’ve been a grander response, perhaps — something more dramatic to shatter their pauses, to shatter the tension for all eternity. But they both know they’ve begun to forgive.
When water hits the soil, it sinks towards the roots of a seed; from there, the roots establish themselves, and the seed may start to grow upwards. To fluorish, to become green and bountiful. Growth begins at the bottom, then slowly stretches its way from the earth; soon, the only way to go is up.
The only way to go is forward. For both of them. For the words they’ve left laid to rest.
Suddenly, Kaeya begins to chuckle. Diluc’s expression morphs to utter confusion. Are you alright? What the hell?
Between bouts of laughter, Kaeya manages to say, sweeping his hand across the plot of land, ”You haven’t even told me what we’re going to do with my land, ‘Luc!”
”R-Right. Well..I can start planting seeds for more grapes. The profits of the wine from this plot are all yours, and then some.”
”I’d better be the official taste-tester for that wine.” Kaeya smirks. ”It’ll be revolutionary. What should be call it — Captain’s Blend, you think?”
Diluc’s lips form the beginnings of a smile at last, but he quickly catches himself, forcing a neutral yet clearly annoyed expression. ”Don’t make me regret telling you, Kae.”
As they get back on their horses, the mood already feels a little lighter. The weight has started to lift from their shoulders, and sitting up straight seems a little less monumentous.
Even Cantus senses the change, gleefully sprinting in front of them, weaving this way and that, ever joyful.
Its bright eyes and lolling tongue as it pants from its impromptu exercise are a refreshing sight for the two brothers, and they can’t help be amused by the dog’s antics.
The afternoon sun seems just a little brighter, the grass a bit greener. Colors shift, the sky merges into its vermillion glow as they reach the Winery by its evening warmth.
”You two seem to be in a better mood,” Adelinde remarks after dinner, smiling at them both. They’ve had conversations, full dialogues without a single spat amongst each other.
“What do you mean, Adelinde? I’ve been in a wonderful mood all day!” Kaeya replies, taling another sip of wine.
Diluc subtly rolls his eyes. But the atmosphere is full of joy, full of light. And as the evening sky reaches its indigo hue, the stars begin to blink. They bid each other goodnight, but as Kaeya and Cantus begin to ascend the stairs, Diluc opens his mouth to speak once more.
”Kae..” Diluc pauses to let himself gather the words. Clearly it’s difficult to let himself feel such emotions, but he continues, trying his best to keep his face neutral. ”You’ve always been family to me. I just hope you know that.”
Kaeya grins. ”Of course I do! Don’t get too sappy — I’m the one who drank tonight, not you!”
Diluc simply makes a ‘hrmph’ noise, folding his arms. ”I wasn’t trying to be sappy.”
”Suure. Goodnight, ‘Luc.”
The manor become still as almost everyone falls asleep — Diluc attempts to go through some tax forms afterwards, but finds himself retiring to the couch in the living room area. Soon, even he is unable to resist the lure of rest, his eyelids closing.
Cantus creeps out of Kaeya’s room in the middle of the night, finding its in need of a drink of water. Luckily, as it slowly pads down the stairs, it finds a bowl of water near the kitchen, lapping it up as droplets splatter all over the floor in the process.
Licking its lips, water continues to pool off of its whiskers as it approaches the living room, finding the Fiery-Haired Man fast asleep. It wonders why the man is not in his bed, tilting its head curiously.
Perhaps I should wake him up, it thinks, though not in concrete terms. It’s more of a compulsion, an urge. And maybe because it still scents the evening’s dinner on the man’s exposed hand.
The Fiery-Haired Man is laying on his side, and Cantus gently sniffs his hand, licking it. Mmmm. Soon, it attempts to give the human a good cleaning — moving onto his face as well.
There! All clean!
Diluc experiences a set of strange dreams, none particularly memorable; however, he suddenly begins experiencing a dream wherein he’s trapped in a roaring wave — and a sea serpent has him in its grasp. Expecting to be eaten, he writhes until the creature opens its maw and starts..licking him?
The sensation of a tongue scraping against his cheek continues until he begins to slip away from his dream, his eyes slowly fluttering open to reveal a hot, wet, drooly tongue licking his face.
Over and over.
At first, still half-asleep, Diluc doesn’t quite realize it’s Cantus — not until he sees its starry eye. Upon noticing he’s awake, the dog steps back, ceasing its licking. Clearly, its proud of itself, wagging its tail happily.
Putting two and two together, Diluc shakily touches a hand to his cheek, pulling back a string of saliva.
He loses it.
From upstairs, Kaeya is jarred awake by a series of cursing from downstairs. He notices Cantus is no longer on the bed with him, and with the realization, he burrows back into bed with a muffled laugh.
Good boy, Cantus.