Archive of Our Own

They had gone out for a walk, not for a fight.

Arms outstretched, Bennett sauntered across the top of a fallen log. Clinging to Bennett’s shoulders, Klee giggled. Her own arms were thrown out, fingers splayed to brush at the wind. Razor trailed behind them. Smiling, Kaeya walked at Bennett’s side, ready to catch him if his luck kicked in at the worst time. It wasn’t just the four of them, though—Jean, Lisa, Barbara, Amber, and Albedo were there.

And, of course, Diluc.

Kaeya had dragged him along, because of course he did. For now, though, Diluc was watching the Cavalry Captain from the back of the group. Jean and Barbara were discussing something in the middle of the group, while Amber took point. Albedo kept stopping to look at interesting plants, brought back to the living world by Lisa. She would touch his shoulder or speak to him. He would snap out of it. Then, he would follow along.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, hearing the jingle of his Vision against the chain holding it to his trousers, Diluc glanced around. I’m just being paranoid, I’m sure, he thought, studying the trees. It was approaching dusk, the sky painted bright orange and pink with deep purple clouds streaked across the expanse. Around them, the trees were dark, shrouded with shadows. Though Razor had told them that his lupical would leave them alone, Diluc still couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. I have to be paranoid. I must just be paranoid.

Looking back at Kaeya, Diluc sighed under his breath. Lisa glanced back. Soft green eyes met his, then squinted slightly. Slowing her pace, she left Albedo with Jean and Barbara and then waited until she and Diluc were stride in stride. “So, Master Ragnvindr,” she began with a tilt to her head that had to have come from Kaeya, “I see you’ve been spending time with our beloved Cavalry Captain recently. Have you finally begun talking civilly again?”

“We’ve always spoken civilly.” Diluc replied, not removing his gaze from Kaeya’s back. Looking up at Klee and Bennett with this sort of pride, the man had a small smile on his face. Lifting his chin, Diluc added, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Hmm.” Glancing him up and down, one brow arched, Lisa turned back to the others with her arms crossed over her chest. “Whatever you say, sweetheart.”

Diluc cast her a sideways glance, eyes narrowed.

Shrugging, Lisa turned to watch their friends as well. Eventually, though, Diluc had to defend himself, “I’m serious. Kaeya and I have spoken civilly.”

“And yet…” Humming softly, Lisa gave him a sideways look of her own. “I know many a time where someone else comes in and protests your and our Captain’s infighting. Bennett’s been the one to bring it up a few times. Even our lovely Venti has.”

You’re kidding me. He couldn’t help the groan with that. Though…he should have known better, to be honest. “We’re working on it, alright?” He snapped. Looking at her only succeeded in getting him a winning smile from the woman. He turned away, face hot, and grumbled, “Witch.”

She grabbed his ear.

“Excuse me?” Ozone filled the air. “There better have been a w on that.”

“There was, there was!” With a cold smile, Lisa released him. Grabbing his wounded ear, Diluc hissed in pain and cupped his hand over it. It was a mix of an attempt to see the damage and stop it from happening again. His eyes darted back to Klee when she squealed. Up ahead, she had switched from Bennett’s shoulders to Kaeya’s. The Cavalry Captain acted like nothing had changed, even though she was clinging to his face like a baby monkey.

Somewhere in the forest, there was a burst of bright red light that shot off into the sky, which was just beginning to grow speckled with stars.

“Lupical!” Razor suddenly yelped. Charging forwards, he dodged around Bennett and then disappeared into the woods.

“What—Razor!” Bennett glanced at Jean and Lisa for less than a second, then sprinted off after his friend. Quickly, Kaeya passed Klee to Jean, who passed the girl to Barbara and hurried after Kaeya when he ran off, too.

“Oh, dear. Albedo, hon, you and Barabara watch Klee for us, alright?” Lisa called. Then, with a glance at Diluc and a shared nod Amber’s way, the three of them raced off after Kaeya, Jean, and the others.

They found themselves at the origin of the light only moments later. Frustratingly, he could already hear Albedo and Barabara, and maybe even Klee as well, rustling behind them. However, he wasn’t nearly as annoyed with them as he was with what he saw.

The light had come from a lake—and from a small, floating Abyss Mage dancing above it.

He counted sixteen Abyss Order members on the left side of the lake, and another nineteen on the right side. None of them spoke, none of them moved. Instead, they watched Diluc and the others emerged from the forest.

Razor and Jean were right by Bennett, holding him back while slowly backing away from the lakeside. Kaeya had already drawn his sword, other hand resting on his Vision like some kind of threat to the Abyss Mage. Hovering above the Abyss Mage’s head were several chunks of glowing, magma-colored crystal. It didn’t seem perturbed by this. Neither did any of the other Abyss Order people.

Placing himself by Kaeya, Diluc motioned to Jean and Razor to get themselves and Bennett behind him. The two listened. Kicking, Bennett went for his own weapon. In the trees, Klee yelped as either Albedo or Barbara pulled her back. Bow drawn, Amber aimed an arrow for the Mage.

“Child of Khaenri’ah.” The Abyss Mage began, holding out a hand towards Kaeya. “Come to us. It is time.”

“He’s not going anywhere with you.” Diluc spat out, bracing his claymore in his grasp. On Kaeya’s other side, Amber shifted her grip threateningly.

“That is not a choice for you to make.” The Mage retorted. With a snap of its fingers, it made a swirling gesture. The floating crystals began to spin, slowly. Beams of light shot down from them, glancing across the lake’s surface and swirling over the surrounding trees as if they were…searching for something.

Or, more accurately, someone.

“Make your choice, Child. They abandoned you. Don’t you want to fulfill the destiny you were born for?” Gritting his teeth, Diluc adjusted his grip on his sword.

“Kaeya!” Another voice came from the trees. A man appeared—armored, with pale blond hair and blue eyes. His expression was just panicked.

“Dainsleif?” Kaeya murmured. Glancing at him, Diluc turned back to study this Dainsleif man.

“Do not listen! Their claims are false!” He called. In a flash, one of the Abyss Order closest to him struck. Dainsleif was knocked to the grass, a sword braced at his throat. Within a moment, he had thrown the man to the side and drawn his own weapon. If any of the Order got too close, he brandished it at them like a wolf baring its fangs.

The beams of orange light continued to swirl around them. One landed on Kaeya. Then another. A third, a fourth—each one in turn until all eight of the crystals had focused their light onto him.

“Child of Khaenri’ah.” The Mage repeated.

Stepping forward, Diluc placed himself between it and Kaeya. “I already told you—"

Kaeya’s shoulder brushed his.

Turning, Diluc expected him to say something. Instead, Kaeya had this…odd look on his face. Something blank. Hollow. Not quite lifeless, but…transfixed? “Kaeya? He asked, reaching for him.

Kaeya’s eyepatch was gone. It took a moment for Diluc to process that. He was more concerned with the way Kaeya’s eyes looked. The white was still there, but the diamond shape of his pupil and the typical color of his iris were…different. Instead of their typical color, they were glowing and an icy orange.

The Abyss Mage stretched out a hand, “Come, Child. Khaenri’ah calls to you.”

“Kaeya! Do not listen!” Dainsleif warned. Sheathing his weapon, he made to run for Kaeya.

He didn’t make it.

Turning, the Abyss Mage swept a hand at him. A wave of Cryo slammed into the man’s chest. Thrown back, he hit a tree with a heavy crack. He slumped to the ground. Kaeya didn’t react.

Instead, he started walking by Diluc, expression still that blank, terrifying thing. It chilled Diluc’s blood in his veins. Something about it was just so…so wrong. He couldn’t quite define it. “Kaeya—” Amber reached for him. Lisa dragged her back. Not too far away, Bennett was seized by Razor and Jean as they held him still.  

Kaeya stepped onto the water. Not into it, on to it. Every step landed on the surface, sending out ripples and waves but otherwise nothing. No splash, not even ice. An eerie silence settled over them all. Around them, the temperature dropped, the air chilling so quickly that Diluc swore he felt frost settling in his chest. And yet, despite it all, Kaeya walked on.

He came to a stop right in front of the Abyss Mage, who reached out and then cupped his cheek.

A spike of anger lashed out through Diluc’s chest. Khaenri’ah had abandoned Kaeya. They had made him an unwanted spy, they had forced him into a life he never wanted to have. As little as Diluc and Kaeya had spoken since their father’s death (their father. Neither Diluc nor Khaenri’ah could take that from Kaeya. Crepus had raised him more than the Abyss Order ever did), he understood that much. For that Abyss Mage to do this?

At the touch, Kaeya swayed forward slightly. “Kaeya!” Bennett yanked at Jean’s grasp. Still, Kaeya didn’t react to his name, or what had happened to Dainsleif. It was like he didn’t even see it.

The Mage’s hand dropped to touch his chest, right over his heart.

Razor snarled at that, Bennett let out his own barely-human noise. Then, there was a burst of bright, orangey-white light. The crystals, Diluc realized. Shielding his face with a hand, he squinted at Kaeya as the light got brighter, and brighter, and hotter.

Around them, it was so bright that the fresh night may as well have been day. Bennett screamed, Razor howled at the bright flash that followed, even Diluc found his eyes stinging from the pain. Something stole his breath, the heat from the crystals burning like Sumeru’s midday desert sun.

When he turned back to the lake, Diluc couldn’t find Kaeya for a few moments.

Then, he saw him—except he wasn’t him. He had become…something else. His features were gone, leaving him akin to what Diluc imagined Barbatos must have looked like. He was glowing from inside, his heart shining almost golden-yellow and the rest of his body that same orangey color that his eyes had been.

“Kaeya!” He moved for him. For his brother. No, no. I need to—I need to help him. Diluc took a shaky step forward. Raising his head, Dainsleif held out a hand for him. Their gazes met.

The distraught expression was enough to make Diluc stop where he was.

Helpless, he stared at Kaeya as he stood there. “Kaeya!” He called again. I can’t lose someone else. Slowly, Kaeya turned and looked at him.

Nothing. His eyes were completely white, blank. Glowing. Whatever those crystals had done, it wasn’t good. Still, he had gotten Kaeya’s attention.

Swallowing, he choked out, “Please.”

He didn’t even know what he was really asking. It could have been a number of different things. Still, Kaeya seemed to get some of it.

“Come on, Kaeya!” Bennett started talking now, begging and pleading. There was no reaction, again. Glancing at Dainsleif, Diluc took another step for Kaeya. His heart stuttered in his chest when Kaeya turned to look at him.

“Don’t touch him!” Dainsleif warned. “Don’t touch him. It will—Khaenri’ah will protect her children! That might mean from—” He cut off when one of the Abyss Order smacked the butt of a halberd in between his shoulders. A low groan left him. He dropped his head.

Diluc turned back to Kaeya.

“Kaeya.”

His brother turned his head to stare at him.

As soon as he focused on Diluc, his sword was unsheathed. The ice looked wrong. Warped. The ice was too sharp, too jagged, the way that it never looked. Even when Kaeya was making split-second decisions on the battlefield, his ice looked elegant. It did not look like this. Raising his sword, Kaeya levelled the blade at Diluc. A threat. A weapon. A warning.

Taking a breath, Diluc ripped one hand from the hilt of his claymore. The whole time, he kept his eyes on—on his brother. Letting out a shaky breath, he kept his focus ahead. “It’s okay. I promise.”

Holding out his sword, he threw it to the side.

“I won’t hurt you.”

Kaeya continued to look at him. The sword wavered. “Kill the kid.” The Abyss Mage barked. A crossbow was raised, aimed. The silver head of the bolt gleamed in the moonlight and in the crystals’ orange glow. Bennett tore himself free of Jean’s grip around his middle. Then, he sprinted forwards, mouth open.

“Let him go!” The crossbow bolt was loosed. Diluc whipped around to look at Bennett. He reached for him, shouting on instinct.

Bennett seemed to realize what was going on, too. Skidding to a stop, he gasped in a breath. His eyes widened. The bolt went right for his chest, aiming for his heart—

The air chilled. A spike of ice sprouted from the ground. Shaking, Bennett stared at the arrow that had come to a stop only an inch from his chest. He scrambled back.

Letting out a shaky breath, Kaeya dropped his sword. He slowly turned away from Diluc. The tip of his sword focused instead on the Abyss Order man who had fired the crossbow. What he was about to do hit Diluc like a bag of wet grapes. “Barbara! Hide Klee, now!”

He glanced back for Klee just in time to see Barbara wrap herself around the girl, then Albedo and Amber both trying to protect her as well. Lisa placed herself in front of them both. Razor had grabbed onto Bennett, snarling with his teeth and sword bared. In front of them, Jean glanced at Diluc in a panic.

Kaeya moved before the Abyss Order could even flinch.

Diluc barely saw anything. The air was filled with frost and ice. It was so quick that Diluc felt it scratch at his throat, scrape his lungs, and settle in his blood. Twisting, he spotted a flash of Kaeya’s orange, crystalized form against the white and blue of the ice. An icy snarl left the man. In the flashes of the mist, Diluc searched for his brother desperately.

Instinct took over logic. He staggered forwards, looking for Kaeya. “Kaeya!”

“Diluc, don’t—” Jean barked. Ignoring her, Diluc squinted into the mist. Please. Please, come on. Kaeya, I can’t—

I can’t lose you, too.

If the realization of what would happen hit Diluc like a sack of wet grapes, this one slammed into him like a Ruin Guard's punch to the chest. It didn’t need to break his ribs. It cracked something deeper in him. Kaeya was going to die, and Diluc hadn’t been there for him—he’d ignored him since he was eighteen. Since Kaeya was seventeen.

“Kaeya!” He called again. He swung his head around. No. No, I’m not losing anyone else. I won’t. Venti—he whispered the words. “Venti. Bring him back. You owe me for the wine.”

The wind kicked up, clearing the frosty mist.

A stick cracked behind him. Quickly, Diluc whipped around. His eyes landed on the same Abyss Mage who had turned Kaeya into…whatever he was now. The Mage was charging up its wand, was right about to fire. Oh.

Sorry, Kaeya.

Looks like we’re both dying today.

He knew it would happen, eventually. He didn’t know if Kaeya’s will said the same thing about where he wanted to be buried, or even how he wanted to be buried. But there was a place for him, on Dawn Winery’s grounds. He had been hoping Kaeya would be around to take it over (he knew he was destined to die young. The Winery was Kaeya’s. It always had been, because the Darknight Hero would not last forever. The Darknight Hero, Diluc, would die in the path of vengeance, of protecting Mondstadt. He’d known that since he picked up that damned Delusion in the first place).

The first bolt struck for him, a blast of white ice that went straight for his chest, just like the crossbow had gone for Bennett. Diluc didn’t have the time to summon his own weapon. So, instead, he raised his head, looked at the blast, and faced it down.

It didn’t strike.

Suddenly, Kaeya was in front of him again, but still. The Abyss Mage screeched, fell back, and disappeared. In front of him, though, Kaeya didn’t move. The light of the crystal in his chest died out. He stiffened, form freezing.

Everything went quiet. Diluc could only hear his blood thrumming in his ears, his heart thundering in his throat. Pushing himself up, he stared at Kaeya. On the other side of the Cavalry Captain, everyone was staring at the man in horror. Shaking, Bennett staggered once. His knees buckled, he dropped to the ground—

And he screamed.

No. No, no, something happened—Diluc glanced at Jean, who nodded. She went to Bennett’s side, where the kid was now sobbing. Klee was, too, in Barbara’s arms while Albedo and Amber and Razor all stared. Lisa was frozen to her place as well. Then, shaking herself, she rushed past Diluc and Kaeya to Dainsleif.

Diluc, meanwhile, rounded Kaeya to get a look at the man’s face. He still stood there, frozen, like—like a statue. Hand shaking, Diluc pulled off his glove, reached up, and touched Kaeya’s face.

Nothing.

No heat, no breath, not even the familiar chill that naturally came from any Cryo Vision wielder.

Just cold, unmoving stone.

His eyes were focused on something—the Abyss Mage’s last attack. Even just looking felt…odd. Strange. Kaeya was always doing something, even if it was a slight sway from one side to the other. He didn’t have that now. He was just completely, utterly still.

“Kaeya.” Letting out a shuddery breath, Diluc felt for a pulse in Kaeya’s neck. Nothing. He wasn’t expecting it, but—it still hurt.

Not again. Please, Kaeya. I can’t—hands shaking, he pulled away.

Someone touched his shoulder.

Jolting, Diluc turned—and met Jean’s gaze. Eyes soft, she looked at him the same way too many of the Knights had after his father—no. No, he’s not—he can’t be dead. This is Kaeya. He can’t possibly be—

“Diluc.” He turned back to Kaeya. “I’m sorry. I don’t think there’s anything we can do about this. I—we can get someone to bring him back to the Ordo—”

“No. He’s going to the Winery, if he’s going anywhere.” Diluc bit out. Dropping his hands to his sides, he gripped his sword where it had formed in his hand. The claymore’s tip brushed the ground. “Jean, take everyone back to Mondstadt. Go to the Dawn Winery. Tell Adelinde I sent you.”

“Diluc—” She touched his shoulder.

Yanking away, Diluc stared at Kaeya. “I will arrive when I am done here. I would like some time alone.”

“Alright. I…” Jean sighed. “I’m sorry, Diluc. We’ll wait for you at the edge of the woods.”

The others left. It wasn’t quiet. Bennett and Klee were both sobbing, Razor growled and snapped at Lisa when she touched him, and Barbara was quietly whispering to Klee to try and soothe her. Gritting his teeth, Diluc stared at Kaeya. He didn’t move from his place, didn’t speak. Not until it had been a minute, three minutes, five minutes.

Stepping back from Kaeya, Diluc gripped his Vision with one hand. The temptation to yank it from its place, to cast it on the ground and break it, was so palpable. A final strike against the gods who had seen it fit to take everything from him, including the last good thing that he had ever managed to make for himself—a brother, in Kaeya. And he had destroyed it with his own hands. Why should he not destroy this, too?

No. Releasing his Vision, Diluc looked down at his claymore. Flames flickered along the blade. He took another step back from Kaeya. I will not revoke my Vision. His eyes fell on the Abyss Mage, the Cryo that remained on the lake. But I can burn this.

Taking his sword, he drove it into the earth at Kaeya’s feet.

Flames burst to life around him. Lashing out across the lake, they burnt away the ice. Heat washed over him like a wave crashing over his head. The fire spiraled around him, whipping in the wind like an inferno. He didn’t know how long it took to die down. He didn’t even care.

Clutching the hilt of his claymore, kneeling in the burnt, ashy grass, Diluc let out a shuddery breath and cracked open his eyes.

The air was hot. It tasted like dust. Shaking, Diluc pushed himself up from where he had knelt and stared down at his claymore where he had driven it into the earth. For his father, he had picked up a blade. For Kaeya, it felt…right to leave it this time.

“Goodbye, Kaeya.” He murmured, eyes on the blade. Turning on his heel, he started to walk away.

Behind him, there was a sharp crack.

Turning, Diluc searched for where it came from. His first thought was an attack. Then, he saw the crack spreading across Kaeya’s chest. What the—it took a second for the realization to hit him. By then, more cracks had formed in the statue, breaking up the golden-orange color with…clothes?

He threw himself forward just in time, claymore vanishing into his Vision and arms outstretched to catch Kaeya as he collapsed into his arms. Kaeya’s head knocked against his shoulder. There was a low groan. Kneeling with him, Diluc glanced down at him, eased him to the ground and brushed his hair from his face.

Face scrunching up, Kaeya cracked his eye open. He coughed once, twice. Then, his gaze focused on Diluc. “Okay?”

“What?” Diluc stared down at him.

“You okay?” His eyes wandered around. “Where—everyone else?”

“I told them to leave. They’re waiting for us outside the woods. We thought you were dead. Are you alright?” Diluc didn’t bother to wait for an answer, tearing Kaeya’s vest and jacket open and searching him for wounds. His hands found a sore spot at Kaeya’s ribs. Sucking in a breath, Kaeya flinched away. Prodding him, Diluc glanced at him. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Diluc.” Grabbing his face, Diluc tilted his head from one side to the other. He was trying to check for a concussion. “I’m not concussed.”

“You said that the first time you got concussed. The first three times, actually.” Diluc replied.

“Okay. We need to get back to the others.” Kaeya tried to shove himself upright. He managed to stagger to the side, rather clumsy. To be fair, he had just turned back to a statue. Diluc didn’t even know what that could be like. He grabbed Kaeya’s hand and wrapped an arm around the man’s middle. “Oh. I can—I can move on my own.”

“Not a chance. Come on.” Diluc said. Beside him, Kaeya was shaking. He leaned heavily into Diluc. Even just a few steps left him panting. As he walked, his face twisted. “Do you need me to carry you?”

“No. I don’t want to freak out the others. I don’t think I’m even hurt, really. I’m just winded.” Kaeya replied. Glancing at him, Diluc glanced him up and down. There had been some shallow cuts on Kaeya’s chest, and another one on his cheek. He might have felt some broken ribs when he checked Kaeya for them as well. When they got back, he would have Adelinde check him over again and send for a medic specifically for Kaeya. The others might need some medical attention, but he was sure Barbara was checking over them already while waiting for him and Kaeya to arrive.

“You’re going to be staying at the Dawn Winery. Everyone else is going to stay for at least the night.” Diluc ordered. Beside him, Kaeya didn’t protest. He dropped his head forward, still walking. He was at least conscious. Stumbling and shaking, he mumbled an apology.

His steps were shaky. “Thanks for helping me walk. You really don’t need to—”

“We need to talk.” Diluc said. “And we’re going to have a very serious conversation that involves at least a few apologies. On my part. Not necessarily yours.”

With a huff, Kaeya said, “No, I need to apologize, too. We both messed up.”

“I’ll give you that.” Diluc laughed. Glancing at the path ahead, he grumbled, “Yet again wishing that Varka didn’t take all the Ordo’s horses with him. He couldn’t have left at least a few? It would be much easier to get you over this terrain on horseback than it would be to move you this way.”

“You would have had to tie me to the saddle.” Kaeya laughed fondly. “Do you remember when Crepus had to do that? I think I was…” He wavered.

“You were thirteen, and you had thrown me out of the way of a hilichurl arrow.” Kaeya’s grip on his hand tightened. Gazing ahead, Diluc guided him around a root sticking out of the ground. They probably only had a few minutes before they reached the others. “It was one of the first times that Father had allowed us to venture out with him on a proper trip. The arrow would have hit me in the chest, but it hit you in the shoulder because you’re taller than I am.”

“Oh. Right.” Frowning, Kaeya asked, “I don’t remember much of that time. Only that I ended up being tied to the saddle by my legs and had an arm tied to the horse’s reins.”

“You passed out on the way home. I thought you died.” In between the trees, Diluc caught a glance of the others. It was a flash of blond hair. From the height, it looked like he was looking at Jean. “Adelinde says I was beside myself for days. You were out for a week.”

“For a simple arrow wound?”

“It got infected.” Glancing at the wounds crossing Kaeya’s chest, Diluc added, “We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

As they closed the distance between them and the others, Diluc answered Kaeya’s questions to the best of his ability. No, he didn’t know where Dainsleif went. Everyone else’s injuries were probably more mental than physical. Klee and Bennett were okay. No, Diluc himself hadn’t been hurt.

Razor was the one who heard them first. Of course he was. Honestly, Diluc was pretty proud of the kid—his head jerked up and his eyes brightened. Then, he was running to Kaeya’s side as soon as he could, leaving Bennett with Lisa. Bennett’s eyes darted up, shock split his face. “Kaeya!”

Everyone else looked up. “Kaeya!” Klee wailed, squirming in Albedo’s arms. Ducking under Kaeya’s arm, Razor supported the rest of his weight, and they helped Kaeya stumble over to Barbara. She tugged at his shirt, checking the slashes to his chest. Hydro swirled around her hands.

“You were dead. What happened?” Razor asked, voice tight.

“I don’t know.” Kaeya flashed one of his winning smiles at the kid. The attempt to reassure him worked. Some of the tenseness in Razor’s shoulders left. “It just happened. Let’s try and get back to the Winery, alright? Diluc told me he was providing you all with a place to stay, because it’s closer?”

Razor glanced back at the woods. Something crossed his face. “I will come with you.”

+

Diluc followed Kaeya around the manor, quiet and making sure he was still on his feet, as he settled the others.

Barbara hadn’t been able to do much for his injuries. She’d had to fix everyone else’s injuries, they had thought Kaeya was dead. Even with Kaeya using some old crutches to get around (Diluc had tried stringing up lights once when he was younger. He was no longer allowed to string lights up in trees), Diluc still had trouble keeping up with him. He was fast. Honestly, Diluc didn’t want to know when Kaeya got good at speeding around on crutches. Or while wounded. Or while drunk. Or…he just needed to stop thinking about it.

It had begun raining at some point while Kaeya hurried up the stairs with some blankets for Klee and Amber. Behind him, Diluc balanced his own stack of blankets. By the time he hit the top stair, Kaeya was already in the guest room Klee was in.

Bennett, Razor, Amber, and Klee were all rooming together. Albedo, Jean, Lisa, and Barbara were in the other closest guest room. Adlinde had brought them some tea. She was probably pressuring them into a midnight snack, too. Hopefully, they were on their way to settling down.

By the time Diluc had helped Amber spread out the blankets and convince Razor that he did not need to sleep curled up by the door, Bennett and Klee were both clinging to Kaeya. The trio were sitting on the floor. Kaeya had Klee in his lap, one arm around Bennett’s middle. When he felt Diluc’s gaze on him, Kaeya raised his head and smiled at him. He looked tired.

“Come on, Klee, let’s get you to bed. Do you remember who you’re sharing with?” Klee mumbled something into Kaeya’s jacket, fingers curled in the front of his shirt. Then, she started bawling, teary-eyed. “What’s wrong?”

Klee mumbled something about blood. The cuts to his chest. Maybe they’re bleeding through the bandages?

Kaeya simply stroked a hand over Klee’s hair. “It’s okay, honey. I’ll get checked up. We just need to get you to bed, alright?”

“Mhmm.” Carefully, Kaeya hauled himself to his feet. He never let go of Klee, holding her in his arms the whole time.

Getting Bennett and Amber in bed was a much simpler affair. Before he left, Bennett grabbed onto Kaeya for a long while. Then, he handed Kaeya the crutches again, Kaeya ruffled his hair, and that was that. The door was closed, Diluc fetched the dirty dishes that the kids had from Adelinde’s offered midnight snacks.

Dainsleif was waiting for them in the foyer, speaking to Adelinde softly.

“Dainsleif. What happened?” Kaeya called down to him. “You’re hurt.”

“Do you trust him?” Diluc prompted. Looking at him, Kaeya nodded once. Returning the nod, Diluc helped him down the stairs and over to Dainsleif, who simply looked at him. “What are you doing here, Dainsleif?”

“I came to let you know that the remaining Abyss Order in the area have been routed. They shouldn’t bother you for some time.” The man replied. Gaze falling on Kaeya, he added, “I am glad to see you’ve turned back from crystal. It was…expected, but still.”

“You knew it would happen?” Diluc asked.

“I did. I didn’t know how long. Sometimes it takes minutes, sometimes days. Sometimes years.” Dainsleif replied. “Fighting off the Abyss Order was a more pressing matter, so my plan was to take care of them and then come back to see if you remained. When I didn’t find you, I decided to follow you back to the Dawn Winery and let you know about the Order.”

“Do you know what caused it?” Diluc asked. So we can avoid it happening again went unspoken. Still looking at Kaeya, Dainsleif nodded. “What was it?”

“Khaenri’ah. She will protect her children. The Abyss Order, as they have learned tonight, no longer counts as such. Not to her, at least.”

“Ironic, considering…” Kaeya trailed off. Whatever he was saying to Dainsleif with that expression, Diluc didn’t know. It could stay his and Kaeya’s secret. At this point, Kaeya being standing was a miracle in and of itself. He wasn’t about to complain.

“I suppose they didn’t consider that happening.” Dainsleif paused for a moment. Then, softly, “I will take my leave.”

“There should be a horse in the stables. You have my permission to take it if you so wish.” Finally, Dainsleif looked at Diluc. He nodded once, then looked back to Kaeya.

“Thank you, Dainsleif. I will see you again?” Dainsleif nodded once. Then, turning on his heel, he left. It looked like—

Turning to Kaeya, Diluc softly asked, “Kaeya. Are you Khaenri’ahn royalty?” Kaeya looked at him. Pausing, he swallowed.

“I don’t know.” Dropping his tone, Kaeya added, “Apparently, my surname—Alberich—means that…I’m the descendant of the Abyss Order’s founder. Maybe that’s why they were after me. Maybe that’s why they left me here. The Traveler is aware, they were there when Dainsleif told me.” Reaching up, he rubbed his sternum. “I didn’t realize that they could still find me.”

“Maybe the surname makes it easier for them.” Diluc suggested. “Maybe we should make it harder.”

“What do you suggest for that? A fake marriage to someone? I mean, I’m sure Albedo wouldn’t care but—”

“No.” Kaeya glanced at him. “Just use Ragnvindr again. It might take some time to get used to, but it could throw them off a little. I’m sure Jean would be willing to influence the records involving Kaeya Alberich. Besides, Father still has the adoption papers somewhere.”

Kaeya stared at him.

Then, softly, he laughed. Before he could respond, though, there was a knock at the stairwell. “Master Diluc, Master Kaeya?” Adelinde clasped her hands in front of her when they both turned to look. “I know it’s late. Would you like something to eat?” Diluc glanced at Kaeya, raising his brows and waiting. Turning to Adelinde, Kaeya flashed another smile.

“I suppose that could be arranged.”

+

When Diluc woke in the middle of the night, the rain had turned into a storm and Kaeya was shaking on the other side of the bed.

They were sharing. Of course they were. For one thing, there weren’t that many guest rooms in the manor. They only had the two empty ones, and those were already being used—the other ones had all been taken up by staff who didn’t feel safe going back to Mondstadt in the rain. Besides that, Diluc knew all too well that both of them were risking nightmares if they slept on their own. So, just like when they were younger, they shared a bed.

And now Kaeya was shaking, curled in on himself. One of his hands was curled in the fabric of his shirt over his chest. Are the bandages too tight? Is he okay? Gently, Diluc reached out. He hesitated to touch Kaeya, though.

“Kaeya.” Diluc called, softly. Panting, Kaeya curled in on himself a little more. His fingers tightened their grip. Okay, okay, let’s get out of bed. Let’s get where he can see. Hurriedly, he got out of bed and crouched in front of Kaeya.

He still hadn’t taken off his eyepatch, even when he was sleeping. His face had gone pale. Even with Adelinde and the medic’s earlier help, Kaeya still had three broken ribs. The cuts across his chest and cheek had been stitched up and bandaged. Gently, Diluc pulled his shirt away from the bandages to check them. There was some blood spotting the cream fabric.

Outside, thunder pealed. Sucking in a breath, Kaeya jolted. Diluc reached over and touched his arm, giving up on previous precaution. Again, Kaeya jolted. His hand flashed out, Diluc grabbed it, and then Kaeya was staring at him and gasping. “Diluc.” He forced out. Slowly, his eyes wandered around the room.

“You’re alright. You’re at the Dawn Winery Manor.” Nodding, Kaeya glanced around again.

“What time is it?” Diluc glanced around for the clock. His eyes landed on it. Turning, Kaeya searched for the answer. Carefully, Diluc got him lying back down.

“Don’t look. Just try to relax. It’s three in the morning.” Diluc said. Sighing, Kaeya dropped his head against the pillow.

“Sorry for waking you.”

“Don’t apologize for that. If you’re going to apologize for anything, then apologize for having ill timing with your Khaenri’ah reveal.” Looking up at him, Kaeya frowned.

“But I—already apologized for that.” He had. While they were at dinner.

“Exactly. You have nothing to apologize for.” Pushing himself up, Diluc wandered over to the lamp and then lit it with a snap of his fingers. When he glanced back, Kaeya was watching him. His brother rolled onto his back. He dropped an arm over his eyes, letting out a sigh. “Do you need me to get you anything? Water or—”

“No, no. I’m fine. Don’t trouble yourself for me.”

“I’m your brother, Kaeya.” Diluc glanced at him, fetching him an unopened bottle of water from his bedside table anyways. “It’s what I do. Also, I have the paperwork for if you want to change your name back sitting on my desk.”

“Wait, what was that last part?”