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Even though it’s been many years since he retired from his role as Darknight hero, he was already getting tired of the mundane days of taking care of the winery business. He missed battling and laying waste to those same scums that led his father to his death.
This was why when he came out of his room, there was a certain look in his eye that led Adeline to realize that he was leaving for somewhere far away.
Diluc confirmed her suspicion with a “Yes, I’m leaving. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. Please have Elzer take care of anything pertaining to Dawn Winery matters.”
“It shall be done. Please be safe, Master Diluc.”
“I will, thanks, Adeline…” He turned to depart only to be stopped by a small grip on his arm.
“What about your soulmate?” Adeline asked, “They might be out here somewhere in Mondstadt?”
“I know you care about soulmate matters, but it’s not that important to me. It’s equally likely that my soulmate isn’t from Mondstadt. I’m leaving our union up to fate.”
This was far from the first time Adeline brought up her concern about soulmates but Diluc was usually far too stubborn about this topic. Yet she still tries, “You cannot let your fear of being attached to someone stop you from meeting your soulmate.”
“You are stepping out of line, speaking on matters that do not concern you.” His heart said differently, racing at the thought of potentially meeting his soulmate.
It would be nice to have someone by his side, someone who loves him unconditionally. But such luxuries are afforded only to those who don’t have anything to lose. Diluc may put up the farce of a man who doesn’t have anything to lose, but in the end, he had too much to lose, and the very fact terrified him.
Yeah, this soulmate of his better stay far away from him, even Diluc wouldn’t want to bond with himself.
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
After a long journey, out to the north of Mondstadt, toward Snezhnaya, he came across some Fatui units that he was able to scorch easily, leaving charred remains behind. He had so much rage and impatience inside him, so it was no wonder that he was exploring far out of his safe territory.
Many days and defeated troops later, he was finally exhausted, but also riding that adrenaline high, it’ve been so long since the last time he could let loose and take out his anger on the Fatui pest.
Little did he know, he was about to face a battle that was far too difficult. A Fatuus who waged war with Diluc for days at a time, without being worn out. His blood sang with joy, and sweat coated his skin a hundred folds, as he clashed claymore against a huge battle axe once more.
He skidded back, panting as he looked straight into the face hidden in the shadow left behind by his mask.
“You put up an excellent fight.” He complimented this mysterious Fatuus and received a chuckle in return.
“Young man, I’ve been fighting wars since before you were a babe, this is but a child’s play, a spar that amuse me so.” A deep voice spoke, as a dark blue orb glinted from beyond the shadow.
“May I know my challenger’s name?” Diluc asked, a bit curious about the mysterious guy who was able to keep up with him this long.
“I am known as Il Capitano.” He spoke.
It just hit Diluc the moment the man said his name, that he has been battling with the first harbinger all this along.
“Makes sense why you aren’t going down that easily,” Diluc muttered, a bit stuck in his thoughts over this, before he finally shook it off, and rushed forward, the blade aimed to kill.
But Capitano merely jumped backward, allowing the weapon to catch on his clothes instead of his skin, ripping it apart revealing bare skin with beautiful phoenix art across his chest.
It was identical to Diluc’s Dawn, a phoenix that took flight once in a while in the moment of intense fight. He stumbled back in shock and barely dodged Captaino’s fist just in the nick of time. He looked at him for a bit more before leaving the battle incomplete for the first time ever.
He just couldn’t cope with the fact that for the longest time, he’d been killing Fatui scums only to be mated to one of the highest Fatui officers possible.
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Diluc ran his hand over his mark, a chain wrapped around his arms ending in his hands, lit with fierce flames.
He’s beginning to see the resemblance between his mark and his soulmate from what little he knows of him, a man forged in war, fighting because it’s all he ever knew.
But the fact that his soulmate was one of those Fatui scums held his back. How could he even begin to reconcile the fact that his soulmate came from the very same organization that ended his father’s life?
Simple answer, he doesn't. Even though he had secretly looked forward to meeting his soulmate for literal years. He couldn't get rid of his hatred of Fatui overnight even if it was for his soulmate.
After that discovery, Diluc kept his mark covered up at all times even when in casual wear too. He much rather forget the fact that he met his soulmate than accept this terrible fact.
Ignorance still came with a price, and that price may be too high for him to pay. His health began to deteriorate, and it had gotten to the point that even his staff noticed him unwell.
“Master Diluc, I’m concerned about your health,” Adeline mentioned one day after catching Diluc mid-trip.
“I’m fine, Adeline.” He brushed her off but unfortunately for him, she wasn't easily deterred.
“I’ll call upon a physician for you. Your health has been worse as of late.”
“No doctor.” He protested, “I know what's wrong with me.”
She raised her eyebrow questioningly.
After a moment of hesitance, he broke the news. “I have the Soul Rejection Syndrome.”
In a split second, her questioning look transformed into a shocked one. “Diluc! Why?”
“My soulmate is one of those Fatui.” He spat the word Fatui out as if it were a poison itself.
She sorrowfully hugged him in response, resigned to the knowledge that Diluc was far too entrenched in his hatred to even change his mind about his soulmate.
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
The sickness kicked in quickly the more he drove his soulmate out of his head, and that led to Kaeya finding Diluc unconscious at Angel’s share.
Even though their relationship was strained still, Kaeya had some care for his brother so he dragged him to Jean right away demanding for her to check on him right away.
After a brief evaluation, Jean gasped over the fact that Diluc was showing signs of Soul Rejection Syndrome. She broke the news to Kaeya watching his face turn ashen at the shock. Diluc…met his soulmate already..? The closet-romantic Diluc… rejecting his soulmate? This was nearly unheard of.
Losing his brother to something as foolish as this? Kaeya refused to allow this to happen, so even though Diluc dislikes Kaeya meddling in his business, Kaeya had to.
He began with the obvious, interrogating Adeline in the hope of finding out more information, but the only information that yielded was that Diluc’s soulmate was one of Fatui. That was a lead for now.
To start with a common foot soldier is an asinine idea, since there isn’t enough time. Fortunately, his boyfriend was the 11th harbinger himself, so he steeled himself to ask Childe everything that possibly has to do with Diluc’s mysterious soulmate on their next meeting (which was soon.)
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
“Darling.” Kaeya smiled upon seeing his adored one approaching him. “How you’ve been as of late?”
“My dear, thanks for asking things at Northland Bank have been running smoothly so I’ve found myself with some extra free time as of late.” Childe engulfed Kaeya with his strong yet warm arms, a harmless hug that turned into a supportive one the moment he realized that Kaeya was crying in his arms.
“My love, what’s the matter? Anything I could help with?” Childe asked out of concern and prepared to do whatever it took to protect his beloved from anything terrible.
“Childe…my brother is dying…” His voice cracked with grief. “He has Soul Rejection Syndrome.”
Childe was many things, a Fatui Harbinger for one, a Snezhnayan diplomat, a brother, a son, a warrior, a disciple, but at that moment, Childe was a boyfriend, and he was here to support Kaeya through this difficult time. His arms squeezed even tighter giving him a reassurance, yet remaining silent so Kaeya had the space to process his emotions.
After a moment, Kaeya finally reveals more information “They said that Diluc is rejecting his soulmate because his soulmate is one of Fatui. And you know how much my brother hates the Fatui.”
Childe perked up, “A Fatuus soulmate?”
“Yes.”
“Do you reckon his soulmate knows Diluc’s identity or was it one-sided discovery?” Childe inquired, wondering if this soulmate might have been someone he knew of.
“I don’t think they knew or else they’ll be suffering from Soul Rejection Syndrome, or be here already. Is any of your Fatui people experiencing this?” Kaeya hugged Childe even tighter, searching for more support from his cherished boyfriend.
“You’re right…wait, your brother? Do you know what his soulmate mark looks like?”
Kaeya looked up and met his eyes, realizing this was an excellent question. “Yes. He had a chain wrapping both of his forearms—”
“Capitano.” Childe blurted out before Kaeya could even finish the description. “It has to be Capitano. He had a phoenix on his chest, your brother usually fights with phoenix-themed attacks right?”
He nodded.
“Well damn, can’t believe your brother has managed to be linked up to one of the big shots in Fatui, second to none other than Tsaritsa and the director.”
“Huh? So this Capitano guy is a huge deal.”
“Extremely, we need to let him know right away if we want to have any chance of saving your brother from this fate.”
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Capitano was expecting many things, but two panting and pale fatui agents weren’t among those things.
“1st Harbinger, sir, T-there’s an urgent letter from 11th Harbinger that requires your attention right away.” The female said as she shook silently, intimidated by the extremely tall figure.
A laughter burst from his lips before Capitano could stop it, the thought of Childe needing something from him was ridiculous.
The only thing Childe was interested in having anything to do with him was fighting, and that pathetic harbinger wasn’t worth fighting. His moves were far too repetitive and boring unlike that gorgeous red-head he fought the other day.
He wondered how that guy was faring after he departed from the battle abruptly, it would be nice to challenge him again…
“Alright, give it to me.” He held out his hand for the male to place the letter in, and after he grabbed hold of it he uttered a single word.
“Dismissed.”
The order left the nervous agents scrambling to exit the room.
“Now, let’s see here…” He thumbed through the letter, nearly dropping it when he realized the content of the letters.
What…his soulmate found him? He didn’t even think his soulmate was still alive at this point seeing that he’d survived centuries without ever finding them.
But to think his destined was right under his nose all this along, and dying just out of his stubborn pride.
Well, Capitano is prepared to change his beloved’s mind.
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
After he traveled to the location that the pipsqueak mentioned in his letter, he finally saw who this mysterious soulmate of his was. It was the same fierce red-headed guy whom he admired earlier. Now that phoenix mark of his made all the more sense. But this guy was no longer snarling and battling, just laying in bed worn out, and on the verge of fading away.
“Beloved.” Capitano began, “Why would you want to leave me behind?”
Crimson eyes fluttered open, and Diluc met his eyes with a shock. “What are you doing here?’
“To be with my cherished phoenix. And to think you were this quick to throw us away.”
Diluc hesitated because even though Capitano seemed like an incredible guy, he was still amongst the organization that slain his father.
But still, he admitted that ever since his soulmate arrived, he felt so much better and at peace with him around. There was a special kind of connection in the air.
Capitano reached and grasped Diluc’s hand in his own, “Whatever worries you have, please know that I’m prepared to burden them all. It’s only fair.”
With that, Diluc broke, weeping in his destined’s arms.
.
.
.
Of course, an easy resolution is just a thing of hopeful fictional stories, even though Diluc’s symptoms reduced, there was still push and pull as Diluc struggled with Capitano’s identity as the first harbinger.
But slowly, over time, they came together, just as if they were a phoenix wrapped in a chain, ready to soar into the bloodbath of their mutual enemies.
The unlikely pair turned into the strongest and most fearsome duo, known across all 7 nations. As for them? Well, they might started out as enemies, but they are now inseparable, and hopelessly lost in each other’s embrace.