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At the sound of the flip-flap of a nearby crystalfly, Diona couldn’t help the grin that broke across her face. The travel to the winery was a little long for her legs, and the smell of the grapes distasteful- she knew what it meant, what the grapes turned into- but it was still her favorite spot to collect crystalflies. They were plentiful and it was close enough to Mondstadt for her to get them without going out of her way! Margaret didn’t like the idea of her going to Liyue for ingredients, but she just knew the geo crystalflies were the answer to her problem! She could just imagine it, geo crystalfly with some slime condensate, pyro, of course. Add in a little wolfhook, maybe? Yes, yes! Disgusting!
She jumped up, grabbing the crystalfly with practiced ease. She’d used them plenty… and it didn’t work. But if she found the right recipe, she just knew it’d taste horrific! She looked across the field, poking her head over a grape plant. She wasn’t hiding- not really. She wasn’t worried about getting in trouble, she just… didn’t want to see any of the Winery employees. Or even worse… the owner. Eugh. And maybe she was a little worried. This wasn’t trespassing, right? The Traveler told her he’d explored everywhere, and didn’t tell her anything about getting in trouble. It’s fine, she’s sure.
At least the rain had stopped… she’d had to stop in Springvale to keep out of it before making her way to the Winery. Her Daddy had been on a hunt, probably. Or in the tavern, or somewhere. She hadn’t really bothered to check, seeing as he hadn’t bothered to check where she was for the past couple days. It used to bother her more than it did now, But she really stopped trying once he missed her birthday last year. It was coming up in a couple weeks, but she knew not to try again. She didn’t care, she knew he’d pay more attention when she finished destroying the wine industry.
Besides she was turning eleven! She shouldn’t need her Daddy to pay attention! It would be of the Destroyer of the Wine Industry.
She spotted another crystalfly, and her grin grew wider. This one was flying atop a house… but Diona was a good climber! She had impeccable balance! She barely ever falls! There was the once on Starsnatch cliff- but she’d only been halfway up so it didn’t even count. She grabbed onto a windowsill and began to make her way up, left foot, then right. Then left hand, then right. And repeat! Soon she was at the top, hurling herself over the roofside, scrambling to grab the crystalfly before it flew away. Her hand grasped onto it and the short pleased purr that escaped her was out of her control.
Oh, another?? She hadn’t seen this one, she reached forward to grab it, shoes squeaking on the shingles. Her fingers just barely grazed the wings before her foot slipped, sending her tumbling off the roof. She went to reorient herself to land on her feet- but hit the lower part of the roof with her hip, sending her off balance again. The wave of pain the went through her leg starting at her ankle startled her, and a shrill meow escaped her lips before she could bite down on her tongue. She glanced down. Red was beginning to bloom across her left ankle. Didn’t 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 broken, there wasn’t any bone poking out. But it 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵.
She glanced around, blinking back the beginnings of tears welling in her eyes. Now was not the time! She had to get up to go home! She kept a little first aid in her bag! And healing was her specialty! She dealt with cuts all the time, this wasn’t any different. Oh. The sky was turning orange. That’s okay… it was pretty! And she’s made her way home in worse conditions. Her body is being dramatic. It doesn’t even hurt that bad, why is she crying? She wasn’t wailing- she wasn’t a baby, obviously, but she couldn’t stop sniffling and could feel the fat tears rolling down her cheeks.
No elemental energy… Not enough for healing anyways.
She breathed in hard, gotta make… a plan. Yes, a plan. Step one, uh, get behind that bush. Diona shuffled forward, scooching her butt using her good leg and her arms. Now hidden- except for her tail, but she didn’t know that- she blinked hard, wiping a hand across her eyes.
Right, step two. Open bag. She struggled with the clasp for a moment, the radiating pain was incredibly distracting. She glanced at the sky. What??? How… how was the sun going down so fast? Okay, what’s she got. Crystalflies, mushrooms, Fisherman’s Toast in a to-go container, and… bandaids Klee gave her. As well as her water bottle and her pencils and pens. But those are irrelevant right now.
But how are these useful to her? Diona looked through the items once more. Then did it again, then did it again, fumbling a pen around in her head. Then, forgot what was in the bag, and looked again. Ugh… nothing useful.
She scrunched her eyes in frustration, even more tears deciding to break free. She was able to stifle most of the sounds, only small whimpers escaping. A flash of red through the leaves of her bush.
What?
She squinted to see what was beyond her hiding spot. And… someone was coming. Diona bit down hard on her tongue, a desperate keen forcing it’s way out of her. The figure paused, she could feel her stomach tighten up with the nerves.
She thought she could hear the figure say something, but couldn’t make our what it was past her desperate attempt to scrunch smaller and be silent. She didn’t really want to be seen… hurt. She was the Destroyer of the Wine Industry- but mostly she just couldn’t think past the pain and sudden quickened 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘱, 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘱, 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘱 of her heart.
She tried to scramble up, she was a fighter, she could run- but the pressure on her ankle made another whine come out, louder, closer to a meow than she’d like- oh, now they’d know who she was! She fell back down with a thump, pressing hard against the wall of the rocky cliff.
She scrunched her eyes closed, rubbing them hard with her hands to clear the tears.
And when she opened them, she saw him, and couldn’t help the hard flinch of surprise. Her ears pinned hard against the top of her hair, her breathing even quicker now.
Diluc. Freaking Diluc.
The 𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘳 of Dawn Winery. Practically the 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 of 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘭.
Because of course it was him! What was Diona’s luck??
His voice startled her and she wanted to melt into the ground, “What are you doing here?” Oh. Oh, no. She was so in trouble. It was trespassing! How was she to destroy the Wine Industry if-
“No, don’t cry harder-“ She couldn’t help it, though. Every time she tried to get up the pain tripled in ferocity and she was trying desperately now. A drop on her head, and she flinched again. What.
𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘯.
She could see him step closer, and despite her best efforts she flashed her fangs, a hiss breaking the air. He stopped. Good, now she just had to do it again, and he’d go away, right? She hissed again, and again, and again, and- he crouched down and her eyes were full of red hair and… frantic eyes?
She hissed again, baring her teeth. Go away, go away, go away! He didn’t though, he just stayed there and her breathing sped up even 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 because he was so 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 and she was so scared even if she didn’t really know why.
She could feel her tail fur puff up with fear, and she hissed again, though it felt lighthearted with how out of breath she was. Diona felt lightheaded when a hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her- she jerked back but it was pointless because she was pulled anyways. There was speaking, but her brain didn’t decipher it. She scrambled, but couldn’t break free before she was against a warm chest.
..Warm. Like, really warm. Warmer than she’d ever felt without being hot. She’d ran cold ever since she got her vision, and even more so since she’d stopped letting Margaret hug her. She went limp, dragging in a long breath. She could hear the Warm speak, “Good.” And that made her 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 heat. There was the strong scent of smoke and leather. It was so unfamiliar but it made her relax for some reason.
So she did another one, and another. The Warm was still speaking, so she kept breathing. The only Cold she could feel was on her cheeks, wet. Uncomfortable, a whine broke out of her. Only a little bit. Because she wasn’t a baby. The Warm moved her and she could feel leather wiping the Cold away.
Another long breath and she blinked open her eyes. She could see the Warm, red hair and black clothes. She blinked again. Diluc. She could breathe normal, so that meant she could speak now. Which meant, she could yell at him for being… what did he do wrong? Hm.. Getting in her space! Yeah. That works.
“Go away!” Diona snapped, pushing her hands on his chest her away from him. He let go and she went tumbling back.
“…You’re at my winery?” Diona squinted at him, “At a very late hour, I’ll add. Why are you…”
Diona backed up, wincing at some of the pressure on her ankle. “You’re hurt?” Diona’s sure it was supposed to be a statement, but for some reason the man sounded unsure of himself.
The calico paused for a long moment. She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t deny it, it was obvious! “Mind your business,” she decided on.
A sigh, “Your on 𝘮𝘺 property, it is my business.”
She glared at him, not dignifying that with a response. “…Let’s just get you somewhere dry, yeah?”
That made her perk up, ears angling back in threat, “I don’t need your help! Go away!” She never needed help. Not from adults. And especially not from Diluc.
She’d rather stay out here in the rain all night.
“Kid, you’re going to freeze.”
“Don’t care.”
“Well, I do.”
Diona glared at him again, because she could, and because he was really starting to get on her nerves. Her ankle was on fire and it just made her want to scream. Not even at him! But he was right there and a perfectly good screaming target.
“I’ve got it under control,” she said, because she 𝘥𝘪𝘥. He just… caught her at a bad time.
“Kid-“ She bristled, tail proofing up.
“Shut up! Go away!” She showed her fangs again, the instinct taking over. If she showed the predator she was not prey, it’d leave. She was a threat.
Another sigh and a gloved hand reaching for her. She didn’t flinch back this time, she lunged forward snapping her teeth into the spot between his jacket and his glove.
But the arm didn’t pull away. No, she just felt his other arm wrap around her back, pulling her closer. She sunk her teeth in further, claws scrambling to sink into flesh. It didn’t work, his back was covered by his jacket. She hissed, almost a cat-like growl, cat instincts trying to scare him off.
He was speaking, which just made her tighten her jaws. Didn’t it hurt? Why wasn’t he letting go? Or at least trying to dislodge her fangs. “It’s alright. It’s okay,” but it really didn’t feel okay, because he wasn’t 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘰. In fact, he was standing up, holding her steady to carry her. It made her change from scratching to clambering to hold on so she wouldn’t fall.
She didn’t… think she’d fall. He had a steady grip on her. …Why did it feel so safe, when she knew he was carrying her to… where were they going? It was 𝘣𝘢𝘥, surely.
She could taste blood, and the bitter coppery taste grounded her. Kept her heart from sky rocketing. Or maybe that was the fact Diluc wouldn’t 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘱.
“It’s alright,” he said, and she could feel the steady rocking of him walking.
She responded with a rumbling growl she’d heard some of the cats in the Cat’s Tail do when they got mad. But he just repeated, “You’re alright.”
She tried to bite harder, but realized she was biting as hard as she could already. So instead she flicked her tail threateningly. This was surely causing so much pain. Once… they got where they’re going she could ditch him.
Yes. He’d put Diona down and when he looked away, she’d be gone. She’d just have to deal with her ankle. It’d hurt… but, she could do it! She’d gone out with the Traveler once and gotten hurt really bad, but she’d still fought till they won! She could do it, she really could-
…But, until he lets go. Maybe she’ll just soak in the warmth. Just for a little bit.
The sound of a big door, she lifted her head slightly- they were 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 the winery.
“Adelinde!” She heard Diluc call, and she hissed through his skin. Though… maybe she should let go now. She needed her fangs free so she could use them if needed. So she could run.
She let go, lifting her head to look at Diluc. What? Why was… he blurry? She blinked a couple times in rapid succession. Oh.
She was crying.
𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭?
Oh, Archons. How humiliating.
She willed the tears to stop, but they didn’t stop coming and she suddenly realized the sniffling she’d been hearing was coming from her.
There was a rush of footprints and she whipped her head to see who had approached. Adelinde. She’d only met the woman once before when she’d visited the Winery for business. She’d been… nice the time before. But weird. Like, asking about what she liked to do for fun, weird. And gave her food. During a business visit.
“Oh, Barbatos,” Adelinde gasped, then rushed forward, “Come, Master Diluc.” And then she began off, Diona could feel the steps as the man carrying her began to follow.
Oh. This was it. Her doom. Probably? She scrambled for a moment, but realizing she wasn’t going to get free, gave up and went limp. She was starting to hurt really bad, anyways. Her heart had started to slow and… her ankle felt more real.
She was set down on a chair, slightly plush with big arms. She stared at Diluc as he spoke with Adelinde, and if looks could kill, he’d be deep in Cinder Lake.
Footsteps, she braced herself as Adelinde approached. “Hey, Diona.”
“Adelinde.” She replied, trying not to let her voice waver.
The maid didn’t pause, just continued on, “You ended up in some trouble today, huh?”
Diona didn’t give that a reply. Because, 𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺.
“Can I look at your leg?” Diona looked at Adelinde, then Diluc, and back to the maid again.
She gave a nod, returning her gaze to Diluc to make sure he wouldn’t dare come near. He was holding gauze to his wrist. Diona let out a satisfied purr at the sight and he whipped to look at her- Diona pinned her ears back, hating the feeling of his eyes on her. She flashed her fangs. Stupid… alcohol lover! He didn’t even look frightened, his face softened, even! What!!
She felt a gentle hand on her ankle, but it still aches and she had half the mind to kick Adelinde in the face. She definitely didn’t deserve that, though. So Diona kept still until the made stood up again.
“Doesn’t look broken, just a bad sprain,” she said and Diona bristled at an almost 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘥 look in the maid’s eyes. The calico despised that. “I’ll be back with some ice and some… hot chocolate?”
Diona looked up. Was that a question. She just huffed and Adelinde walked off, shooting a look at Diluc before she left.
The archer turned her gaze to him and Diluc moved towards her, and she held back a flinch. She wasn’t scared. She was the threat. So why did she feel like prey under his red eyes?
He opened his mouth and she braced herself, “I’m sorry.”
Now she did flinch. Because.
What?
Adults don’t say they’re sorry!! Especially not adults who hurt 𝘋𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢. She’d heard Kaeya apologize to Klee before. But no one ever said sorry to 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
She raised an eyebrow at him and he continued, “For scaring you.” She scoffed.
“I’m not scared. I’m 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺.”
Diluc didn’t seem to give that a response, saying, “I’m not good with kids. So, I’m sorry.”
She whipped her tail as best she could while sitting, “Not a kid.” She snapped, almost automatically. She wasn’t. Not like Klee. Not even like Qiqi, who’s she’d met once while visiting Liyue for ingredients.
But… he did apologize. So that meant something, “But it’s okay.”
Diluc didn’t reply for a bit, and Diona felt almost ansty in the quiet. Then he snorted, “Okay, kid.”
Diona almost wanted to bite him.
But Adelinde walked in just before she could even try. She placed the ice down next to Diona, and the calico moved to sit so she could put it on the ankle. Ew. Cold. She probably could’ve just used her Vision. But.. she didn’t realize that until now. And now it was too late.
“I’ve got hot chocolate,” the maid said, and Diona carefully grabbed the cup with both hands. “And grape juice for you, Master Diluc.”
The red haired man gave Adelinde a nod and grabbed his own drink, and Diona watches the maid shuffle away.
“Grape juice? Not grape wine? Or even Dandelion Wine?” Diona asked incredulously.
Diluc looked over at her, “Hm? No, I don’t drink.”
Diona bluescreened. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 adult drinked. Well, Jean didn’t. But 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 every adult drinked.
Diona scoffed. Surely he was lying. He 𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥 Dawn Winery. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 Winery. She took a sip of her hot chocolate, and couldn’t think of a proper way to reply. She couldn’t outright call him on his lie. He was an adult.
The hot chocolate was just that, hot. It warmed her up, from her stomach up into her chest. It was so rich, it must be made from real nice chocolate. And obviously milk, instead of water like her Daddy did it. Her skin still felt cold, her clothes were wet, but they’d dry soon enough. She yawned, placing the almost empty cup on the table beside her. She could never drink all her hot chocolate. It ended up making her feel sick. So she stopped before it filled her stomach too much.
She yawned big, stretching her back just a little. She was tired.
Just then, Adelinde returned. “Alright, I’ve set up the guest bedroom. Let’s get you settled in.”
…
…
…
Diona was so confused, “What?”
Adelinde tilted her head, “You’re tired, and we need to get you into warm clothes..?”
Diona opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again- then closed it.
What? She was… puzzled. She didn’t live here! She didn’t have any clothes here! Her home wasn’t even that far! “I have warm clothes at home?”
Diluc spoke then, “You’re staying the night here.”
She bristled, “What? No I’m not?”
“…It’s late and it’s raining, yes you are.” He replied again.
Diona went to stand up, and Diluc rushed forward, picking her up before her feet touched the ground. “No, you need to stay off the leg. You’re staying in the guest room, and that’s final.” Diona wanted to kick and hiss and maybe bite, but he was still so warm and she was so tired. So maybe instead of fighting like she should, she just went limp in his hold again.
It just felt… nice? Safe. Her Daddy’s hugs never felt this safe. Neither did Margaret’s. Hers always felt tingly, and Diona had given up on them.
There was the steady walking sensation and the opening of a door.
“Let’s get you a bath running, yeah? You’re filthy,” Adelinde mused.
“Hey!” Diona hissed, completely offended.
Diona was placed on a small chair in the bathroom and she kicked her good foot back and forth. She heard the maid start a bath.
Adelinde placed some clothes on the counter. “These won’t fit, but they’re warm.”
Diona gave a nod and pointed for them to get out. The obliged and left, but Diona could still see their shadows under the door and hushed whispers. She struggled with the top part of her outfit, the wet clinging to her skin and she muttered indignantly. She put her Vision to the side carefully.
She finished and slipped into the bath carefully, hopping on one foot to reach it. The water sunk into her bones and made her want to hunker down and nap. She didn’t, though. One, that was stupid. And Two, she needed to get out and dressed so she wasn’t as vulnerable.
She carefully took her hair tie out and washed her hair, then her body. The bath was very quick, she didn’t want to be in longer than she had to. She got out, then grabbed the clothes.
A big hoodie and.. shorts? She caught the smell of smoke and she knew. Diluc’s. His casual clothes? Either way, Adelinde was right. They won’t fit.
Diona was a little confused. They had plenty of maids here, did they not have any maids clothes? Or were only the uniforms stored here? Diona doesn’t think she’d like to wear a maid outfit. One time a boozehound mentioned it and it made her cringe hard.
She put the clothes on anyways. She could could swim in the hoodie, but it was so warm. She clipped her Cryo vision to her hair tie, something she sometimes did when she didn’t have her traveling outfit on. Just so she had it at all times. You never know when you’ll need it.
She opened the bathroom door and looked up at the adults, who were staring at her. The hoodie went almost to her knees, but the shorts covered all the way down to her shin. “What?” She snapped, because why were they staring? Hmph.
Diluc coughed, “Nothing.”
Adelinde grinned, “Nothing!”
Then the made ushered to help Diona to the bed, which made the calico cringe. She could make her herself. Even if the limping hurt. “Are you hungry, dear? I could whip you something up?”
Diona wrinkled her nose, “Er, no. I’m fine.” She was a little hungry, but it was late and she refused to bother the staff like that. She’d felt worse hunger before, anyways. Like that time Daddy had promised to bring home some sticky honey roast, but ended up at the tavern anyways. That was the week he’d forgotten to go by the general goods store, too. A horrible night, really. She’d curled into her bed and just cried.
Adelinde made a face but simply said, “As you wish.”
Diona rubbed her hand across the comforter of the bed. It felt slightly soft, for some reason. Hers at home felt rough and she mostly laid atop blankets to get rid of the feeling.
Adelinde left, leaving Diluc just… standing there. She gave him a look, and he seemed to pause before asking, “Do you need anything? I can get you some water?”
She shook her head, “No, thanks. I’m good.”
“Alright, kid.” he turned to the door, “you get some sleep.”
She gave a nod.
He left.
“Thank Barbatos,” she whispered, hopping off the bed and towards a window- And…locked.
Great.
Guess she’s stuck here for the night. She hobbled back to the bed, opened up the comforter, and slid in. The mattress felt so soft, not hard like at home. The blankets were gentle and the pillow just firm enough for her to prop her elbow underneath. She still felt warm. Even as she dozed off, tail curling around one of her legs.
Maybe this won’t be so bad.