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Chapter Text

Mondstadt is a place where fresh air and dandelion scent would often cling to one's clothes. Like a few dew drops of summer rain, it carries a refreshing feeling. This is how Diluc remembers his hometown and now that he is back again, this description still rings true.

It’s been almost four years since he's away. As he walks through the streets of the city, he sees minimal changes to the surroundings. The knights guarding the entrance and Flora's flower stand are still there. Clean walkway can still be observed as he makes way to the tavern. When he entered Angel's Share, the same rowdy folks of Mondstadt were drinking to their heart's content even if its broad daylight.

Diluc felt so much of him changed while this place and this city still remained the same.

The same goes for yesterday when he finally arrived at the Dawn Winery and showed his face to Adelinde. He thought that the winery had changed over the past years he'd been gone. However, it seems that the moment he left it, it was frozen in time. Not a visage of it was touched nor was its inside rearranged.

This brought a great pain and nostalgia to him. Wanting to get rid of that feeling, the next day, he opt to be where is now. At least the tavern has very little impact on his memories. Perhaps a few segmented episodes of when he was brought here briefly by his father, nothing more.

Diluc's return was not treated like a parade. The citizens simply noted that their uncrowned king was back. The Knights of Favonius reached out in a letter welcoming his presence back and looking forward to their continued cooperation for the flourishing of Mondstadt’s wine industry. Diluc scoffed off after reading the letter.

Soon, the feeling whenever he is in the winery diminishes and Diluc falls into an idyllic routine. Most days of the week, he would spend his time manning the tavern. If he is not the one standing behind the counter, he is most likely cooped up in the winery doing paperwork. Then came his nightly excursion, although he preferred not to mention that when someone asked what the schedule of the busy dawn winery master was.

There is only one thing that is constantly at the back of his mind, where is that person now?

The last intel he received was 6 months ago. He still should be here. Diluc knows he can always inquire his intelligence network to pinpoint Kaeya's location but his pride won't let him do it. There are too many issues and a whole lot of emotional baggage to address the moment he decided to seek out that person.

Despite this, his ears are open, whether it’s on the streets of the city or inside the taverns of Mond, for anything that might mention his name. However, it was proven to be useless. He never heard Kaeya's name uttered by someone, not even by the most loosed-mouth drunkards.

He can then only assume two scenarios. Kaeya may be dead or have left Mondstadt. The former is something he does not wish to come true regardless of how mixed his feelings are for that person and the latter one is more accepting. One thing is for sure, if it was indeed the latter, he had one less thing to worry about. Nevertheless of the scenarios he could come up with, Diluc should have known that life can throw a curve ball at him anytime.

He was on his way to the Good Hunter from Angel's Share when his feet came to a halt near the shop where Timaeus was operating. He saw a familiar face sporting an eye patch.

==================

Making way to the corner near the forefront of Good Hunter was Kaeya, accompanied by the chief alchemist of the knights, Albedo along with the spark knight Klee. Kaeya for the better part of their walk from his apartment to Good Hunter was giggling to the antics of his cute little Klee.

He had heard how this little girl blew up the fishing spot near the eastern gate of the city and how she had done the same thing to her solidarity confinement room. It is, of course, courtesy of him implanting his ideas to young Klee of making a small boom boom made out of dodoco which made Klee ask Albedo to create.

As they were about to reach their destination, a color red caught his eye. He stopped and looked at it. Kaeya's eye after that fateful incident with Diluc was never the same. His vision is blurred and can only see clearly if the person is half a foot away from him. Kaeya also has a limited sight. He could not see the surroundings of an item he was looking at. It is similar to seeing things through a telescope with black rim sides of the device littering his eyesight.

Kaeya tried to assess what that red thing he was looking at. Through elimination and partially memorized location of the city, he was able to identify that the red thing was right beside Timaeus’ shop. With this information, he pieced together that perhaps it was another red banner newly installed for the sake of promoting the shop. He looked away just in time when Albedo and Klee called for his attention.

They ordered a few takeouts of fisherman's toast, satisfying salad, chicken mushroom skewers, steak, calla lily seafood soup, and mint jelly. Afterwards, the food was ready and then the trio went back to Kaeya's house.

Albedo and Klee made sure that Kaeya went inside his house before they bid their farewell and went back to the knights’ headquarters.

==================

Diluc was flabbergasted. Kaeya was here in Mondstadt, looking all the same except he was now the grown-up version of the kid he knew. Confused was his next reaction. Kaeya looked in his direction and stared at him for a good minute or so. Diluc couldn't discern his face. To him, Kaeya's face remained expressionless until he walked away.

When Kaeya and his companions left, Diluc was still rooted in place. Various questions were circling in his head. Why did Kaeya stare at him and then proceed to ignore him? Did Kaeya not recognize him? He still looked the same as his younger self. Did Kaeya not want to associate with him further after what had happened? After all, he betrayed Diluc's trust.

Why am I bothered about this?

The more he thinks about it, the more his head gets messier. Diluc decided to just simplify it, don't care about it anymore. The bridges had already burned a long time ago, Kaeya to him now is just a citizen of Mondstadt he had to keep an eye on every now and then.

Chapter Text

A week later, Diluc once again saw Kaeya.

He was on his way to church to fetch a healer, hopefully, Jean's sister Barbara to come to the tavern. A few drunkards got way too heated in the outside drinking area of Angel's Share and a fight broke out. Some of them are mildly injured.

In truth, it was not necessary for Diluc to fetch Barbara as they could tend to the wounds of those bastards. However, he wanted them to learn their lessons and what is the best way to do that? Letting their idol see them in such a deplorable state. That’ll keep them away from the tavern for a few weeks.

As he was about to climb up the stairs on the right side leading to the same level of the knights’ headquarters, he saw a flash of blue in his peripheral view. He looked back and saw Kaeya carrying a white cane in his right hand.

This time, Diluc's thoughts were too much to handle that he ended up not thinking at all. He stood there with an open jaw and wide eyes, watching as Kaeya ascends the stairs leading to the knights’ headquarters. He was using his cane to figure out the stairs while his left hand meticulously touching the stone handrail.

With no thoughts in mind, Diluc miraculously tailed Kaeya at a safe distance. He limits the sound of his footsteps so as to not startle the lad cautiously climbing the stairs. It is only when Kaeya enters the headquarters that Diluc regains his senses. He immediately went to the church, and hurriedly escorted Barbara, in hopes that he could come back in time just before Kaeya leaves the headquarters.

==================

After overcoming the hellish stairs of the city, Kaeya stood inside the office of the acting grandmaster Jean. He was there for their frequent strategic plan. A notorious group of treasure hoarders was hiding in Old Mondstadt and Kaeya provided this intel to Knights of Favonius. He also advised them on various methods how to approach this group.

Jean started the conversation with a sigh.

"...you know, we could have done this at your house. After all, it’s only an update to what is currently happening. We still don’t plan to move and are observing things."

Kaeya refuted this by saying, "Well, that's precisely why it needs to be here. I could not let the grandmaster go to the trouble of coming to my house for a simple update, isn't it?"

"Acting grandmaster. If Master Varka was here, you probably would have a barge of lectures fired up your way." Said Jean in a tone that wanted to exert firmness but came out to have no bite.

Kaeya can vaguely see a stash of white on Jean's table. It seems like she is again handling too much paperwork than necessary. To at least lighten her mood, Kaeya jabbed a few words at her.

"My, my, Jean, thinking of the old man will only give you wrinkles. It’s high time that the knights have a master as beautiful as you. They cannot be losing that beauty now over some old man~"

A few chuckles before Jean utters, "Stop with the flattery Kaeya. Also, don’t speak as if Master Varka is a troublesome man."

"Well isn't he?"

Jean finally laughed, "Ahahaha.. okay, stop it now. Let’s go sit there on the couches."

When the two of them made themselves comfortably sitting, Jean began her report.

Thanks to Kaeya's information, they have a location advantage over the treasure hoarders. However, what they need now is further information about the group's illegal activities in Mondstadt. Once they gathered enough evidences, they could arrest the group and send them to Fontaine along with the evidences. The treasure hoarders are of Fontaine descendants which is why it is only right that they cooperate with Fontainian authorities.

After receiving the report, Kaeya decided to leave quickly to assemble the team leading the scrounging of information about the treasure hoarders.

As he was walking back to his house, he felt eyes on him.

After which, he quickly came to the conclusion that it was probably only in his mind. He does not go out often and this feeling could be a byproduct of being somewhat a recluse. Kaeya also did not think that anyone would truly look his way. Other people might due to the cane but these gazes would often linger for a few seconds.

He knows that people do not want to associate with a person like him and his cane that is a pain in the ass to handle. So, he does not mind as he enters his home. No matter which way someone looks at it, a burden is still a burden. That is what's left on Kaeya's mind as he closes the door of his house.

==================

Diluc went home to the winery with half-lidded thoughts and a buzzing in his ears.

What happened to Kaeya?

This question keeps on repeating in his head throughout the journey home.

He managed to go back in time and see Kaeya exiting the headquarters. Still shocked out of his mind at that time, he followed Kaeya until the other managed to go back home.

Then, he went back to the tavern. He served as if he was possessed to the point that Charles had to put him on time out and advised him to rest. He had been messing orders up for 5 consecutive times.

Only when Adelinde served a hot tea in front of him did he realize he was back and absently sitting in the living room. He drank the tea in one go, not minding the burning sensation it left in his throat nor the shocked expression of Adelinde. He then instructs the few maids nearby to gather blank papers and bring them to his other office on the second floor. He also told Adeline to go fetch a couple of people.

It was time to do a research on the past years he'd been gone and view the information surrounding Kaeya.

Chapter Text

A month has passed since the rollercoaster of events hit Diluc in the face. He is currently at Angel's Share mixing drinks and shouldering what's supposed to be Charles' shift per his request to handle the counter. He had told Charles that there were some 'observations' he needed to do so he'll have to take his shift in the meantime. To which, the bartender agreed and did not further question how fishy Diluc's motives were.

As expected, he was swarmed by orders from the regulars. With his back turned and facing the entrance of the tavern, jingling sounds came from the door chime.

Kaeya walks inside the tavern noting Charles wearing a very red hat or so he thought. Not commenting on his fashion choice as he had seen worse of what the guy had worn, he called him and gave his order.

"Evening Charles! Mind if I get a bottle of dandelion wine? Also, one wolfhook juice, please. I'm quite in a good mood today and I'll be drinking that here."

He then approach the counter, slumping on the corner right chair. Hearing a bottle placed in front of him, Kaeya tilted his bowed head up to give his thanks only for the words to die down in his tongue. 

It was not Charles who was holding down the bottle of dandelion wine. It was a man whom he had last seen four years ago. A man who brought both joy and pain in his heart. With a breathless tone, Kaeya addresses the bartender for the day.

"Diluc?... I did not know you were back."

Diluc saw how stunned Kaeya was in front of him. The moment Kaeya talked to him, something urged him to say anything when he initially thought that he would end up ignoring the other.

"...well, I am here."

Kaeya's momentary shock state dissipated and he could not hold back his gilded speech.

"Oh would you look at that~ I thought for sure that fanfares and festivities will welcome our Master Diluc once he's back. Did I perhaps miss on that?"

Diluc snorted, turned his back once again to start mixing drinks, and said, "There is no such thing as that. Why would Mondstadt and the knights do that?"

"Well of course! The uncrowned king and master of the dawn winery has returned. Would it not be appropriate to throw a party?"

"It's already a party every damn time in this tavern." Sighing as Diluc places the wolfhook juice in front of Kaeya. 

Looking up close, he saw the blue-haired man truly looked the same since the last time he saw him. The only thing that changed in him is how he grew much taller now than he was in their teens and his eye is different. Kaeya's one visible iris is littered with black spots on its sides and the shine of his eye is a bit dull unlike before.

Kaeya sensing the awkwardness in the atmosphere with Diluc staring at him, playfully said, "What? Can't get enough of this face? I know I'm beautiful Master Diluc but you don't need to openly gawk so much."

Having heard what he said, Diluc scrunches his eyebrows and his lips forming thin. Kaeya saw the shifting of Diluc's eyebrows through his blurred vision, forming a somewhat scowl. He then chuckled at him, prompting the other to turn his back again and continue working, this time, it's cleaning the wine glasses.

While taking sips of his juice, Kaeya continues to pester the red-haired bartender with anything he can come up with. He presented topic after topic, ranging from the recent weather of Mondstadt, the state of shops around the city, the gossip being thrown inside the taverns by the drunkards nearby, to the recent rumors of a certain darknight hero. To which Diluc replied in an unenthusiastic manner and only offered his grunts, few words, and a lot of silence in between.

Diluc did not expect Kaeya would be quite talkative, given what had happened to their relationship. Also, balancing between fulfilling orders, Kaeya's blabber, and his own thoughts the moment he saw Kaeya's eye was proven fatal as it drained his energy faster, unlike most nights that he worked in the tavern. As a result, he could only reply in a barren manner.

Kaeya, still pushing for Diluc to respond to him, stops when a familiar scent comes close to him. Facing the way where the scent came from, he is greeted by the bizarre nun of the church. He stood and opened his arms and said in a joyful tune, "Rosie! It's been so long!"

Rosaria rolled her eyes and smirked. She met the halfway standing Kaeya with a quick hug and made him immediately sit back on the stool chair. Seeing how bubbly Kaeya looks, she can only feign ignorance at the cause of it which is the person just behind the counter.

Diluc heard a jovial conversation happening behind his back and was relieved that Kaeya found a speaking partner. Although he still keeps an ear on the conversation of the two, he does let it fade into the background intermittently as more orders come his way.

When the two apparently decided to go home as suggested of the nun, Diluc faced them. While Kaeya says goodbye to him and him simply hums as an answer, he sees how the nun discreetly swaps Kaeya's dandelion wine bottle with another bottle that eerily has the same design but different content. She stared at him and he opted not to say anything to the oblivious blue-haired man. Eventually, the two disappeared from the tavern.

As they walked back home, Kaeya could not make Rosaria stop pointing out how giddy he had been more than usual back in the tavern. He had also found out during their walk back to his house that Diluc had been here for almost three months now. He wondered why such information did not reach him. 

Nonetheless, he did realize sooner when Rosaria left after escorting him to the door of his house that he did not classify intel regarding Diluc as an immediate concern, therefore, the information guild did not say anything.

==================

There is only an hour before the closing time of Angel's Share. Diluc starts finishing up the remaining drinks and ushering the wasted customers out of the tavern. To him, this day was fruitful at the same, tiring. The last thing he wants is to close the tavern earlier than closing time and hit the bed. 

What he did not expect though, is that thirty minutes in before the closing time and all of the customers had left, he was going to entertain two knights of Favonius. Usually, that grind his ears and would let another thought reign his mouth about how inefficient and incompetent the knights were. However, that is not the case this time.

Jean and the librarian, Lisa, came into the tavern to ask something. They do looked a bit guilty as they opened the door and so Diluc invited them inside. He served them some nonalcoholic drinks and inquired what they wanted to ask. 

Jean asked him whether Kaeya swing by the tavern earlier and if he ordered or drank some alcoholic drinks. Diluc confirmed that he was in the tavern and ordered for one dandelion wine and a wolfhook juice that he drank there. He further added, 

"An acquaintance of his came, a nun called Rosaria... I think, was her name. They chatted and when they went out, the nun swapped the dandelion wine bottle with another bottle of the same design placed near the counter. I checked after they left, it was apple cider."

The duo withholding their breath finally release the tension they’re feeling after what Diluc told them. 

Diluc asked if there was something wrong. Lisa was the one who explained Kaeya's circumstances.

Kaeya has a monthly checkup that he needs to attend. It is to see the condition of his eye. It was advised to him by the doctor to not consume any alcoholic beverages a week before the date of the checkup since it might give unwanted side effects. Jean and Lisa have been monitoring Kaeya regarding this since his last checkup was three months ago. It turns out that he had been drinking, hence, the date keeps on getting pushed back. 

The duo knew Kaeya as someone who can control himself when it comes to drinking, however, he's been stubborn lately and won't go to the doctor. 

Diluc could see the tired lines under their eyes and could only nob as a way of understanding their sorrows. 

He could not withstand not asking something he had been meaning to ask anyone who might know the answer to a question bugging his mind from a month ago. It is to fill the gap in the information he has on Kaeya. Turning to Jean, he says with a quiet voice, 

"Can you tell me what happened with him? How is his eye..."

The acting grandmaster did not need to know the complete sentence of what Diluc wanted to talk about. She knew that the day Master Crepus died, the path these two walked diverged. She looked Diluc in the eye and candidly recalled what happened and what Kaeya said to them on that fateful night.

"It was raining hard that time when Kaeya burst open the door of the headquarters. Me and Master Varka were the first to see him. He was bleeding all over. We went to the infirmary to tend to his wounds. I tried my best to stop the bleeding in his eyes. No one knows he was there. We did not alert anyone. There was already... a lot that had happened that day."

Jean paused for a bit and sipped her drink then continued, 
"The next day, Master Varka called in a specialist to see Kaeya's condition. It was too early to say what the extent of the damage of his injury at that time. That night, Master Varka called me to Kaeya's temporary room in the infirmary. He asked what had happened. Kaeya told us that he was patrolling near Capes Oath when heavy rain started pouring. Suddenly, a mitachurl ambushed him, he could not dodge in time and ended up being cornered. He said he could not sense the creature due to the rain. Diluc.., back then...No, nevermind... Kaeya... that is what Kaeya told us."

When Jean heard the story for the first time, a lot of questions popped out of her head. She knew that the information Kaeya was saying was not coinciding with the usual patrol route of the knights as well as the personnel who should take does said route. If he was ambushed, the horse his riding would also be injured but it came back without barely a scratch. It is when she and Master Varka went out of the room and she was taken to a corner that Jean understood things.

She saw the way Master Varka's expression filled with worry. Her suspicion of Kaeya hiding something was solidified when Master Varka said that they should not push for more information and that they should feign ignorance for now. They then made a pact to spin the story Kaeya provided them as a solid fact among the knights. 

This talk happened years ago and up until now, Jean does not have the heart to ask what truly happened that night. She knows digging up buried past won't be beneficial to anyone, after all the things Kaeya went through after that incident and how much he had lost afterward.

Diluc nods after Jean tells her perspective then he falls into deep rumination. 

That night. 

The inkling he has been feeling is slowly being confirmed. Diluc thought that soon he had to face the consequences of his actions which was larger than he expected. He needs some time to prepare. 

While deep in thought, he didn't notice how the duo had already finished their drink and preparing to go. He was only brought back to the present when they asked him for some favor. They were hoping for him to accompany Kaeya for his checkup the day after tomorrow. They said that this way, Kaeya would have a harder time escaping. 

Diluc agreed to their favor and promised he would not let him escape. The duo thanked him and bid farewell in a light-hearted tone.

Chapter Text

The day of the checkup came in at Diluc's tavern door with a certain spark knight in tow, shouting,

"Weird adult! Let's go see big brother Kaeya!"

Jean said the other night that she would send someone to accompany him to where Kaeya lives.

Diluc, the weird adult, had no choice but to relent to this energy-filled little girl. The pair started making their way to Kaeya's house. They had a stopped over at Good Hunter to fetch some food for breakfast as it was still early in the morning and Kaeya's appointed time was still later that morning.

Kaeya woke up to the loud sounds of banging on his entrance door. With sleepiness clinging to his eyes, he put on his eye patch and went out of his bedroom to answer the door.

Klee's voice was evident the closer he was to the door. He opened the door without hesitation and got tackled immediately by the little girl. Her excitement was so excessive that Kaeya felt they were about to fall, however, strong arms managed to grab both of his arms and ground them thus stopping the potential incident of the day.

Upon seeing the person who supported him, he flatly questioned why in the world was Diluc in there. He was met with an answer he did not want to admit. Diluc said it was a favor made by Jean and Lisa for his doctor's appointment and that he along with Klee will be his chaperone. Kaeya faced reality with slumped shoulders. His plan of avoiding the doctor by drinking alcohol today would be for naught.

He invited the pair to come in and felt how Diluc handed him some packed dishes. He and Diluc made their way to the kitchen while Klee took a beeline toward the living room.

Diluc observed the entirety of the living room and the kitchen beside it, only being divided by partition shelves. He noted that there were some raised dots near the light switches, presuming they were braille stickers. The room is also littered with physical markers such as big bold letterings on the bookshelves serving as some sort of labeling, he assumes. Some braille sticker sheets were also seen on top of the coffee table in the living room.

He had also taken a glimpse of what seems to be Kaeya's working station as it is filled with papers and devices that he faintly recognizes in the corner of the living room. It is positioned near a window where natural light can easily pass through. For a first-floor apartment, Kaeya's home can par with those who lived on the top floor of a three-story house where light from sunrise first gets through.

In the kitchen, he saw that each cabinet have a colored button right beside the opening knobs. In the left side area of the kitchen placed a simple dining table for four.

When Kaeya was preparing their breakfast with the food brought by his two guests, Diluc asked him whether he needed help. Kaeya declined his offer and told him to just stay put since he was a guest after all. Left with nothing to do, Diluc sat in one of the chairs at the dining table.

"You seem to be doing a lot of things." Said Diluc, stating what he had observed.

While taking the food out of the containers and placing them into the plates, Kaeya replied, "Oh, apologies for the messiness. I had quite a busy day yesterday writing letters and translating some texts. I can imagine the mess you're seeing right now."

Diluc dissuades him by saying there is no need to apologize. However, true to Kaeya's fashion, the blue-haired man doubled down.

"You wound me Master Diluc, of course, I would be bothered. It’s once in a while that I have a proper guest and having the state of my home as you described is just unacceptable."

Diluc sighed and said, "I only mentioned you have a lot going on and not that it was messy."

Kaeya ignored him and chose to call for Klee, informing the food was ready and that they should dig in.

The breakfast feast was peaceful with Klee narrating her previous adventures and Kaeya enthusiastically responding and matching her pace.

After eating, Klee went back to the living room to play. The two adults were once again left to their own devices at the dining table.

Diluc was the first one to move, bring all the used plates and utensils in the sink to wash it. Kaeya wanted to stop him from washing the dishes but Diluc stubbornly insisted that it was only right he had something to do after Kaeya did all the preparations. He won through consolidation of which Kaeya will be the one drying things after he'd washed them.

Silence falls upon the two with Diluc in the sink and Kaeya in the dining table, occasionally sipping the coffee he made earlier.

On his part, Diluc realized he is often lost in thought more than he likes to whenever he meets up with Kaeya. Knowing Kaeya's circumstances through his underground network and hearing Jean's recollection of events felt too unreal to him.

Seeing all of these things placed in Kaeya's home and noting how the man moves in congruent with this space, he finally felt the emptiness of the years that elapsed between the two of them. He is not even sure to what extent should he learn about this forgotten time. Diluc does not whether he had the right to know of the experiences Kaeya dealt with nor the events that led to him living like this.

Kaeya on the other hand, doesn't know how to deal with this situation.

Beneath all the playfulness that he'd been treating Diluc with, he was still unsure of how to interact with the man from this point onward. He knew both of them grew out of their younger selves. Diluc was not how he used to be, be it his overt behaviors or his inner values. He doesn't recognize the other's motives nor knows how far he is informed about his circumstances.

Kaeya is on the precipice of his relationship with Diluc. It is unknown whether he'll end up walking on a wide road or on a tightrope.

In assessing this newfound footing that they seem to both currently grasping, Kaeya can only take a shot and keep on conversing and interacting with Diluc. It might turn out worthwhile.

"You're quite skilled in this, huh. Guess working in the tavern gives Master Diluc some expertise in the kitchen?"

"This is just a basic task," Diluc muttered while scrubbing the plates.

Kaeya smirked and said, "Basic task, ey? I remember you used to hate cleaning chores causing you to use all of your pleading powers to avoid it and let other people do it. Adelinde would always nag at you if she ever caught you. I wonder what she'll think now seeing the boy who escapes his chores voluntarily doing it. Perhaps, Master Crepus might find it fascinating?"

...

Kaeya might have gone a bit too soon with his reminiscing. Try to mask his slip-up, he stampers and tries to form a cohesive sentence.

"I mean... umm... you see... Well! Cleaning aside, if I recall correctly, harvest time had just passed. I heard the winery had another successful harvest year. I bet that put you in a good mood. The wine industry of Mond truly is thriving."

...

The clinking of ceramics and the gushing of water fills the kitchen. Kaeya tried to discern Diluc's back for any signs of gestures or movements indicating he was okay with continuing to converse with him. Kaeya could not detect anything worth giving meaning to. And so, he tried again to catch the attention of the other.

"Master Diluc, whether you are listening or not, and if you do, can I ask you to... voice your opinions or make any sounds? You see... conversing with me is a bit.. umm.. difficult? cumbersome? I don't understand people as quickly as I used to, visually. Nowadays, I lean more on a person's voice to grasp what is the state of the other."

It seems that Diluc unconsciously displays his habit of not making any input whenever someone is talking to him. It was born from the time he was seeking justice and revenge. Diluc stopped rinsing the dishes and said, "... I see. My bad. I was listening, I just didn't think my input was needed. I'll keep that in mind."

Kaeya felt a burn in his cheeks and said in a bashful tone, "Ah, that... Thanks."

Eventually, Diluc finished washing the dishes. They swapped places after that.

It was Diluc's opportunity to ask Kaeya whatever came to his mind, while, the other grabbed a towel and started wiping the utensils.

Diluc first inquired about the lettering on the bookshelves. Kaeya told him that those labels help him locate better where his books are since it has larger text size. He also explained how the colorful button markers found in the kitchen cabinets served a similar purpose. It all boils down to categorizing things for easy access. The red-haired man then voiced his commendation of Kaeya's organizational skills to figure these things out.

That led to Kaeya going back to their earlier talk of his house being messy. However, Diluc did not want to dwell on this talk again and managed to divert their topic to Kaeya's working station. In here, Diluc asked what those devices atop his desk were and said he felt like he had seen them before.

The devices were custom-made Braille writing instruments and a specialized reading apparatus that enlarged written text, similar to a magnifying glass. This is to aid Kaeya in translating texts to their braille form. He has several recorders on the desk too.

Kaeya explained how it is used to facilitate the interaction between him and the client who is commissioning him. He will send the recorder with an empty recording inside and the client can record whatever instructions and necessary details they need for the commission.

This way, Kaeya won't have to read through a series of letters made through the back-and-forth interaction of the client and him. He'll also be able to give his input and other concerns through the recordings, thus, freeing him from the pain of writing back to his clients.

"Is that why you have those bumpy stickers too? I assumed those are Braille stickers." Forwarded by Diluc.

"Yes, they are Braille stickers. In a way, they serve a similar purpose to the large lettering labels and the colorful buttons that I have. But I would say they are more on labeling objects that are harder to distinguish." Kaeya says as he finishes drying the plates and places them on his dish rack.

"Like those in the light switch?" Further added by Diluc who saw Kaeya face him with an expression as if he was contemplating what to say. Soon, Kaeya opened his mouth,

"I guess?... To some extent, yes. To be honest, I've only put those in the beginning to practice the braille of the words 'on' and 'off'. I simply have forgotten to take it off hahahaha. Well... it’s more like this," Kaeya grabbed two condiment containers nearby and continued,

"These are practically the same condiment containers but the content differs. Having these tactile markers makes it more convenient. It reduces the risk of picking the wrong condiments." He then proceeded to hand over the two containers to Diluc.

The red-haired man observed and tested how these stickers felt on his fingertips. After which, he said,

"This... This can be used for expiration dates and wines’ vintage dates..."

As if a switch was turned on when Kaeya suddenly slammed his hands on the table and said,

"Exactly!! Speaking of which, I suppose Jean and Lisa already told you about my certain constitution with alcohol, but!! I haven't put the date of the one I bought from you the other day."

Soon, the blue-haired man was carrying a bottle which he handed over to Diluc and went ahead to the living room to get a couple of braille stickers.

Diluc started while looking at the date in the bottle, "This was…" three days ago. He does not have the courage to say it. Instead, he suggested, "I think we could open this one."

Kaeya who had just seated on the chair, froze a bit, and cautiously asked, "...Diluc?"

Diluc did not waste any time. He let his feet lead him toward the kitchen cabinets and said, "Where’s your opener?"

"...second cabinet to the left, red button" sufficed by Kaeya.

Opening the cabinet, Diluc found the opener along and saw a couple of wine glasses. He took the opener and two wine glasses which he placed on the table in front of Kaeya. Diluc moves on to opening the bottle, pouring its contents, and serving it to Kaeya, while, the other man agape.

Kaeya smelled the drink and uttered, "This is not dandelion wine. This is..."

"The bottle you paid for." Diluc continued.

...

"Rosaria!!!"

Diluc saw how Kaeya’s face is going through five stages of grief. He simply smiled, took one of the wine glasses, and took a sip of the apple cider.

Klee apparently heard the commotion and went to the dining area. Diluc brought out another glass and poured some apple cider for Klee which she happily received. Meanwhile, Kaeya was still lamenting over his dandelion wine and that he should have known that something was up when the other readily opened the bottle despite knowing his situation.

The appointed time was near. Diluc took it himself to clean as the other one could not still recover from the shock his fellow drinking buddy a.k.a. Rosaria gave him.

To make him move, Diluc promised a bottle of dandelion wine after Kaeya's checkup. It seems that outside the one-week time frame, he can drink whenever he wants.

This brings life to the blue-haired man. Shortly, they leave Kaeya's home and go to the left wing of the church where the checkup is being conducted.

Chapter Text

Inside the makeshift consolation room of the church, Kaeya was having his checkup. Initially, Diluc was supposed to wait outside of the room, however, the doctor recommended that he go in as there are some instructions that he might need to hear to rely upon other people who are helping Kaeya in his day-to-day life. Upon hearing that, Diluc sought permission by gazing at Kaeya. The other man merely nodded when he saw the shift in Diluc’s head and then they went into the room.

The checkup was quickly finished. Diluc marked the information he uncovered during the session. Kaeya's condition has been stable for a year now. The growth of the black spots around his iris came to a halt with his continued medication. The only concern of his doctor now is his indoor preference.

'An eye condition doesn't stop you from going to places, so go outside and walk often. You need to exercise your muscles, that's the advantage of being young,' issued by the doctor after Kaeya complained about feeling tired easily while sitting and the like.

After Kaeya was informed that it was time to slowly put a gap between his checkups and when his medications would be ready since the current one the doctor had given was already running out, the trio left the room.

It was nearing lunch when they came out of the church and decided to have a meal at Good Hunter.  Afterward, they made their way to the knights’ headquarters to drop off Klee since she still have a class with Lisa in the afternoon.

Diluc barely had any tasks that afternoon which made him propose to Kaeya to be his escort since the other seemed like he'd walk around the city to do shopping and buy necessities. He also told Kaeya that he could act as his guide around the city for Diluc noted how Kaeya knows shortcut alleyways from his home leading to the main plaza that even Diluc was not aware of.

Kaeya reluctantly agreed to it without openly questioning Diluc's decisions and sanity. They marched on, going from shop to shop, sometimes to buy ingredients, other times to inquire for essentials for the house. This continued on until late afternoon.

When all was said and done, Kaeya standing in front of his dining room with all the things they brought on the table, thought to himself that this was a satisfying day although a bit weird. After all, a day with Diluc prancing around the city is a rare occurrence, surely that is something that will only happen once in a blue moon.

==================

Kaeya, for lack of a better term, shot himself in the foot when he thought being with Diluc would only be on a few occasions.

The man had been visiting him and dragging him outside every three days.

When asked why he was doing this, he simply told Kaeya that he was just following the doctor's orders.

Kaeya could not believe this man, he thought that one day as they were trekking Starsnatch Cliff. The man in question had been talking about the potential of flowers around Mondstadt to be made into wine. He had been blabbing over numerous failed experiments they did to those flowers all for the sake of turning it to wine. Kaeya let him be while listening to what he says and occasionally responding.

Their trip now to the cliff can be classified as leisure. The times when they go out, as observed by Kaeya, would sometimes be for fun, well in fact it is mostly for fun. But in other instances, upon Kaeya's pleas, they would be under the shades of the trees while he worked on translating texts using his portable writing instrument and handheld magnifying glass.

Diluc would often give a helping hand in these situations by reading the texts so that Kaeya could concentrate on writing it in braille. At times like this, Kaeya felt how Diluc's reserve demeanor melts.

The red-haired perhaps doesn't notice it, but Kaeya can. Through his gestures, his tone of voice, and his overall presence eludes warmness, comforting and inviting. It was like he was the kid Kaeya knew again.

To Diluc, Kaeya's prickly nature starts to chip away the more they have their trips. The first few times he pulled Kaeya out of his home were noteworthy. The blue-haired man seems to have this line of thinking that being with a man who carries a white cane is.. tiresome. Diluc does not think so.

He noticed that whenever he's with Kaeya, people will naturally get out of their way. It makes things easier for them to go to the location they want.

Despite his playful nature, Diluc can see through his body language a kind of anxiousness he emits at times when they are in a crowded place. Hence, Diluc would pick a location devoid of or at least have fewer people for their trips.

The two eventually reached the top of Starsnatch Cliff. They stayed there for a couple of hours, basking in the warm light of the afternoon sun. They soon descend and part ways.

==================

The weather for this day is not so cooperative, assessed by Diluc. He once again took Kaeya out for a short trip when out of nowhere, dark clouds started rolling in.

Kaeya had informed him that a report came in the knights' headquarters about how a certain hilichurl camp was too close to the alternate route going to Wolvendom and could pose a great risk to travelers making their way in that direction.

The blue-haired man happened to be within the headquarters when the report came in.

He had asked for their current trip to check things out. Diluc had no problem accepting it.

When they arrived at the location, Kaeya noted how cold the weather came to be coupled with Diluc informing him of the looming dark clouds above them. Diluc saw the hilichurl camp. He advised Kaeya to stay in a safe distance and make a quick work of the camp.

Kaeya saw flashes of orange and red and perceived how the atmosphere grew hot followed by a burnt smell that permeated the place. Soon, he felt droplets of water on his skin. That temporarily distracts him from watching Diluc and he gazes at the sky.

A speedy whooshing sound coming from his back registered in Kaeya's brain.

In a distance, Diluc finished clearing the camp when droplets of rain came pouring. He turned his attention towards Kaeya and saw the exact moment of Kaeya released an ice wall to prevent a cryo crystal from penetrating his back.

Kaeya, to his sheer fright, unleashed an ice wall and formed a cryo field. He was pushed back by the impact and staggered after the collision of the crystal in his ice wall.

Diluc rushed to his back and Kaeya sensed him the moment his feet touched the cryo field. Despite being placed behind him, Kaeya can see Diluc's silhouette and movements. His cryo vision enables him to extend his senses to any cryo form he makes.

Diluc saw the cryo abyss mage forming once again ice crystals and launched it at them. He easily deflects these crystals using his claymore. The abyss mage continued attacking while Diluc kept on parrying its attack and every so often sent a flying pyro falcon to the mage.

Annoyed that its attacks keep on failing and its cryo wall keeps melting, the cryo abyss mage falls back and calls for backup.

Diluc on the other hand, was not doing great. He had to deflect all of the abyss mage attacks lest they run the risk of being frozen. He could not also move recklessly since that might put Kaeya's safety in jeopardy.

Another abyss mage, an electro, joined the fight. It is evident to Kaeya from the electrifying sounds he hears to a cold crutching of cryo and the sounds signature to abyss mages that this fight will be a difficult one. He started thinking.

Utilizing the moment when the mages haven't moved, Diluc whispered to Kaeya to leave and run to get help while he distracts the two mages. However, Kaeya has a different plan in mind.

He told Diluc to chip away the shield of the electro abyss mage and when the mage falls down, Kaeya can take care of it. He briefly explained to the other how he can read the movement of a living being as long as it is stepping in his cryo field. Diluc hesitated before being forced into action and accepting Kaeya's plan as the two mages started their barges of attacks.

The two men moved in sync. As Diluc parries the attacks, Kaeya forms cryo shields to protect him and Diluc. He would also erect a cryo wall whenever Diluc shouted for directions while the red-haired man released most of his pyro energy towards the electro abyss mage.

This went on for a couple of minutes until such time that the shield of the electro abyss mage broke and the mage fell down. Seizing the moment, Kaeya launched a close combat attack on where the mage was. Diluc did the same to the cryo abyss mage, freeing his wild pyro energy.

In the end, they've won leaving only the slowly disappearing corpse of the abyss mages.

All battered and bruised, Diluc insisted that they should tend to their wounds immediately and dry themselves off. Kaeya who definitely overexerted himself and without energy left in his body, nobs. They tread off to the nearest place which happens to be the Dawn Winery.

Chapter Text

Coming in contact with the winery after all these years made Kaeya uneasy. He knew this place like the back of his hand. However, with so many things that had happened, he can never view it the same as when he was just a naive young boy.

When Adelinde, the head maid, opened the door to the winery, she paused, regained her bearings, and warmly greeted Diluc and him. Kaeya released a bit of tension he unknowingly was carrying.

Adelinde sports the same demeanor as she was way back when Kaeya still lives in this house. She asked what happened, graciously worrying about their health with how wet they were, and overall paying attention to their needs. Kaeya can only provide her with his smiles and a few reassuring words to ease her worries.

The head maid then excused herself to get towels as well as to prepare for baths. Diluc ushered him to the living room. When the bath was ready, he was told to hop in. A pair of fresh clothing was offered to him. Once he was finished, Kaeya saw the red-haired man already in the living room.

Walking closely, he noticed a freshly showered Diluc holding a box. Inside were gauze, cotton balls, bandages, and solutions for wounds. Diluc instructed Kaeya to sit so he could tend to his wounds, the other obeyed pretty quickly. Afterward, Diluc tends to his own wounds. Kaeya throughout this has been silent.

Dinner comes and when Kaeya plans to go home as he feels like he has overstayed, Adelinde persuades him to stay for a meal. Diluc followed and said that he should also stay for the night since the heavy rain looked like it wouldn't disappear sooner.

Kaeya relents.

The dinner atmosphere turned out pleasantly. Adelinde and Kaeya were mostly the ones conversing while Diluc responded every now and then.

Later that night, they concluded it was time to rest. Diluc took the lead in bringing Kaeya to the room where he was going to stay. As they were walking towards the room, Diluc could see the heavy rain outside through the window became more tumultuous with thunder and lightning.

When they were there, he let Kaeya lie down in the bed and decided to leave. However, before he could do that, Kaeya tugged the hem of his nightshirt. He could see the way Kaeya retracted his hold and said, "Can you stay for a bit? Until I dozed off probably? You see umm..."

Diluc could faintly see the trembles of Kaeya's shoulder whenever the sound of thunder came. Kaeya with his head bowed down, summons his courage to say his reason for withholding Diluc.

"...I.. My ears are a bit sensitive, you see."

Kaeya heard a chair being dragged and placed right beside the bed. When he looked up, Diluc was already sitting next to him. This made him lay his upper body on the headboard.

Diluc was the first to break the silence. He looked at the closed window covered by a thick embroidered curtain.

"Should I reinforce the window with another curtain? Would that help lessen the noise?"

To which Kaeya shakes his head and utters, "Thank you but there is no need to do that. This room already buffers quite a lot of the noise compared to my house."

"Is it not similar?" Diluc curiously asked.

"Unfortunately, yes. The house I'm renting is a bit old and it’s not the best when it comes to muffling sounds or noises coming from outside." Kaeya suffices.

Diluc inquired, "Then what do you do whenever the weather is like this?"

"I usually put on earplugs. After trial and error for sounding proofing, that one works better than other methods." Explained by Kaeya.

"I see." Diluc could only mutter. Kaeya would then further elaborate, "The curtain you mentioned earlier is also one of the other methods I'm talking about. Although the case is, it only really lessens the noise for a tiny bit unless I tape it around the wall of the window. Other than that, it has some fair use too."

Diluc interjected, "Oh so it's subpar for blocking noise, huh. But wait, what is its other use?"

"For my eyes. The flashing of lights is harsh for my eyes."

Diluc's gaze shifts from the curtains to Kaeya's face. He asked in a vague tune,

"Your eyes... The doctor mentioned back then about black spots and how they stopped growing... Is your eye condition, a type of blindness?"

Kaeya gulped, averted his gaze to the direction where he presumed where the window was, and readied himself to explain.

"Sort of? It is classified as blindness however not a complete one. It's partial blindness. It does have a chance of becoming a complete blindness type. I can see albeit in a very blurry and limited viewpoint. I can only see things clearly when it’s half a foot away from me. For the limitations, hmm... imagine viewing in a spyglass. You'll see the black rim around the edges, right? Except for me, the black rim is much larger and it is not in a perfect circle. Meanwhile, the way I see things is similar to when a person peeks through a keyhole. I can only see through the center of my vision. I can't see what's on the left side and the right side. It basically robs me of my peripheral view."

Few more questions came out of Diluc's mouth, "What had happened? And since when did you have this condition?"

"Well... roughly three years ago. More likely, three years and a few months when the symptoms started appearing. That's like almost a year after you left. Speaking of which, how did it go? You know... you're search and quest for... revenge and all?" Kaeya says as he turns his head and face Diluc back.

Diluc stared at the blue-haired man and how he evaded his question. Still, he answered him.

"I... hazily remembered what I was doing that time. I was desperately searching for information. Revenge is the only thing reflected in my eyes. Speaking of eyes, Kaeya what happened to your eyes?"

Diluc saw the twitch in Kaeya's brows. He had probably never thought that Diluc would divert back the topic to him. He further added, "I have gone ahead and gathered... some information."

Kaeya then quickly said, "If you knew the events, then why are you still asking?"

...

Diluc replied in a voice full of fragility, "I want to know your perspective. I want to hear the other side of the story."

They stayed there in silence for a minute or two, letting only the sounds of rain and thunder fill the space.

Finally, Kaeya recalls his narrative.

==================

During that fateful night when the heavy rain and thunder accompany the young Kaeya in confessing his sins to Diluc, a fight broke out between the two.

It was a death match. Both of them were full of bruises, cuts, and bleeding wounds.

A particular pyro slash would have injured both Kaeya's eyes if it weren't for a cryo vision appearing in front of them. Then, he was banished from their home.

Kaeya rode his horse nonstop and went to the knights’ headquarters, the only place he could think of at that moment.

Jean and Master Varka were the only ones who had seen him in a bloody state. He passed out in their arms.

The next day, a specialist came to see his eyes. They said it was still too soon to clearly see his condition. They prescribed him medication and ointments to heal the wound in his eyes.

That night, Jean and Master Varka ask the reason for his current state.

Kaeya naturally lied.

They accepted it.

Kaeya's heart was once again torn into pieces.

His eye wounds heal after a week. The specialist came and took the bandage off of his right eye.

He could not see in that eye anymore.

It took a few days for Kaeya to calm Jean down regarding his right eye. The girl was blaming herself for not being a good enough healer to save his right eye.

He doesn't blame her. No one can be blamed in this situation except for himself.

Kaeya places an eye patch on his right eye like he always used to.

Life continues on.

Kaeya moved to the dormitory of the knights.

He helped in catching Eroch, the previous inspector, involved in the death of Master Crepus.

His free time was devoted to his sword training and getting connected with people around Mondstadt. He plans to build an information network centered in this place.

Ten months after that fateful night, Kaeya's left eye starts aching. It gets progressively worse.

A month after that, his vision starts to blur. Black tiny dots show up on the sides of his vision.

Master Varka keeps on hiring a specialist for his eye until the fifth specialist finds out what is wrong. It was a damaged nerve that was left undetected back when his right eye lost sight. The deteriorating nerve is affecting his left eye. The doctor said he could become completely blind.

Kaeya formed the information network that would later become a hidden guild.

They start his treatment.

Kaeya started learning the braille language.

The treatment was not effective.

His eye is quickly darkening. A few black spots formed around his iris and the shape of his pupil is deforming. He cannot see that far anymore since it’s all too blurry.

Four months after his symptoms came to light, Lisa and the newly recruited alchemist, Albedo partnered up with the specialist to find a solution to stop his condition. They begin to source ingredients outside of Mondstadt in hopes of finding the right formula for his eye.

Kaeya rented a house, he stopped coming to the dormitory.

He purchased a few white canes and stashed them in his new home.

It was in the sixth month of Kaeya's condition when they found a potential medication. It slows the progression of his condition for a bit.

Kaeya felt like he could breathe.

He established order in the information guild.

In the training area of the knights' headquarters, he still diligently trains his sword fighting style while improving his proficiency with his cryo vision.

One day, he made a cryo field and discovered its almost elemental sight effect on his decaying eyes. He hones it.

In the next six months, they improved the formula. It worked and drastically slowed the progression until it stopped working.

He resigned from being a knight. They wouldn't let him.

Kaeya grew fond of his white cane. The same thing happened to the braille stickers he brought. He had already familiarized the braille of on and off.

They have another medication that works.

He saw the potential of the information guild. Master Varka approved of his departure from the knights. Although it was declared as retirement, he was considered an honorary knight of Favonius.

His information guild was fond of him. They gave him a braille writing instrument and a reading apparatus.

Kaeya was fascinated.

His medication works for only six months again.

Kaeya's eye condition rapidly progress once more.

He thought of clear blue skies and white sand beaches.

It took two months to find a new medication that helps.

They decided to conduct ongoing research on the medication. Kaeya can only offer his help by lending the information guild to them.

Kaeya wants to work. He contacts a few interested parties like the steam bird and yae publishing house.

His translation work for the steam bird was a success.

The medication has some complications with his element power. It drained his energy.

Amber found him passed out in his home, pulse faint.

It only needs one ingredient to be replaced to correct the formula of the medication. They let him go after a week of staying in the headquarters' infirmary.

He opened a commission-based work for translating texts into braille through the information guild. His customers were fellow disabled people wanting to read a book with ease.

Kaeya goes out less.

Two years into his condition, the specialist, Lisa, and Albedo replaced his medication with another one that in time completely halted the progression of his condition.

It works.

Kaeya was able to expand his information guild for a year.

That medication is what he is still using to this day. The specialist became his doctor.

Three months prior to meeting Diluc, he started drinking. Kaeya felt stable enough to touch alcohol.  

Lately, he just felt tired of meeting his doctor every month. His condition was stable but he could not stop wishing to see the clear blue skies and white sand beaches.

==================

After Kaeya finished telling him about the past four years of his life, Diluc was silent.

The heaviness of those years came crashing at Diluc's shoulders. He was the cause of Kaeya's current situation. The cost of his anger and rage was suffocating.

He thought he was prepared to know the whole truth but all his mind could provide was feelings of helplessness and the urge to run. Diluc needs to run back to that time and strangle his younger self. He couldn't do that. No ability, no powers he has will ever give him a chance to do that.

He needs to address what is in front of him. He needs to lay bare of the truest him. Only then can he move forward.

"Kaeya.. I... Four years ago, I..."

Taking a deep breath, Diluc restarts.

"Four years ago, when father died, I was too angry. I was angry at myself. If only I had power, if only I had more ability then I could have saved him.

The night you confessed, all my anger turned into rage and hatred. I was confused. Out of all the time you could have said it, why do you have to pick this specific time? I was scared. The person I was supposed to share my grief with suddenly turned into a stranger.

My anger, my hatred, my rage, I had to get it out of me. I sought revenge.

I told you I couldn't remember that time well. All I did was gather information like a madman. I went from nation to nation barely resting. I saw different culture and their way of life. I saw cruelty and beauty but at the end of it, what followed me was bloodshed.

Each fight, each wound, and each blood spilled from my enemies felt like I was closer to the truth. I was closer to my revenge.

When I was ransacking the camps of the Fatui, I thought that I was really near my goal but what happens after that? The more I looked at my surroundings, the more I perceived that I saw people as a pawn for my revenge. That they are simply there for me to use as a tool for my goal.

I pondered, what was my revenge for? Was it to avenge father? Was it to bring justice to those who were wronged? Was it for myself, for my selfishness?

After almost four years of living succumb to my goal that I realized, this was not it. The way I do things, the method I use to reach my goal, it never align with what my principles are.

I deluded myself. I blinded myself in believing this was the only way to achieve it. To grow stronger, to use people. It didn't feel... human.

It was when Snezhnaya truly came to get my head that I escaped and moved back to Mondstadt. To me, that felt like fate. I can start again.

At first, I thought the city and the winery would have a drastic change. I was wrong. Nothing in this place changed, even the city barely changed. The air of freedom and merry folks was still the same.

The first three weeks of being here, I thought you... moved out. I have never heard your name, not within the tavern nor in the streets. It is as if you didn't exist in the first place.

Then, I saw you. You were with Klee and the knights’ alchemist going to Good Hunter. You looked at me and proceeded to look away. I thought you... just didn't care since we basically became strangers to each other after that incident."

Diluc paused, he saw how Kaeya's eye widened and his lips slightly parted. He continues, "A week after that I saw you again. This time you were going to the headquarters. You were carrying your cane. I... kind of followed you that day, my bad."

Kaeya could not help but to interject this time. "So you were the one following me that day! I thought it was all in my mind when I felt someone's gaze on me." Seeing how Diluc simply bowed his head, Kaeya told him to proceed with what he was saying.

"It was shocking to me when you seemed... okay, the first time I saw you again. Afterward, I read the reports that contain your name. Although it was spare, I had a general idea. So when Jean and Lisa came to the tavern, I asked Jean what happened after that night. After which, I gained an inkling of the cause of your condition.

Kaeya, the night you told me your secret, I would have probably still confronted you if I was given another time. However, I would not do it the same way I did four years ago. That fight. I overdid it. I shouldn't have fight you with our lives on the line.

I robbed you... I have robbed you more than the trust you place on us, more than the trust you have given me. I robbed of your eyesight. I made you quit the knights. In some way, I ruined your future, I have ruined your life."

With a solemn voice, Kaeya said, "Diluc... this is what I deserve. This is the way things should be for the lifetime of lies I've told. Maybe even more..."

Diluc disagreed in a shaky voice,

"No! No, Kaeya.. you do not deserve this. You did not choose to be part of that scheme. You just got caught up in all of this.

For all the time you've stayed with us, not a single moment you'd hurt us. If you were plotting some heinous crimes, then you could have gone and executed it but it did not happen. Nothing happened. The day we fought, you could have gone and go back to report or something to those people but you opt to go back to the city. You let the citizen of this city help you.

Kaeya, I saw in your face, in your eyes, in your demeanor back then, you were just a simple kid wanting to live the best of his life. To be needed by people, to be around people. You wanted to protect others, you've dream about it. But then I took that from you.

Kaeya, I knew you were afraid of people. The first few times I pulled you for our outside trips, I noticed that you are conscious of others. You think that you're a nuisance because of your condition.

I... I made you that way.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Your confidence, your self-perception... I didn't mean to shatter it, I didn't mean to destroy it."

Diluc slowly took Kaeya's hands, held them tenderly, and brought them to his bowed forehead. With watery eyes and a wavering voice, he uttered,

"Kaeya, I'm sorry. Kaeya... I'm so sorry. Please.. forgive me, no… I have no excuse. I just.. want to apologize. I'm sorry..."

Kaeya shifted his hands, cupping Diluc's checks, and lifting up the other man's face to look towards him. He let Diluc's grip fall on his wrists.

"Diluc, you don't need to apologize. From the start, I have never blamed you."

When Diluc heard this, he began sobbing and immediately went for a hug.

"Ple-please, no... Kaeya, no...no, I'm, I'm sorry... I'm s-sorry"

Diluc much prefers for Kaeya to blame him, to give him his wrath rather than have him think it was all his fault, that he deserves it. Diluc's heart was bleeding for Kaeya.

The hug startled Kaeya for a moment but then Diluc's sobbing came in next. He wanted to assure Diluc that everything was fine. However, the tight hug of the other made him emotional.

It was so warm.

It was like a fireplace burning in the middle of winter, comforting and inviting.

Kaeya realized he missed this kind of warmth. The type of warmth that will fill the aches of his body leaving him satisfied.

It’s been years since someone held him like this. It’s been years that he felt secure, that as if all the pain and worries he have is a distant memory.

Kaeya's tears start falling down.

The hardships and the pain he had to endure all by himself during these past years to survive were catching up.

He felt comforted.

The two crying men poured their hearts out. All of the sorrows built by their experiences finally spilled, leaving only a promise for a better tomorrow.

Eventually, the two have calmed down.

Midway through their crying session, Diluc climbed to the bed and leaned on the headboard while Kaeya is in his arms. The blue haired soon dozed off in that position, tired from all of the things that happened this day.

Diluc shifts their position to lie down on the bed. Shortly, sleepiness made its way to him

Chapter Text

Kaeya woke up in the morning with Diluc beside him on the bed. He observed the peaceful looking face of the other and saw how puffy his eyes were.

He noted how long Diluc's hair had gotten. He held a few strands of it and felt how it was in his hand. They were thick and soft.

The other man shifted after that and opened his eyes. He was greeted by Diluc looking at him, placing his one hand on Kaeya's cheek, and saying good morning in a grouchy voice.

"Good morning," Kaeya said as he let go of Diluc's hair and placed his hand on top of the other man's hand that was on his cheek.

The two would then close their distance causing them to hug each other. They started discussing their plans for the day.

After some time, they untangled themselves from one another and went downstairs to have breakfast.

When they've finished their meals, Diluc took Kaeya's attention and asked,

"Say Kaeya, how about moving back and living here again?"

Kaeya mulled for a second and answered, "I would have to decline your offer for now, Diluc."

Diluc simply nodded his head to what Kaeya said.

Kaeya then bid Adelinde farewell and set off to go back to his house. Diluc accompanied him.

When the two were at Kaeya's front door, the blue-haired man asked Diluc if he really was not going to ask why Kaeya declined his offer to live with him again.

Diluc replied, "I understand that you might have other circumstances and I figured I'll wait for you to say it."

Kaeya on the other hand, smirked and said, "Well, I don't have patience for that so I'll say it to you now. I do want to live with you again, however, I find this place hard to let go of. I've been in this house from the beginning of my journey with this eye condition. I basically made it catered to my disability. So, I wanted to stay more."

Diluc responds, "I see. I understand. But can I visit you here once in a while?"

The other man merely chuckled and answered, "Of course, you can. As long as you bring me a bottle of dandelion wine, then my door is always open for you, Master Diluc."

Diluc just laughed at him and bid him goodbye.

When the red-haired man was nowhere in sight, Kaeya went inside. He saw how the light in his place created a soothing atmosphere. It made him recall an old memory, one day in summer, under the shades of the grapevines.

Kaeya and Diluc were running around the winery. They were playing at the same time escaping the eyes of the tutors trying to find Diluc for his daily lessons. It just so happens that Kaeya ends up with a wound from the tag game that they were playing. Diluc insisted on treating Kaeya by sneaking into the manor and getting the first aid kit.

He managed to take it and decided to treat Kaeya's wounds beneath the shades of grapevines. They were still kids at that time. The grapevines were enough to hide their small bodies.

There, Kaeya witnesses Dilus's passionate speech about not letting him get hurt anymore and how he will always take care of him. Despite Diluc being still a little naive kid, Kaeya of that time viewed him as a cool person and admired his confidence.

Looking back, Kaeya was filled with warm-heartedness and fondness was evident in his eye.

==================

Kaeya was scammed by Diluc. He said that he was going to visit once in a while, however, that turned out to be a lie. The guy practically had been living with him.

Diluc would often show up at Kaeya's place in the middle of the night due to his 'nightly' routine and sleep at his place. Even if he does show up during the day, he would still end up sleeping in his place.

That made Kaeya develop a habit of leaving a window open for the red-haired man to climb in as he could not be bothered to wake up and open the door for him. Kaeya was pretty sure that Diluc's nightly routine included posing as a certain darknight hero. However, he doesn't make any comments about it.

Despite this, Kaeya would still go down and visit the winery every now and then. He would often be motivated to swing by because of Adelinde.

One particular day, he would receive a letter inviting him to join the winery for their celebration of a good harvest for the year. Not shying away from the festivities, Kaeya agreed to go.

He arrived around lunch as per indications that the feast would start during lunch. Kaeya knocked on the door, announcing his arrival. Adelinde opened the door and greeted him.

"Oh my Master Kaeya, welcome. Come in, you can take a seat in the dining room. I'll quickly plate some of the dishes and then call for Master Diluc."

Kaeya sensed the tiredness in Adelinde's voice. He then offers the maid his aid and tells her that he'll be the one to call for Diluc instead. Adelinde thanked him and said that the other man was on the second floor in the second office.

Using his white cane and his left hand touching the wall for support, he ascends the stairs. While going up the stairs, Kaeya noticed some familiar bumps on the wall. It picked his interest and he took a mental note of the passage as he climbed up.

When he reached the second floor, he chuckled. The braille stickers create somewhat of a quote.

"In the wake of dawn, I hope to witness you and I."

Kaeya made his way to Diluc's office. Just before he enters, he checks if there are still some braille stickers plastered on the door. There was.

In the door leading to the office, the braille stickers form a name.

Diluc Ragnvindr

A few knocks on his door and Diluc told the person to come in. When looked up from the paper he was reading, he saw Kaeya going in. He immediately stood up and made his way to the other man. He eventually stops in front of him.

"You're here."

Kaeya with a smile said, "I didn't think you'll surprise me this way, Master Diluc~. It was quite amusing too. I wonder where you got those stickers. Now that I think about it, it felt like my braille sticker stash was missing a few sheets."

"Hey now, I wouldn't steal from you," Diluc says as he pouts his lips.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Jokes aside, is this another way of saying you want me back in the winery?" Kaeya then flashed a smirk on the red-haired man's way.

Diluc crossed his arms and with an easygoing smile, asked, "Well, what do you think?"

To which Kaeya answered in a sweet voice, "Hmm... it’s very cute and I think it's quite effective."

Upon hearing this, a heartwarming laugh came out of Diluc. Shortly, he grabbed Kaeya's hand and said, "Let’s go down then, I'm sure Adelinde will want to hear this good news immediately."