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Kaeya is a lonely boy.
But that doesn't stop Diluc from being sweet to him, and taking care of him no matter what.
It doesn't matter if he doesn't look like him. It doesn't matter if he's dark-skinned. It doesn't matter if he's blue-haired. It doesn't matter if he's not red-haired. It doesn't matter if he's sickly. It doesn't matter if his body is covered in bruises. It doesn't matter if he was found outside the winery in the middle of a storm.
All children have the right. To be loved and cared for. All of them. Love is needed by all people.
When he saw him crying, he would quickly go to him, and try to help him as much as possible. He made sure to wipe away all of his tears, even the ones that were about to come. Often, he would sneak into the vines to steal grapes and give them to him to try to make the boy feel better. Because, he didn't know how else to help him, other than comforting him, and giving him something he liked.
Kaeya also cared for him. He tried to do his best to help him when he saw him down, and he was a mess when he saw him crying, soon beginning to fall apart with him. But that's a symbol of weakness. It's what Kaeya was taught.
He felt weak, too. Unable to help. Even though he had been taught that crying was very natural, always, always, but they always instilled in him that crying was childish and that it simply made him see how "weak" he was.
Even though the Ragnvindr taught him that crying was the most normal thing, he felt incapable. How was he going to fulfill the mission his father gave him?
You are our only hope...
"No, I'm not... I'm stupid."
He let the words drown. Inside him. Deeply...
Negativity consumed him like a hungry parasite. He often cried during baths, when he was alone, or when no one was looking. Venting without anyone present, because sometimes he believed it was better to keep quiet than to open his mouth. Emptying the pain from his young heart.
Diluc often saw Kaeya crying, but this time he didn't find him to console him, or at least, not so easily.
He searched desperately among the vines, sailing quickly and almost tripping, certainly. Some workers warned him, seeing him running urgently there.
"Master Diluc, be careful! Crepus will scold you."
The red-haired boy sighed, almost out of breath, and continued searching the nooks and crannies of the vineyard, but without success.
"You hid well this time, Kae..." He cursed, between weak groans and urging for some water due to thirst and tiredness.
He entered the mansion like lightning, inspecting everywhere, but, again, without success. His clothes were somewhat dirty, and he was soaked in sweat. Besides having run a lot, the sun was a bit strong that day. He knew he needed to take a shower at least, but Kaeya mattered more to him.
It wasn't until he bumped into Adelinde, and he quickly stood up.
"Ah, Diluc! What's it, boy?" She said, helping the redhead up. A drop of sweat almost entered his crimson eye, but he pushed it away.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm looking for Kae."
Adelinde could suspect something. She saw the boy weak, out of breath, and red in the face, assuming this due to the heat, exhaustion, and possibly the embarrassment of having tripped in front of her.
"You need to take a shower. Master Crepus will be angry with you..."
Diluc felt it as if it were the end. He needed to find Kaeya. He shook his little head respectfully.
"Really, it's not necessary. Thank you. I can hold on for a few more minutes. It won't take long..."
"It's getting really hot, kid..."
He thought about it. Adelinde was right. But it would only be a quick thing...
"I'll take a shower right now. It won't take long. I promise." He said, smiling warmly at her.
The maid nodded, as she continued with her work. Diluc sighed. He really did want to take a quick shower. He hurried up to his room, to save time.
He opened the door to the room, everything looking normal. He searched through his drawers for clothes to put on after his shower, gently humming a tune Crepus had taught him a long time ago. His towel hung on his right shoulder, as he continued searching for clothes.
"Hmm mm~"
He pulled out a back brush he had from another drawer, and closed it. While he was trying to remember something else that was missing, he heard a "sob" or something like that, coming exactly from the closet. In a corner.
"Gotcha" He muttered, trying to get closer as quietly as possible.
"Kae...?" He whispered, trying to make it audible. Kaeya, of course, was there. The blue-haired boy tried to hold back a couple of whimpers, but he didn't manage it. Anyway, Diluc already knew he was there. He covered his face with his brown hands, to avoid seeing the red-haired boy's worried look.
"There you are," Diluc said, sighing, as he opened the door. "You worried me so much..."
Kaeya didn't say anything. He was still quiet.
"Kae..."
"What's going on now?"
Kaeya didn't say anything again. He buried his face between his knees, and just said words. Just whimpers.
Diluc sighed. He already knew how to deal with this, but it was starting to hurt a little.
"Come on Kae. You can do it. Get out for me."
The blue-haired boy tried to look up, but it was only a little. He was obviously crying, that much the other boy could already deduce.
"I can't stay here." Kaeya whined, covering his only visible eye. "I can't..."
Diluc whimpered, feeling this time, somewhat stabbed. He tried to gently approach the boy, still inside the large wardrobe.
"Let's see... Would you let me give you a hug?" He said, extending a hand to him. Kaeya just looked at him, hesitating whether to give it to him. He lost his gaze outside the wardrobe, with his visible eye furrowing an ocean of tears.
"I won't force you, if you don't want to." Diluc hesitated, moving his hand away from him. The boy with the eyepatch then turned to the redhead, giving him a strong hug. Diluc held him for a while.
"What do you mean you can't stay here?" He asked, gently stroking his hair. He wanted him to, once and for all, let out all his pain.
"No... I can't... I just can't. I'm weak. Incapable. I'm useless. I'm useless. And crying doesn't help me... It only makes me more pathetic..."
"I'm not like you, people look at me with hate. With disgust. And I'm starting... I'm starting to doubt if I really deserve... you." He said, breaking into tears again. Diluc sighed. He hated seeing Kaeya so hurt.
"Hey. No one here is useless, you know? Crepus, Adelinde and I have told you... even Elzer." He smiled at him.
"I know that crying may not be a solution to a problem... but it's natural! It's natural to cry... Just like peeing or breathing, we need to do it at some point. You're not bad for crying."
"Your physical appearance also has nothing to do with your stay here, or our love for you. You're so different from me, and I love that! I love the way you are, and you don't need to change for someone who doesn't know what they're saying." He said, raising a finger. The blue-haired boy's cheeks flushed, he didn't know if it was from pity, embarrassment, or happiness. He hugged him tighter, thinking about whether he should continue.
"B-but... everyone says that I don't look like you... and that I'm horrible. That I don't deserve to be in your family because I'm pathetic. And ugly. And stupid..."
Diluc let out a small "hmm". "Well, they're lying to you horribly, Kae. Yes, you don't look like us, but that doesn't change the fact that you're wonderful just the way you are. You're not horrible, or ugly, or pathetic, or stupid. I love the way you look and the way you are, too! In fact, you're the opposite of what they tell you."
"Please don't keep believing them. If you were taught that crying was wrong, then start facing that ugly lie! I'll help you!" He said excitedly.
Kaeya let out a small tear, and blushed, lowering his head. He stuttered slightly.
"A-are you sure? Can you help me?"
The redhead nodded happily. "Of course! I may be a bit of a mess, but I love helping others, even if I know I'm not perfect."
"You know, Kae? All children deserve love." He smiled, giving that small smile to the dark-haired boy.
"Love is not wrong...?"
"Ah! By the sake of... Bartobas! You have been told many ugly lies. Of course love is not wrong. It is natural and we all deserve it. Love is essential."
Kaeya sighed. "I... I need it... I need it then?"
The redhead nodded, wrapping him in the hug again. "We all do. We all need it. That's why I want you to start believing the good things. Because you're wonderful, Kae. I know you're capable of anything."
"Someday we'll be capable of what we want. We'll both be great knights, I promise! Because we're capable." He smiled, rubbing his back. Kaeya started sobbing again, but this time with some happiness.
"Luc... Thank you... I didn't know I needed it so much."
"I... love you so much." He said, trying to smile. "I'm sorry for making you worry so much about me. But I can't help it."
Diluc nodded. "Me too. And don't worry about it, really. We all need help at any time, Father has always told me that."
"Now," He said, coming out of the closet. "I need to take a shower. I'm pretty dirty so..."
"But, just relax. I promise to give you grapes and more stuff when I get out of the shower." He said, placing a soft, innocent kiss on his cheek. Kaeya blushed, but laughed softly at the feeling of his lips against his cheek, and nodded.
Watching Diluc disappear into the bathroom, he thought: So, we all really need love.
Everyone.