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In a small city like Mondstadt news spreads like wildfire and rumors are just the same. Some rumors could be true like the rumors about Donna’s attraction to a curtain wine tycoon which anyone blind could see, or just false ones that spread about what is under Kaeya’s eyepatch. And recently a new rumor was spreading throughout Mondstadt small whispers of voices in taverns or on the street.
“Did you hear?”
“I wonder if it's true?”
“Is it? I doubt that is possible”
Kaeya loved to listen in on the gossip getting it out of some poor drunks in the late hours at the Angel’s Share. Sometimes he finds out some interesting information, sometimes it's only to get some entertainment out of it but walking down the streets of Mondstadt to his favorite tavern he heard these whispers which only piqued his curiosity.
He walked into Angel’s Share as the sun started to go down and drunks started spreading rumors perfect for Kaeya’s curiosity. He walked over to the bar where Charles ran it for the evening “Your usual, Captain?” Even before Kaeya could answer he already started to make the drink and slid it across the bar once it was made.
“Thanks, Charles”
Kaeya took his usual spot right in the middle of the main room where all the knights and adventurers from the guild come after a long day. A few knights who weren’t too drunk gave short bows to Kaeya as he sat while some that were too drunk didn’t even register that he was even here.
“Hey, Kaeya have you heard the news around the block?” It was Cyrus who spoke to him first the moment Kaeya took his seat. Just from the stench on his breath and the slur of his voice Kaeya knew the adventurer was drunk, not fully wasted but definitely downed a few glasses of dandelion wine before he arrived.
“Afraid I have not do tell though I’m curious what is going on around this week”
“Well, you know Diluc right? You were uh close I believe as kids…can’t really remember but you know he is a very…how can I say. Mysterious man not around much not very happy either”
That is surely one way to describe Diluc, a mysterious man who is not around much, nor very happy. “Yes I do know him, what is it this time? What, did Donna try to talk to him and he sidestepped her again or something?”
Cyrus shook his head “No no but from one of the maids he has been getting letters,” he swayed his drink as he spoke like it was connected to his mouth dripping a few drops of alcohol onto the table.
“So? It could be anything Diluc is a merchant after all it could be proposals of people wanting him to sell crates of alcohol to them” Kaeya sighed as he ran his finger along the edge of his glass. It seems this will be another useless rumor.
“No, because this maid claims that Diluc-“ Cyrus paused to drink from his glass noticing he was wasting precious drops because of his movements “-he smiled. People are saying it’s a suitor or s-some secret lover”
Kaeya’s finger stopped “You-…you can’t be serious right? Diluc?” He shook his head to recover, grabbing his glass and drinking down the cool liquor finishing it with ease. “A suitor I guess I could get after the many many letters Donna has sent over to the winery but some secret lover? Who in all of Teyvat would that even be?”
Cyrus only shrugged before yelling out for a refill. Well, that was no help but now Kaeya knew the new rumor that was spreading the only thing is. Is it true? Or false?
Kaeya leaned back a new glass of Death After Noon in his hand and he tried to think. If the rumor was some maid claiming Diluc fell for them he wouldn’t hesitate to say it was false not only did he care about his maids Diluc would find falling for one to be pretty inappropriate. But this rumor was of a maid claiming Diluc has been getting letters and smiling.
Sure there is always the possibility this was taken just out of context but there is always the possibility of it being true and Kaeya wouldn’t be such an amazing little brother if he wasn’t a bit noisy. Kaeya put down his empty glass saying his goodbyes as he left the tavern.
It wasn’t hard to get into the winery Adelinde always loved when he came by even if it was only for a bit. But today he wasn’t coming for a quick visit as he walked down a familiar hallway. It seems like Diluc barely changed a thing. It had none of Diluc’s personality, only their father’s like it was stuck in time.
He found his way to Diluc’s office. It was once their father’s and yet again it was barely even changed like Diluc only just came back from his three years long hiatus only a bit ago instead of four years. The desk was organized papers in little stacks, some for receipts for the tavern, some for the winery’s sales, nothing that Kaeya ever cared about.
Instead of searching the desk, he searched the shelves most were untouched very clear by the light layer of dust over the shelves. All but one, a shelf right behind Diluc’s desk, it could be a coincidence after all…or not either way Kaeya started to search. Most of it was just books about old history or on business not at all important but one felt pretty light.
The cover read “The History of the Wildlife of Mondstadt” a book Kaeya knew since Diluc had the same in the past, his worn from overuse. But this one was crisp and clean…something wasn’t right with it for its sheer size. It should be heavier, it was when he was younger. He even was able to use it to launch a catapult but it felt light too light.
Kaeya opened it not to be introduced to the table of contents of the book but to a hard metal door with a little keyhole. “Pretty clever Diluc” he muttered to himself “only though I am better”
Kaeya dug into his pocket pulling out a spare bobby pin usually used for keeping his hair in place on a windy day and for times like these. It only took a minute or so when he heard the sweet click of the safe unlocking. He was careful to open it hoping that this wasn’t some trap as he opened it fully.
Inside were no jewels, no gold, not even anything that belonged to their father. Inside instead of a stack…of letters the letters that started it all. Kaeya grabbed the stack. It was pretty big. There had to be a good amount in there all written on the front said the same thing “for Diluc’s eyes only” Whoever sent these only wanted them for Diluc, but why? Kaeya didn’t even know where to start there were so many but decided in the end to grab the latest one.
With just a single glance over Kaeya could point out a few things, one the writing was a bit messy either means the person was in a hurry or just happened to have messy handwriting, two the paper felt fine, it had a smooth finish and the smell of lamp grass to it. And three it had no seal, no marking that shows it was sent by some merchant of some kind so it was not a proposal.
Kaeya let out a sigh as he got into Diluc’s chair turning on the lamp for some better light before he started to read.
Dear Diluc, Hey, Firefly I know you said to write every week so you won’t worry I have overdone it with my power but this time I have a good reason. Soooo don’t get mad, Love, but I might have gotten thrown in prison BEFORE YOU START GOING OFF TO KILL ME!! Let me explain. So I didn’t really do anything this time I know a surprise but that stupid justice says I did despite the evidence I know right? Can you believe that? But don’t worry I am safe…though I might have used Foul Legacy to do so but I am recovering.
Also, knowing you, you might have noticed the letter smells like your favorite scent. Well, that is because my gift for you is a perfume of small lamp grass. Knowing how efficient Fontaine's mailing system is, it should be coming in a day or two after this letter. I hope you are doing well even without me, Firefly, and I swear once I am done with my missions I will come back to Mondstadt to visit. Maybe I can sneak you into Snezhnaya so you can visit my family Teuser would love to meet you. Love you!
Love, Ajax
By the end of the page Kaeya’s jaw was on the floor was this seriously something someone sent to Diluc of all people? Calling him Firefly and Love like they are dat-....oh Bardatos Diluc is isn’t he? Diluc the cold-hearted man who has never had an interest in anyone for as long as Kaeya has known him that same Diluc was getting letters where someone calls him Firefly and Love like it's his name. Diluc Ragnvindr is dating someone outside of Mondstadt and looking at the rest of the stack of letters it was probably a lot longer than Kaeya would think.