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Kaeya still couldn’t believe what he had been reading for the past 15 minutes but it really felt like hours. His brother Diluc, the Diluc is dating? And he wasn’t even dating someone from Mondstadt either! Oh and he is a guy but honestly, Kaeya kind of knew that part, seriously it was so awkward watching Jean and Diluc date back then and clearly both gay. Never mind all that there was still one important thing Kaeya needed to know.
Who the hell is Ajax?
None of the letters from this Ajax person gave many details but at the same time gave just as many. For example, Ajax would write paragraphs about things he saw and bought all over Teyvat that reminded him of Diluc. From sunsets on top of the mountains in Natlan to the dendrobium flowers in the islands of Inazuma. But at the same time would give no description of what his job was to make him move around Teyvat so much just that he “got a new mission”. Sure there were things like Snezhnaya so that has to be where he lives but Kaeya has no clue what the other words mean like “Foul Legacy” sounds like some shitty name a fourteen year old would nickname their supervillain OC.
Sure there is probably a reason as to why, like Diluc could already know what job Ajax did, but Kaeya himself really wants to know too. Is he going to ask Diluc? Oh hell no he was not that stupid besides knowing the fiery redhead he is more likely to doubt and get defensive than answer anything. So Kaeya would have to find out the good old fashion way.
Which is why he was now here at headquarters they had files on everyone that has ever come into Mondstadt set all the way back since the construction of new Mondstadt. Sure they were hardly used since the population has always been so small but travelers come in from time to time, either to just get some good grub and a place to sleep or for more exciting things like the traveler.
It was funny how Kaeya could hardly work on his so called important paperwork for more than an hour without wanting to throw it all into his fireplace but just to find one man Diluc was in love with he was on it full speed with little coffee. Yet there was no Ajax. How could that be? Kaeya even went all the way back to when Diluc and him were kids and even beyond that before Kaeya came to Mondstadt, thinking it could be some friend who left years ago like Thoma but still no Ajax of any kind could have been found.
Kaeya let out a sigh wanting to slam his head down into the table. Where else could have Diluc met an Ajax? He hardly left Mondstadt. Then it hit of course…Diluc was gone for three years after all.
Great now if it’s someone who Diluc met during those three years he was gone how could Kaeya find out now?
Unless…
Another night of the Darknight hero running around killing any monster in sight and another night of Kaeya doing what he does best. Slipping into places he is not wanted. He couldn’t come in through the front this time around so he made his way through the window this time not wanting to be too suspicious coming to the winery late at night two times in a row. Once again it was easy to pick the lock into the safe that pretended to be a book and into that stack of letters.
This time he didn’t start at the top but took out every single one finding the bottom, the first of all these letters. The first has to have more information right? Even just a simple “Hey I’m Ajax the dude you met in Liyue with a job at a jewelry store and my address is blah blah blah.” Would do and if there was a photo god even better then Kaeya could see how fucked up Diluc’s taste is.
It took a bit to reach the bottom. There were so many letters they had to go on for years which only made Kaeya more pissed at himself. How could he have not noticed the perfect piece of drama under his nose? Sure he and Diluc weren’t brothers or didn’t at least consider each other brothers anymore nor very close as before but Kaeya always thought he would notice if Diluc ever fell in love with someone.
The final letter in the pile was old, still in its envelope with the same messy handwriting on the top of the envelope “for Diluc’s eyes only!!” Like every other envelope, Kaeya could find.
Once more he sat in the stiff leather chair turning on the lamp to read as he slipped the letter out. Unlike the rest, this one was much shorter, just a single paragraph and it had small specks of red on the edges of one corner.
Dear Diluc, I found you! I told you I would even after you were banned from Snezhnaya. Pity and I never got to fight you at full strength. Before you start preparing for a fight of some kind no I'm not going to fight you anytime soon I’m not even in Mondstadt, my queen has sent me somewhere else for a mission. But I will one day soon fight you. Maybe if I win I can finally get you to join the Fatui and fight for some real freedom but that will take some convincing but don’t worry I’m patient. Until next time Crimson knight!
Love, Tartaglia (but you can call me Ajax)
Now Kaeya’s mind was really swirling trying to gather up all the words and make them make sense. One simple paragraph gave him so many answers but far too many questions. So Ajax is from Snezhnaya, he was right about that and Diluc is banned from there? How can you get banned from a whole nation? Kaeya wanted to know. And why is Diluc called Crimson knight? But what is blowing Kaeya’s mind is that this was no stupid guy in Liyue who traveled around this was someone a part of the Fatui.
Kaeya read the lines over and over again hoping they would change but nope of course they didn’t. Then once again the information hits remembering the rumor that led him here. Diluc gets these letters from a Fatui soldier and gets caught by his maids smiling at them.
The Fatui! Really!?
Diluc knew, he knew “Ajax” was not who said he was, that he was from this organization that Diluc is well known to hate and the letters. Oh god, the letters there are so many so Diluc has never stopped him from sending letters and is smiling while reading these soldier’s letters. Wait and if this Ajax-Tartaglia-what’s-his-face dude keeps sending letters even years after that means Diluc has to also be sending them back. Right?
But the name…Tartaglia, it seemed so familiar once more he needed to go to another trip to the headquarters. Bardatos, he is going to need a drink after this.
Kaeya put the letters back into their place locking up into that book safe. “Back into the drawer you go” Kaeya hummed.
“What are you doing?” an angry voice spoke up, making Kaeya almost drop the safe. He was slow when looking up trying to prevent the inevitable but it was too late. As he looked over the desk to an angry Diluc taking off the mask he wore as the Darknight hero.
“Uh, heyyy Diluc um what brought you to come around these parts?” Kaeya rarely showed any nervousness to most people but Diluc could always tell when he was.
“Shut it. What are you doing here?” Diluc stomped over slamming both hands onto the desk Kaeya could feel it shake the cup full of pens rattle. Red eyes glared down at him. It was odd to think those same eyes used to look at him with such care but that was long ago.
“Just looking at dad’s old things after all don’t you think I should be allowed to see his…” Kaeya looked down; he was glad he was fast enough to shove the safe book into the drawer before Diluc came in, instead, he grabbed another book taking a glance at the title. “Knowledge on…the building of Mondstadt’s walls…well that’s boring” He threw it back into the drawer. “God, he really had some of the most boring of books.”
“Don’t play stupid with me, why are you really here?” Diluc did not back down, if looks could kill Kaeya would be very much dead.
“And why should I tell you? I just want to know if cold master Diluc is hiding anything” Kaeya kept up his smirk seeing his chance to mess with Diluc and of course, he was going to take it. “You know there are a lot of rumors about you”
“Of course, there are everyone wants to know every little thing about me now stop changing the subject and tell me why you’re-”
“That is true, who wouldn’t want to know about the most closed off person in Mondstadt?” Kaeya interrupted, he couldn't have his fun if he was going to be kicked out. “The richest, mysterious, and dare I say the most editable bachelor”
“What are you getting at, Kaeya if this is you making fun of Donna’s-” he paused almost disgusted by the word to describe Donna’s interest “-obsession with me you can quit it”
“Oh no no no Diluc I would have never dreamed of doing such a thing” he has “But you know at your tavern it’s a good place for rumors and let’s just say I have the heart of a gossip” He was now in full confident leaning on the desk a wide grin on his face. “So you can imagine my surprise when I hear a little rumor that the master of the winery is smiling at letters he gets from his own personal falcon.”
That seemed to get the redhead’s attention. Diluc's eyes widened for a fraction of a second but that is all Kaeya needed to know what was the truth and what was not. “I have no idea what you're talking about” Diluc tried to save face, “am I not allowed to smile now or have friends?”
“Well no one said that but then again it’s a bit odd isn’t it? No one has seen you smile in probably years, sure a small one maybe or a little up in the corner of the lip but a smile? Well, that’s rare coming from you.” Kaeya moved his hand back under the desk grabbing that safe disguised as an ordinary book. Diluc could swerve and dodge questions like a pro. The fact that no one was suspicious of Diluc being the Darknight hero was clear evidence of that, but Kaeya wasn’t a normal guard he was worse in fact he was at least at one point Diluc’s brother.
He set down the book and Diluc seemed to clutch the sides of the desk tighter, a reaction Kaeya was expecting. Diluc always had a habit of gripping something when he was angry, whether it was his shirt or leg or the handle of his claymore. “I’m surprised you still have this book though I remember it being much more worn from how many times you read it, you could basically recite the whole thing by memory. I also remember it being a lot more…heavy”
“You know what’s in there don’t you” Diluc of course knew when he was being played with this wasn’t the first time Kaeya messed with him when Diluc had a secret. But this wasn’t small like having a cookie before bed or trying to mess with Crepus’s things, this was much more severe.
“And if I do? What are you going to do about it?” Diluc didn’t answer, only stared as he tried to figure out a game plan, and Kaeya didn’t back down staring right back as he messed with the fake cover.
“How much do you know?”
“A lot more than you would like”
The two were at a standstill to see who would give up information first neither backing down, but they both knew Diluc had lost the moment Kaeya brought out the safe. “Just tell me how much you have read through my things,” Kaeya thought about it. Should he refuse and piss off Diluc more or have a higher chance of living? As much as the first felt better Kaeya had his fun.
“I know the dude is a shit poet comparing you to almost any “beautiful” thing he sees…and also how he is part of the Fatui”
Diluc let out an annoyed sigh pitching the bridge of his nose. “Of course you do,” he muttered under his breath. A few seconds passed of silence and this was far more boring than Kaeya thought. “Soooo are you trying to get information out of him or something?” That is the only explanation that Kaeya can even think of it was either Diluc was using this loser for information or…god forbid it be that. Kaeya can already feel himself gagging.
But instead of a hit of the head, being called stupid, and told of course Diluc did it for information Kaeya was met with silence. Oh Bardatos he was going to throw up. “You better not say you love him if you do this whole desk is going to be covered in my dinner” Diluc wrinkled his nose at the remark but grabbed the safe holding it gently in his arms. “I am not telling you anything I don’t need to”
Well that just confirmed it. Diluc didn’t have to confirm anything for Kaeya to know that Diluc, the man who is known to hate the Fatui with (apparently not) all his heart, likes a Fatui soldier. Diluc’s taste can’t get any worse from here.