Work Text:
Kaeya was currently slumped over the bar counter, nursing a glass of wine that frankly, Diluc didn’t think he needed. It was long past closing… If it was anybody else Diluc would have thrown them out– but it just had to be him…
Through his own observation and, other methods, he knew Kaeya had taken on a bit too much lately… and his recent encounters with a man named “Dainsleif” certainly hadn’t helped, so yes, he did let Kaeya drink more than usual.
As much as he wanted him to stop drinking. He knew what it was like to want to forget for one night.
He suspected Kaeya would pass out at the bar in silence if anything and Diluc could ignore him– but instead, he spoke up, seemingly talking to himself.
“...sometimes I wonder if I still have a brother.”
His voice was muffled with his cheek pressed against the hardwood of the counter,
“Or if he’s gone and left me behind…”
Diluc was frozen behind the counter, facing away from him– maybe he should have pushed him away when he had the chance.
Kaeya’s soft sniffles could be heard throughout the whole tavern, echoing off the walls that suddenly felt too close.
He won’t remember this by the morning… right?
“You’ll always have a brother…” Diluc placed his hand on his head, ruffling his blue hair in the same way he always did– or well, used to.
“...I know you won’t remember this, but I want you to try for me, okay?” Kaeya looked up at him from the counter, looking at him as if he held the stars just for him to gaze at on the nights when he was far too lonely.
Diluc bent down, to be at eye level with his… brother. His little baby brother…
“When all is lost… find your way to me…” he brushes a finger under his brother's covered eye, “You will always have a home where I am.”
Kaeya leaned into his touch, far too trusting when intoxicated… “Though, I may not act pleased… know that every day you return to the tavern alive and well…”
He sighed, this was harder than he thought– “It… makes me, happy? A little less stressed if that makes sense…” Though he doubts much makes sense to Kaeya right now…
“C’mon, let's get you to bed.” he patted his shoulder, jolting him from where he was about to sleep on his hand.
Why Kaeya still trusts his hands to hold him eludes him… but it was nice to think he hadn’t completely lost him to time.
Diluc helped him out of his chair, and Kaeya sagged against his side, “...I don’t wanna go yet– it's cold out there… ” He adjusted Kaeya’s stupidly annoying fur cape thing – how it stays on his shoulder during battle is something Diluc will never understand.
“ It isn’t even that cold out– ” His words unintentionally cut sharp– perhaps too sharp since Kaeya leaned away from him, almost stumbling onto the floor, “That’s– that’s not what I meant. ” Kaeya appeared more sober than he had been a moment ago– though that could just be one of his masks pulling through …
“Okay– alright .” How his brother manages to still be so cryptic even when drunk is beyond him.
“How about we head downstairs then? Sound fair to you?” He could see the calculations in Kaeya’s eye before he nodded, acting like a child .
Diluc had made a small room on the bottom floor of the tavern, mostly for treating injuries… but it also worked for guests. Only a select few knew of the room, so it was a relatively safe resting spot.
He picked Kaeya back off the floor, holding him a little closer as they made their way down the stairs, with the occasional stumble– He carefully dropped Kaeya onto the bed, grabbing a few of the blankets hidden under it.
Diluc looked up, seeing Kaeya watching him with rapt attention, not making any move to remove his accessories– which were surely uncomfortable to sleep in.
He huffed, setting the blankets on the edge of the bed, “How helpless are you?...” He shook his head with a reluctant fondness as he removed his earring and– neck fluff thing? Along with his cape and vision since he wouldn’t want Kaeya to impale himself on it. Hmm … the spikes on his gloves would have to go too…
Diluc carefully helped Kaeya to lie down, bringing the blankets over him. Even after all these years he still carried extra blankets in both the tavern and his home… Kaeya had always hated the cold, draining their savings on blankets and warm drinks when they were younger…
He wonders if he’s still that financially irresponsible… Before he could go back upstairs to clean up after Kaeya, he had grabbed ahold of the end of his coat.
“...Kaeya.”
A mumble.
“I have to go clean up.”
A pull of disapproval and a groan from his brother.
Hmm…
Diluc removed his coat, using it as another blanket for his brother, causing him to open his eyes, reaching out for him–
“I’ll be back; you can keep the coat till then.” He slowly brought Kaeya’s hand back down to the bed tucking him back in before heading back upstairs.
He carefully cleaned the counter, thinking over everything… he should ask Jean to talk to Kaeya for him… he would always take care of Kaeya when necessary– but confronting him? He would rather avoid it for as long as possible. He knew he had a lot to apologize for, but he didn’t know how to apologize for it. And he didn’t want to ruin the okay relationship they currently had.
He finished his work rather quickly compared to usual, locked the doors to the tavern– preferring to not get ambushed in the middle of the night, and headed downstairs.
Kaeya was sleeping peacefully with his face buried in the fur of his jacket– having balled it up into a makeshift pillow. Diluc pulled out a chair from the storage closet, setting it a little way away from the bed.
Seems they both would be sleeping in the tavern tonight.
The next morning Diluc opened his eyes to his coat, laid across his chest, and Kaeya gone, a single glass of unfinished wine, alone on the counter standing as the only proof that it wasn’t all just a dream