Chapter Text
It's been years since Diluc Ragnvindr had a regular schedule. He's been wandering all over Teyvat in search of answers for what happened to his late father, some might refer to his 'break' as a Fatui hunt, a rampage, an enraged-induced attack on Fatui soldiers and Harbingers, but it was less of that and more just simply investigating.
In order to make sure he had all of the context and clues he needed, he started slow; the Chasm of Liyue was his first stop, then Sumeru's Hypostyle Desert, then Natlan and Fontaine with his last stop being Snezhnaya. The order of nations mattered less to him, and the goal of Snezhnaya being the final destination was more vital to his intentions. He couldn't tell you why specifically though.
He wrapped it all up nicely too, writing down notes and details in his journal he kept for the trip. He had a mystery to solve and with enough research and figuring out the new lands, he solved it. He figured out, through tiresome nights and sweaty sunny days, where exactly his late father got the delusion and why he used it. Diluc figured out why Il Dottore was in Mondstadt at all during that night, learned about the rest of the Fatui, leading him to formulate a plan for when he gets back.
This plan is, maybe a risky one. He plans to not only keep a close eye on the Fatui from afar, but also to protect Mondstadt in his own ways now that he's seen the systemic issues the Knights of Favonius have.
“Master Diluc!” Adelinde spotted the familiar silhouette approaching Dawn Winery's doors. “You’re finally back from the trip! We’ve all been waiting for you, let me-”
“No need, Miss Adelinde,” His voice hoarse, he continues. “I need to meet with the informant soon.”
“Already? Even though you only just got back?” She offers to take his outerwear as soon as he walks through the doors of the winery, he accepts the offer, handing just his cloak to her.
“Yes, I--” his voice gets cut off by his need to cough into his elbow, frankly very aggressively at that, surely everyone within 20 meters of the entrance heard it.
“You’re sick?” She folds the cloak in her arms.
“No, it's just a frog in my throat or something..” He brushes it off, his voice clearly suffering the consequences of coughing.
“Either way you might be contagious, it'd be best if you--” she gets cut off by Diluc's voice once more.
“I will be fine, you don't need to worry about me, Miss Adelinde.” The both of them walking across the winery's ground floor.
“Please, Master Diluc..” The two make their way to his office, which also serves as his bedroom. “You know you can drop the formalities by now.. You aren't a kid anymore.” She speaks softly, wanting to still care for Diluc as best as she can.
“That's right, I'm not a kid anymore, so if I drop the formalities you have to promise--” And he needs to sneeze. He stops in his tracks, causing the head housekeeper to pause her steps as well.“Ah..” It lingers for a minute, he stands in the middle of the stairs, there ready with his other elbow if need-be. “And the sneeze didn't go.. Damn it.”
“I have to promise what now?” She smiles, knowing what he was about to say, and that the failed sneeze just proved her own unspoken theory correct.
“Promise not to coddle me like a kid anymore.” He keeps walking almost to his office and the maid simply follows him.
“I will accept this if, and only if, you accept that you are in fact sick and should rest in bed for a few weeks as it goes away.” She tries her best to disguise the smugness in her voice.
"Really?" He stops and sighs before opening the door to his office, eager to get back to his work.
"Yes, really!" She nods, "Knowing you, you're going to dive right back into paperwork and sort things out because of how hectic they were when you left, and sorting things out like that usually requires a lot of cooperation from others as well; I am not only concerned for your health, Master Diluc, but also the health of others you may encounter. You know as well as anyone how god-awful it would be for everyone important to your work to catch your illness."
"You really have a way with words.." Diluc lets out a heavy sigh admitting defeat, "I need the best doctor in Teyvat, You need to—" He feels the sneeze come back. "Goddammit…" After a moment of build up, he sneezes. "Finally."
"Bless you, I can contact Sister Barbara or Acting Grand Master Jean right away-"
"No, absolutely not." His sickly voice as stern as it can be right now. "You will not let anyone in Mondstadt know about this, let alone treat me. It needs to be someone who doesn't know me or my status." Diluc stubbornly shuffles his feet towards his bed on the left instead of his desk on the right. "Not used to that title for her.." He mumbles.
"Oh?" The head housekeeper continues to follow him, this time closer, in case he needs any physical support. Of which he usually does not require, but he is heavily considering the opportunity given to him this time.
"Jean's title." He inhales as he sits down on the bed, taking of his shoes, finally relishing in the fact that he's home. As close to a home he'll ever get. "When I say 'I need the best doctor in Teyvat. I mean it. The best doctor Mora can buy."
"Yes, Master Diluc." Adeline nods as she stands in front of the redhead. "You mentioned the informant a while ago, would you like me to take care of such tasks for now?"
"I assumed that would go without saying, yes.." Diluc begrudgingly takes off his outer coat, finally relinquishing it to Adelinde's hands. "Can you grab my ..comfy sleepwear?" He sheepishly looks at the floor. Admitting he still likes that old pajamas set from his teenage years is still proving Adeline's previous point about his childishness.
Oh, how he hates being proven wrong.
"The ones with roses on them?" She asks, folding his coat nicely over the cloak in her arms, prepared to put them both in the wash. 'it's miraculous those still fit you..'
"...Yes, the ones with roses on them."
"I will go get those momentarily, but I have to ask; how was the trip?"
"Well." He clears his throat as best as he can.
What a long tale it would be if he went over every little detail, even summing it down would take at least forty minutes to just explain.
"I can't go to Snezhnaya anymore, officially banned." He admits, purposefully leaving out the details.
"From the nation? The entire area?" Adelinde attempts to keep her shocked expression tied to just her voice, but her eyes cant help but widen. "They can do that?"
"Of course they can—" His voice gets cut off by yet again another sneeze. "Ah—chew—" He sighs, what a small but hurtful sneeze, impacting his voice suddenly. "Of course they can, its the Fatui…I will need tissues.." His nose clogged after the sneeze, hes glad that didn't happen to this extent for the previous sneezes.
"I shall fetch those things for you now; call for an out of nation doctor, rose pajamas, tissues, and perhaps some tea or warm honeyed water for your throat?" She straightens up and clears her own throat. "I shan't push for details on your trip for now but do note, Diluc, that should you need a listening ear, I will always be here for you."
The redhead nods, too tired and drowsy to fully say words anymore. He gets comfortable in the bed, making sure its not too comfortable for the upcoming wardrobe change. He wants to say more to her, he wants to say 'thank you' but even if he could, his voice is way too hoarse that he can barely even whisper anymore. All he really can do is nod.
The head housekeeper exits the room as Diluc drifts off into a state that resembles slumber. His bed reminding him of better days, reminding him of times spent scared of thunderstorms as a kid and hiding under this very blanket with Kaeya. At the time it wasn't even his bed, it was his father's.
As cranky as he is; he really does need the rest.