Chapter Text
Kaeya Alberich was not a simple man. He wore many masks, he hid behind his clouded wall of deception. Kaeya was a lot of things: Mondstadt’s esteemed Cavalry Captain, Jean’s right-hand man, a best friend
-a brother, a son. -
A traitor
Sometimes, even he couldn’t possibly unravel the mystery that lay beneath his lies and painted smiles… After all, you could only trust half of what he says’.
***
The icy wind blew across Kaeya’s face, making him shiver slightly; a hole in his facade. Great, now even Barbatos was mocking him! Well, who wouldn’t? He’s the Cavalry Captain for archons' sake - he should be better than this! Letting his subordinate get injured while on his watch! How ridiculous, seriously! Well, yes, the knight was able to get medical care in time and, according to Barbara, should be in fit condition in just a few weeks, but did it matter?
Perhaps Amber was right about him being a slacker; instead of doing another sweep of the camp to ensure there were no stragglers, like a real captain, stupid Kaeya was busy thinking about alcohol, of all things! I mean, how could he have missed an abyss mage of all things, they yap like non-stop! In the end, his subordinate’s stomach was cut deeply, and although he stopped the mage from attacking anybody else, it had already done its damage.
Maybe if he were faster, more aware, and he was there when they needed him, he could have saved him and father.
Kaeya sighed, reminiscing about his lack of awareness wasn’t going to do him any good. What he really needed was a bottle of wine. Death-Afternoon would typically be his go-to, but tonight he wanted to drink until he couldn’t feel anything.
Kaeya, being the lazy man he is, was far too tired to drag himself to his apartment, hiding away from his neighbour’s prying eyes, so he settled on a tavern, plus a tavern is far more lively than his confined and lonely room. The Cat’s Tail would be a nice choice as most of the knights didn’t visit there, so he would be away from their persistent questions, but like his apartment was too far away, and either way, Diona would probably pester him even before he walked in. All the other taverns in town were far too cramped, and their drinks weren’t strong enough for his liking.
That left one option: The Angel’s Share, his normal go-to. There was just one teensy problem, dear Master Diluc. On normal days, Kaeya would enjoy irritating Diluc, but knowing him, he’d probably ramble on about how ‘inefficient the knights are’ if he knew what happened. Although Diluc probably already knows about it, that’s if the knights weren’t drunk enough to start obnoxiously yapping about it.
Ah, well, it couldn’t be helped… could it?
***
“Did ya hear what happened near Dragonspine today?” a knight's voice slurred, drinking his wine-filled glass.
“Yea, no shit. I mean, who wouldn’t? Didn’t you see Swan’s bruises? Come on, man, it was vile, “ another drunk knight rambled.
“Lemme tell ya, by a guy who was right there. Like me the guys were yapping on about the best drink and this god damn abyss mage just jumped on Swan, like no shit but it was scary man! Well, I guess Sir Kaeya took care of it but like who cares anyway that shit was traumatizing man!” Another knight exclaimed drunkenly, swaying his arms around to convey his message.
“Well, I don’t give a damn, and if ask me it was kinda Kaeya fault, I mean he mustv’e knew it was there if he just defeated like that, plus Sir Kaeya’s wide eye doesn’t miss nothin’. Oi Bartender, ‘nother one of those strong stuff.” The man drawled out, signaling Diluc to get over there.
Dliuc exhaled deeply. These lazy, inefficient knights couldn’t even be bothered to come to the counter. Dliuc had already heard about Swan getting stabbed, as the knights put it, ‘well, who wouldn’t?’, but the news about Kaeya being the one leading the group was news to him. He wasn’t deaf; he heard that knight blaming Diluc’s brother, Kaeya, for Swan’s injury. Yes, Kaeya was being a complete idiot not re-checking the camp and letting an Abyss Mage free, but that gave that knight no right to assume Kaeya wanted this to happen!
Something inside Diluc wanted to stand up for Kaeya, but he pulled it back. Besides, Kaeya is an adult. It wasn’t Diluc’s fault what Kaeya’s subordinates said about him.
Even if it wasn’t deliberate, was it Kaeya’s fault? If you asked Diluc, he couldn’t say.