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1.
Diluc crept out of bed. Although the hour was late, the manor buzzed with life. He was supposed to be asleep a long while ago but all the sudden things got loud. Lots of footsteps and whispers. The world outside was loud too.
A storm thrashed and screamed at the sides of the mansion. almost as if Barbatos and Beezelbub themselves had conspired to take down the walls. Yet, even as the window panes rattled in their fixtures, the maids repeatedly reassured him that it would pass and things would be alright.
Diluc was skeptical.
So, despite that it was long past his bedtime, the little boy crept from his room to peek over the railing which looked down onto the bottom floor of the winery. The hearth was going strong with a bright flame, illuminating the space. There was an oddly shaped lump in front of the fire, a blanket draped over… something. He couldn't quite make out what from where he was. But it was dead still, almost like a statue.
Near the door he could see his father and Master Varka talking. Both of their faces were scrunched up which he'd learned meant something bad. Sometimes it was because Diluc had snuck an extra cookie, or because he'd wandered too far, and sometimes it was because he was listening to Mr. Elzer tell him the 'month numbers', whatever those were.
Both of them were soaked with water that drip dripped onto the floor. If Adelinde saw them, she'd be sure to give them a scolding because that's what she did to Diluc whenever he tracked water and mud in. From where he watched them they were talking quietly, too quietly for his little ears to pick up on.
Carefully avoiding the maids who were up and about, he managed to sneak downstairs and duck under the dining table where he could listen in.
"I'll send out a party to look for his father now and I'll speak with Grandmaster Valentine about it in the morning. I'm sure we'll be able to track him down," Varka spoke with conviction but there was something else there that he couldn't identify. One of those 'subtle' emotions as his dad would call them.
Crepus sighed and nodded, rubbing at his face, "Alright, thank you Sir Varka."
"Course Crep… are you sure you'll be alright? I can always take the little one until we figure out something more permanent for him. You already have your hands full with Diluc and the winery. I don't want you to add more to your plate that you can handle," His voice was soft and a hand hung in the air, as if he couldn't decide whether to reach out or not.
His father made the decision for him, taking the large hand within his own, "I'm sure, I just-" He sighed again, glancing back at the weird statue-thing, "Should we really let a man who abandoned his son on the side of the road just have his son back? Just like that? I mean look at him Varka! He's flesh and bone, his hair's so tangled it's like a large mat. How could we just- just let him back to him?"
His dad was talking in the voice he did when Diluc gave him a scare, when he was trying to be stern but he was actually just really worried. Varka must have understood this as they hugged for a minute.
"I know… We just; we have to see first alright? If he's unfit and we find evidence of abuse, we'll arrest him on the spot. I swear to you Crepus."
Diluc felt his heart do the thing it did when he was scared. Without even thinking about it he bolted from under the table to clutch his father's leg. The elder startled for a moment then a soft laugh fell through his lips, without a second thought the little boy was safely tucked into his arms. Carefully cradled between the two adults.
"Diluc…" Crepus narrowed his eyes but the gesture felt more playful than stern, it felt safe here. The storm could no longer be heard outside and he didn't feel afraid anymore.
2.
Crepus sat at the breakfast table. Adelinde was serving up pancakes. It had been more than a year since Kaeya had been introduced to Diluc, he was supposed to be staying temporarily but it didn't seem like he'd be leaving anytime soon.
He was… interesting. Not in a bad way obviously, he was a good playmate. But the thing was, he didn't speak common or old Mondstadtic, or any other language that they recognized for that matter. His eye was funny looking too, he only ever showed them one, always keeping the other well covered, and the one you could see was a icy blue. But the normal black dot in his eye, wasn't a black dot, it was star shaped. He'd never ever heard of anything like it, or even SEEN anything like it.
Diluc thought it was cool but Kaeya always covered his face if he pointed it out. That was the other weird thing– he was really shy. Always scared of doing things wrong. He wasn't ever loud, he didn't cry even though he looked like he wanted to a lot. One time he dropped a glass and hid in a corner for hours.
Things had been nice though, and his best friend Jean liked him too. That was really good, that way the three of them could play together. At least once Kaeya was better, whatever that meant. He seemed pretty healthy to Diluc, besides the fact he did get sick a lot. Pretty badly too. But otherwise he was okay!
But he trusted his dad! He was usually right about these kinds of things, even if he didn't realize it right then. (Despite the fact that he was 9 now and could totally handle knowing!)
Crepus snapped him from his thoughts, calling his name softly. His red eyes snapped up to meet his father's deep green ones.
"Glad to see you're still with us" It was a gentle tease, a smile that curled up on his lips with affectionate mirth.
"Sorry Father, what were you saying?" Diluc sat up straight 'at attention' just like Sir Varka taught him.
"I'd like to talk with you after breakfast in my study. Then you're welcome to go back and play"
The world blurred as he nodded his head aggressively, a laugh tumbling out of his father's lips. Breakfast seemed to speed by just as fast, his plate soon cleared after his father's. Kaeya still shyly picked at his.
It was something Diluc had noticed he did ever since he first arrived. He was always wary of the food he was served. At first he thought it was because he was just not hungry, but it happened at every mealtime and he didn't eat in between, so it couldn't have been that. Which led him to think that maybe Kaeya didn't like their food? That theory was disproved when he remembered how sometimes he would devour his portion in just a few bites.
Crepus would usually take a bite of his food and then Kaeya would eat, so maybe that hadn't happened yet? Diluc walked back to the table and with his own fork stole a bite of pancake. The bluenette's eye went wide in shock before he burst into giggles.
"T-T-Th-Thank," He paused, struggling to properly pronounce the words, "Thank- You"
Once he managed the common phrase, his face seemed to split apart as he beamed with pride. Diluc applauded him since Crepus said that he should be supportive and that was supportive he thought.
"I'll be right back! Papa wants me to talk with him and then we can go play pirates!"
Kaeya nodded and took a small bite of his pancakes, pupil dilating just before he began to shovel the cakes into his mouth. Diluc giggled and ran off to his fathers office.
༺𓆩༒︎𓆪༻
The study smelled of old books and ink. A little like the library at the Knights Headquarters. It was always warm, so every time you walked it felt as if the room was giving a big hug.
Diluc liked being in here, even if he really wasn't supposed to be. His dad was 'working and needed to focus' according to Adelinde. To him though it looked like his father just liked being in the study.
Right now he stood at the big window, looking out it you could see nearly all the grapevines and the Statue of The Seven out in the distance. He wandered up to his dad's side, leaning into the warmth.
Crepus rested a large hand on Dilucs head, ruffling the curly locs gently.
"You alright firefly?"
The little boy nodded, craning his neck up to meet his fathers gaze. His father's warm green eyes were sparkling like how Varka's did, they seemed to do that a lot more since Kaeya was taken in. It was a good thing he thought.
"Mhm! You wanted me?" He chirped, rocking up to the tips of his toes before dropping down onto the hardwood once more.
Crepus chuckled and sat in the large comfy swivel chair, letting Diluc clamber up into his lap. The desk felt huge from up here, even more so than it did when he stood by it. A large maple wood executive desk that had lots of drawers and space. Whenever he got into the knights he'd have his own desk like this according to Varka.
He sank further into his fathers warm embrace as they watched the vineyard together, a stray crystalfly fluttered by leaving sparkles in its wake. The sun catching on the leaves and ripening grapes making them glitter. It was beautiful.
"One day this will all be yours… " He began, low and gentle as if telling a bedtime story, "and Kaeya's as well"
Diluc's head spun to look his father in the face, worming around until he could properly look at him. His face was soft, wrinkles that carved out his smile and across his forehead but they were still not as deep as some of the old fancy people he'd been around before. And in what he could read of his expression, there was nothing but honesty.
"Really?" There was so much awe in his voice, and his father simply nodded with a smile.
"Yes really, I-" His face fell a little before taking a big breath, "I decided that we should take Kaeya in permanently, so he'd be your little brother from now on"
He lit up with excitement, every nerve in him buzzed and jumped. He'd always wanted a little sibling, but he thought that he'd never EVER get one, but now he had one! Crepus laughed as Diluc wiggled off his lap to squeal excitedly and hop around.
He got what he'd wanted and now he'd never let him go.
3.
Kaeya flopped face down on his bed, chucking the pillow at the desk. Unamused Diluc glanced over from the aforementioned desk at the bluenette who'd decided to take over the elder's comforter. He blinked at his little brother before turning back to the textbook he'd been pouring over.
Knights entrance exams were in a week, and despite the fact he'd spent nearly his whole life studying for this, could recite the whole handbook from memory, had trained harder than he should have, and then some; he still was anxious. This would be his chance to make their father proud — well, prouder, there really wasn't a day that went by where Crepus wasn't doting on his two sons — but still he had something to prove.
Diluc jotted down his score on the practice test and a sigh flew from his lips, perfect marks. Good. This was good. As long as he did this 2 more times, then again on the real one, he'd be perfect. Before he could start again though, the quill was snatched from his fingers.
His head spun to meet the gaze of the culprit, the siblings glared at each other, until Kaeya's lower lip curled into a pout and the elder gave in. With a groan he leaned back in his chair and roughly dragged his palms up and down his face.
"You know you'll do just fine right Luc?" His little brother leaned onto the desk, arms folded across his chest. Annoyingly enough Kaeya had been growing like a weed, now his hip met the edge of the wood, a brag that Diluc had used to his advantage for a long time.
"But what if I don't? I should practice just one more ti-"
"You've practiced it about 20 over the last week, I'm sure you have it memorized by now and could do it in your sleep. Which you'll be doing if you don't go to bed soon" His blue eye playfully narrowed as a finger prodded the side of the red head.
Diluc sighed and stood, stretching up as his back crackled like Electro.
"Am I right?" Kaeya tried to hide his smirk.
"Yes yes fine, you're right… whatever" With a snort he threw off his day clothes, his little brother leaving the room just long enough to give him privacy to change before reattaching to his side like the leech he was.
His mattress was like a balm to his back as he laid down, soothing the ache that had begun to bother him much more frequently than it probably should. Kaeya flopped down next to him as gracefully as a fish, burrowing into his blankets.
"You have your own bed y'know" Diluc teased, rolling over to grin at his sibling, knowing full and well that it was rare for Kaeya to actually sleep in his own room. It was a ritual he'd done since they were kids, and neither seemed to want to break it now.
"Mmm, yea, but my bed is cold and you have a Pyro vision" He grinned back and they snickered together.
It would be weird if Diluc did pass the exams. For the next year he'd be swamped with training while Kaeya would still be at the manor, working on school and letting Crepus teach him finances or whatever winery things he seemed so interested in. The two rarely were ever apart for longer than a few hours. So if he passed, then he'd be at the Knights Headquarters for weeks at a time, and if he managed to get promoted to a real knight then he could be across Teyvat for who knows how long.
Doubt welled in his chest, pressing on it firmly as his throat tightened. He was 12 now, he shouldn't be crying over something like this but still tears burned in his eyes. He tried to keep the sniffles quiet but there wasn't a thing he could hide from his little brother.
Kaeya flung and arm around him, tugging the elder into a tight embrace as he let him cry. Soothing words floated into his ears until his sobs died down. The bluenette didn't push for a long moment, letting the other catch his breath.
Only once he was breathing normally again did he ask, "What's wrong?"
Diluc's answer should have been nothing, things were fine. He had a great life, a kind and loving father, an amazing little brother, maids to dote on him, food to fill his stomach and a warm bed to sleep in, as well as a gift from the gods. He shouldn't be complaining, but here he was, crying like a toddler over the thought of being separated from his family.
Kaeya was still looking at him expectantly though, worry shining in his eyes even in the dark.
With a deep breath he spoke, "If I become a knight… I won't get to see you as often, and I'll be traveling for long periods of time without coming home to see you and Father"
There was a pause, for a moment Diluc worried Kaeya was upset at him, but when he looked over his little brother was trying to hide his giggles. Glaring, he whacked his arm gently.
"Hey-!" He squawked, giggling harder.
"Well don't laugh at me!"
"I'm not laughing at you!"
"You literally are."
"Well- okay. You've wanted to be a knight since forever and this just occurred to you?"
Another silence fell over them and the elder couldn't muster up a response. Kaeya was right, again. Why hadn't he thought of this yet? Was he really ready to be a knight?
"Listen Luc, you've put so much effort into this, there's no way Grandmaster Valentine won't accept you and I doubt Master Varka will let you wiggle away. In a year I'll join the knights too and we can travel together. And Father will always be here waiting for us to come home. Just 'cause we aren't glued to each other 24/7 doesn't mean that we'll never see each other again. So don't chicken out now, it'll be fine, promise" The bluenette put a hand over his heart and held out his pinky.
Tears filled Diluc's eyes again as he locked his own with Kaeya's.
"Promise to always be my brother?" The red head whispered, barely audible.
The younger smiled, tightening his pinky around the others, "Promise"
4.
Diluc groaned, banging his head on his desk a few times for good measure. He had a report due in an hour, and he hadn't even started on it yet. His brain felt like it was swimming in sludge, and the more he worried about the deadline, the worse it got.
At first he'd been ecstatic that he'd been promoted to Cavalry Captain, it was everything he'd ever dreamed of. Not only was getting to work with animals something he'd always wanted to do, but he could do it while making his father proud. It should be heaven for him. But as it turned out, being the Cavalry Captain was about 70% paperwork, the bane of his existence.
There was a knock on the office's door, the red head couldn't even manage to lift himself to call come in, settling for a loud grunt. It was most likely Kaeya coming to pester him about going to the Manor for dinner anyways. Light poured into the room from the hallway that soon was blotted out by a large frame.
For a moment Diluc didn't react, then logic kicked in and he shot up. Standing as straight as a pencil, one arm behind his back, other pointed down at his side in a salute.
Varka chuckled and waved his hand at the teen, "Calm down, I'm not going to scold you for resting. If anything I should scold you for not resting enough"
His shoulders slumped as he collapsed back down into his chair, a shaky breath fluttered from his lips. Diluc really should be resting more, but he had a reputation to uphold, and things to do. He could rest when they were done. Even though his head seemed to swim, and it felt as if he was trudging through a hydro slime. Rest would come la–
Once more he jumped a foot in the air as the room lit up, the light overhead illuminating the room in a warm glow. The Grandmaster raised an eyebrow at him while he sat down in the chair across from him.
"Diluc." Dread filled his chest, that was his 'stern' voice. He hated that voice.
Nonetheless he responded as respectfully as he could, unable to keep the discontent from his voice, "Yes Grandmaster?"
"Go home. Crepus and Kaeya are waiting for you." His voice was firm and left no room to argue, Diluc managed anyways.
"I have to finish these last few reports and then-"
Varka cut him off, "They can wait, go home. That's an order."
"Bu-"
"Diluc Ragnvindr. Go. Home." Varka stood, no matter how tall Diluc had gotten Varka still had nearly a head on him when they stood side by side and as he slouched in the chair, the dread that had been pressing into his lungs only worsened.
Logically, he knew that Varka wouldn't ever even think to hurt him. He may be strong but he was a good man, an honorable one who would much rather harm himself than a single hair of one of his knights. But in that moment logic didn't pull through, fear kicking into gear and instinct taking the wheel. His arms flung up to guard himself from a strike that would never fall. Every nerve in his body was alight with adrenaline and fear.
The grandmaster paused raising his eyebrows in evident shock, slowly taking a step back and putting himself down onto Diluc's level again. Once more, his brain seemed to finally take the reigns back from the anxiety that wound around him in a vice grip. Shame flushing up his neck and cheeks, burning a bright red nearly as vibrant as his hair. He was a knight for Barbatos' sake. A knight should be brave and prepared to fight back, not cower in fear.
They both were silent for a long while, Varka's voice only shattering the stillness what felt like an eternity later.
"I apologize for scaring you… You know I would never hurt you right?" The elder's voice was much softer than normal, similar to how his father would speak to Kaeya when he was scared. It was meant to comfort and soothe the part of his brain that was convinced there was a threat.
"I do, I honestly don't know why I reacted like that. I'm sorry sir." Diluc cursed himself mentally as his own voice shook.
"Firefly, you didn't do anything wrong. If I had been an actual threat that would have been the right move, all you did was guard your vital organs and your face. Just like you were taught" It was odd hearing the man who usually was all loud and laughter speak to him as gently as his father. It was nice in some way, no matter how strange it may be.
For a moment he stayed quiet, turning over what had just happened in his head a few more times before speaking up.
"I know, but you weren't a threat, a knight is also trained to properly identify threats and non-threats. I didn't do that" He wasn't sure why he was so set on digging a grave for himself, but he kept swinging the shovel nonetheless.
Varka sighed softly, "You also are stressed out of your mind, don't try to pretend you aren't. You are handling so much more than an average 15 year old would. And you're doing a great job, but you still have to get some rest kid. I made the choice to promote you to Calvary Captain because you are so capable, much more so than the average knight. I also made the choice based on the fact that you know when enough is enough. So please go home and rest for a few days, show me you know when you're in a battle you can't win. I'll even take a verbal report instead."
Diluc felt a huge pressure lifting from his shoulders, finally feeling as if he could breathe for the first time in what felt like years. He held back tears and nodded, mumbling his thanks. He was tugged into Varka's chest for a hug as he stood to leave, allowing himself to be held for a moment. The older was almost like a secondary father figure to him, he might as well have been one with how much he was around the Ragnvindr family. He'd managed to earn Kaeya's trust as well fairly early on, his little brother had warmed up to the Knight of Boreas faster than any other adult besides their father and Adelinde.
Eventually he pulled away and began the walk back to the manor through the streets of Mondstadt. The evening air was warm and upon stepping inside the place he called home, he finally felt as if he was caught up with everything he needed to be.
5.
Diluc hadn't been in this much pain in a very long time. He was supposed to never have to deal with it again, but here he was. Curled up in the fetal position with his pyro vision against his abdomen whilst buried underneath a mountain of blankets.
Even as a little kid, he always knew he was a boy. His father had never been one to push gender norms, if Diluc had wanted to wear overalls instead of the frilly dresses that used to fill his closet hangers, then Crepus let him wear the overalls. When he got older he would scold others who called him a girl and state firmly that he was a boy. Many adults attempted to correct him, but his father always had his back.
When Diluc hit puberty, he was suddenly very aware he was not the boy he thought he was. His body filled out in ways that just didn't fit right, Crepus did what he could to help his son. Taught him how to safely bind his chest, gave him every resource that was available and promised that once he was old enough he would be allowed to fix what made the mirror his enemy everyday.
Upon turning 13 he was allowed to start low doses of testosterone and now at age 17 he looked just as most boys his age did. All legs and bones. The hormone replacement had been a blessing not only for making him appear as 'cis' as possible, but the crippling period cramps that bed-rid him every month disappear too.
At least for the most part. So now, 4 years on T, he was curled in bed feeling as if a knife had embedded itself in his abs. Diluc hated it. Not just because the pain made him feel as if he was dying, but because he was suddenly so aware of every dip and bend in his figure. The little things that raised red flags, telling everyone that he wasn't the man everyone thought him to be.
His cheeks were scalded with tears as his teeth dug into the pillow he'd shoved his face in. Usually by now Kaeya would have woken up and realized what was happening, spending the day at his side to try to make things as easy as possible. But usually Kaeya was not out in Liyue handling business in their fathers place.
Ironically enough, their father had fallen sick just days before, it was just a simple cold but his little brother insisted he stay home to rest up and get better. After much deliberation, whining, pleading, bargaining, and giving the biggest puppy eyes he could, Crepus caved and allowed him to go with Elzer instead of him. While Kaeya was still in the knights, the winery business was a siren call the younger couldn't ignore.
Honestly it was reliving to Diluc, making wine had never interested him and at least this way the family business could be passed on properly.
Another wave of pain crashed over him, and Diluc cried out quietly. He didn't want to bother anyone with this, he was a man, he was tough and strong, he should be able to handle it. But he couldn't, no matter how much he wished otherwise.
Moments later there was a knock on his bedroom door, and it creaked open. His father poked his head in, seemingly understanding immediately. The door closed once more and stayed that way for a few minutes. When the hinges whined in protest again Crepus walked in with a tray of breakfast, a heating pad, painkillers, and a large glass of water. Never in his life had he been so relived to see his father.
Carefully, Diluc managed to sit up, the heating pad carefully tucked up to his stomach and buried under the blankets to keep the warmth trapped to his body. A calloused hand ran through his hair, combing out the flame colored locs. It was soothing, so when Crepus gently prompted him to take the pain killers, he wasn't met with the stubborn resistance that the boy usually displayed.
The morning drifted by as he let himself be cared for, sleeping on and off against his fathers side. He felt like he was small again, the worries of being Calvary Captain, of being good enough, of working hard enough, floated away like smoke. There was nothing but the safety and comfort of his bedroom anymore; to him the world outside was nothing but a dream.
But all dreams eventually came to an end, when Diluc woke that night he felt much better, his door was wide open and the sun must have set hours ago if the angle of the moonlight through his cracked window was anything to go by. Crepus was no longer watching over him as he had been every other time he'd woken up, some part of him cried out sadly at the loss of the safety and comfort his father brought.
Sighing deeply he rolled out of bed, hobbling off to the bathroom to try to relieve the discomfort that clung all over. He didn't even bother with the light, right now the mirror was just another reminder that he was born female. Most days he could look at it and not think too much about the parts that didn't fit right. In that moment though he knew that if he had to see the face of a girl in the mirror that he wouldn't have been able to handle it, every part of himself would be dissected by his own hand. Mauled and twisted into a new person who certainly wasn't him but his mind was trapped in all the same.
The water was cold as it rushed over his hands, soap suds scrubbing away the filth that permeated his being. It dripped onto the hardwood as the light from the hall illuminated him once more. Diluc just wanted to fall back asleep, to try to pretend that he hadn't dreamed of being cared for again.
Again wasn't the right word for it though, not really. Crepus always cared, he cared too much. Maybe it was better to say that Diluc didn't let anyone care for him, even though he needed it just as much as he did the air he breathed.
His warm bed called to him as he made his way back to it, only to find his father already waiting with his nose in a book. For a moment he questioned if he was imagining things, but as he climbed back under the covers he was pulled into an embrace.
"How are you feeling Firefly?" Crepus looked away from the novel, fondly looking down at his oldest son.
Diluc didn't reply, only smiled and let himself drift to sleep in the safety of his dad's arms. Age be damned, he would always be his fathers son.
+1
When he came to again, spots still danced in his vision. Attempting to push himself up was met with resistance.
"Easy now, you'll tear your stitches before I've even finished them Master Diluc"
His other senses caught up with him before her voice even reached his ears. The Boss of the Curatorium of Secrets herself was hunched over his torso, patching up the many lacerations that decorated his body.
Quietly a groan slipped from his lips. He'd been so damn close. He was nearly there, but no, he'd failed. Just like he always seemed to do.
For the last… however long, he'd been jumping between Nod Krai and Snezhnaya, hunting down the Harbingers and any information he could squeeze out of the Fatui. While he'd been fairly successful in gathering intel, managing to wipe out their camps on the daily. No matter what leads he managed to find they would disappear through his fingers like sand. The Harbingers evaded his grasp again and again.
Until they found him first.
Diluc had realized he was being tailed well before they launched the ambush, too many coincidences to be normal. Then as he attempted to enter the North once more, there they were to stop him. Making matters worse, he hadn't even been able to face his main target, The Doctor. Instead they sent the Eleventh, codename Childe, alongside a whole troop of some of their strongest men and women.
It was a brutal fight, at least he was pretty sure it had been, his memory was foggy but based on how his whole body ached in pain he could figure out how it had gone pretty easily.
Nefer helped him sit as she continued to work on stitching some of the largest and deepest cuts while Jahoda— her new recruit if he remembered correctly— helped him raise a glass to his lips. He thanked her and gave a nod, the habits his father had instilled within him at such a young age truly could never be purged from him no matter how tough he presented himself as.
No matter how he changed at the end of the day he was still his father's son. Dilucs eyes flicked to his hand, the Delusion had been removed and now rested on the bedside table alongside some of his other belongings.
"How long was I out for?" His voice almost sounded foreign, scratchy and worn from the screaming he must have done. Whether it was daggers directed to the Harbinger or done in pain he didn't know.
Nefer glanced at the window and paused for a moment, pursing her lips, "A day or so, you dragged yourself towards Nod Krai half dead and a group of Ratniki found you."
He nodded, no more words seemed to feel the need to materialize on his tongue. So he just sat there, trying to ignore the searing pain that seemed to tear through every inch of his body.
He didn't even realize he'd passed out again until the pain finally seemed to fade away. Nefer had stood, disinfecting her hands while giving her handiwork a once over.
"Alright, that should do it. Just rest for now and I'll have Jahoda come check on you periodically, let her know if somethings wrong." Her green eyes locked onto his and a shudder ran through him.
She was a good contact and source of information. He gave her what she wanted to know and she returned the favor. Still though, he couldn't help but feel waves of anxiety that would roll to his very core every time she made eye contact with him. Fear was one of the strongest weapons out in the North, and she wielded hers in her gaze.
He nodded, letting his eyes drift down to the mottled purple and black of his skin whilst she retreated from the room.
"Oh, and Diluc?" She paused in the doorway for a moment glancing back to meet his eyes with a smile, "Happy Birthday"