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The quiet darkness was a blanket to soothe Diluc asleep. He should be good and rest for the morning, but his sweet tooth was persuasive, and a nighttime snack was what it begged for. Adelinde had baked her special chocolate chip cookies for dessert, and he only had three cookies until the jar was taken from him without any justification! Okay, maybe having a stomachache in the middle of the night was justified, but he was more than willing to learn from his mistakes!
So he waited, his vision illuminating the room with its warm pulses, restless as he was, waiting for the manor to get quiet enough for him to grab his accomplice. It was a few hours after their bedtime, so he should be safe. Carefully, he slipped out of the bed, his sock-clad feet stepping onto the wooden floor. He swiped his vision from the nightstand and slipped it into his pocket as he tiptoed across the room. Each step was calculated as he made sure to avoid the creaking floorboards he had memorized over the years. With a soft click, he opened his door and shuffled down the hall to another room. His hands were steady as he turned the doorknob. It was dark, but with a snap of his fingers, the candle on the nightstand lit up. A sleeping lump breathed on the bed, and he stepped toward it, shaking it gently.
“Kae,” he whispered. “Wake up.”
There was a groan followed by a starry eye fluttering. Kaeya yawned, a hand moving up to rub his eye. “Luc?”
“It’s me!”
“Did you have a nightmare?” Kaeya asked, fully awake. He moved to the edge of his bed, his small hands cupping Diluc’s round face.
“No,” Diluc said, giving Kaeya’s hands a squeeze before removing them.
“Oh.” Kaeya tilted his head as he blinked. “Did you want a sleepover?”
Oh, how he would love that, but there were more pressing matters. Diluc shook his head. “Something better.”
“Better than a sleepover?” Kaeya’s jaw dropped.
“Yes, Addie’s cookies!”
Kaeya pouted. “But we had her cookies for dessert.”
“Only a few cookies. Kae”—Diluc leaned closer, his eyes wide as they sparkled with mischief—“we could have more…”
“Did Addie say we could?”
“No… but she doesn’t need to know…”
“Luc, we can’t! What if Mr. Crepus found out?”
“Shhhhhh!” Diluc raised a finger to his mouth. His heart raced as he whipped his head to the door, waiting for footsteps. Fortunately, they were met with silence. “They can’t be mad if we don’t get caught!”
“I don’t know…”
“Would I ever lead you to trouble?”
Kaeya gave a flat look.
“Okay, fair.” Diluc tried a different approach. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” Kaeya replied without hesitation.
Diluc grabbed Kaeya’s hands, giving a light tug as he coerced him from the bed. “Then let’s get those cookies.”
Kaeya tensed, unsure, but after a moment he gave in, leaving the safety of his bed.
Finally, their plan was in motion. The great cookie heist was about to begin, but there was more at stake than ever. Firstly, Kaeya was too sweet to get into trouble, and secondly, he had a good streak to keep up. He couldn’t risk his father or Addie finding out.
His resolve was as strong as his grip on Kaeya’s hand. Confidently, he led them out of the room. The door closed behind them, and he froze, hoping that the sound didn’t alert anyone. With bated breath, he waited. The hall was silent, but the blood rushing through his ears was loud; his little heart beat faster than the horses that led the carriages he rode in. The hand gripping his tightened, and he looked back to see Kaeya’s eye closed as he huddled close. Diluc gave a gentle squeeze back. He had to be strong. This was an important mission, and he needed to make sure that they weren’t caught. Kaeya was relying on him.
They waited for a few more minutes, with time feeling like an eternity in that moment. Diluc’s eyes darted to each side of the hallway, but there were no shadows drawing near to corner them or even footsteps echoing along the walls.
It was safe.
He took a deep breath in to steady his nerves, and with false confidence, he gripped Kaeya’s hand, bravely moving forward. He took small steps, making sure to steady Kaeya as he stumbled behind. And as he neared the staircase, he could hear voices talking. He approached cautiously, his small head peeking between the wooden balusters. Below he could see the dining room table, with some tea and papers scattered on it, but nobody in the chairs. He pushed himself further, the balusters pressing into his cheek, and in front of the fireplace he could see his father and Adelinde sitting by its warmth and talking.
That was a minor problem…
But Diluc was very smart! Even his tutors said so! He pursed his lips as his brain reeled for an answer, different scenarios playing in his head.
They could sneak down the stairs and quickly scurry to the kitchen, but the door might make a loud noise if they opened it… and they would have to be reaaaaallllly quiet if they didn’t want the adults to catch them.
Another option was using Kaeya as a distraction. Now, he wasn’t so heartless that he would leave Kaeya to fend against the adults all by himself—at least, not without a plan—buuuuuut… If Kaeya went downstairs and said that he wasn’t feeling well, then his father and Adelinde would have to help him! And when they tucked Kaeya into bed, that would be his chance to race into the kitchen and steal the cookies! It was a brilliant plan by a brilliant boy. He just needed to—
A yelp startled him from his thoughts. His body instinctively yanked on the hand he held, pulling Kaeya into his embrace and covering Kaeya’s mouth with his other hand. His back was pressed against the balusters as he looked down the hall and saw the very thing that startled Kaeya.
A mouse.
A cute one actually. Its beady eyes stared at them for a moment, its whiskers twitching adorably before it scurried away. Now that the “threat” was gone, he could finally breathe—
Chairs scraped against wood, and the conversation downstairs stopped abruptly. Diluc’s heart raced as he looked down at Kaeya; a wet, starry eye stared back with fear.
They needed to run.
Now.
Diluc held Kaeya's hand tightly as he ran back to the bedroom. His breaths were shallow as he dashed, and he could hear footsteps walking quickly up the stairs. Still, he pressed on, making Kaeya’s hand fasten in his sweaty grip. When they reached the bedroom, Diluc dragged Kaeya onto the bed. He was able to pull the duvet over them, but before they could lie down, the door swung open with his father and Adelinde walking in.
“What’s wrong?” Crepus asked, rushing to the bed.
“Kaeya had a nightmare,” Diluc said, the words tumbling out of his mouth as fast as his heart beat.
Kaeya sniffled, wiping the huge tears rolling down his cheeks. In an instant Crepus was sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling Kaeya into his arms. “It was just a dream,” Crepus said.
“We’re here,” Adelinde added. She stepped beside them, wiping Kaeya’s face with a handkerchief.
Together they comforted Kaeya as he settled. Then gave him kisses before tucking him into bed. Diluc blushed as they did the same for him. After well wishes of a good night and the promise that Diluc would keep Kaeya safe, they blew out the candle and left.
The room was silent, with silver rays glowing gently behind closed curtains.
“I’m sorry,” Kaeya said as he wiped his tears and sniffled.
Diluc pulled him into a tight hug. “It’s okay! We’ll try again.”
“B-but I don’t want us to get in trouble.”
“We won’t. I promise.” Diluc held out his pinky.
Kaeya blinked before intertwining his with it. It was a promise. They were going to get through this.
“Pretend to sleep. We need to wait for them to go to bed,” Diluc said.
Kaeya nodded his head. The two lay huddled together, waiting for the adults to sleep and for a chance for Diluc to set his clever plan into motion. He waited until there was no noise in the manor, and no lights seeping under the door. It was safe. At least, he hoped it was.
“Kae.” Diluc shook Kaeya as he whispered. “It’s time.”
Kaeya looked up with a wide eye; this time he gave a determined nod.
It was time for adults to sleep and for kids to play.
They slipped out of the bed, their hands held together as they shuffled out of the room. The candle was forgotten, a strategic decision on Diluc’s part. The open windows would provide enough light from the moon, and they couldn’t risk the candlelight giving away their position if one of the adults happened to awaken.
Once again, they tiptoed down the hallway, making their way to the staircase. It was just as Diluc expected. There was no noise and no lights on, but the moonlight lit the room enough that he could see each step and even the table below.
“Follow me,” Diluc said, squeezing Kaeya’s hand. “You have to make sure you copy my every step or else the stairs will creak.”
“Okay.” Kaeya nodded his head. His earlier fear seemed to have disappeared. He was locked in and ready to assist like the perfect partner in crime. Well, not crime. They were just taking cookies, really. Absolutely harmless.
Unless they got caught. Then it would be harmful and they would be punished. But they wouldn’t…
Diluc took the first step, his socks sliding silently against the wood. He made sure to stick to the left side, close to the railing. The right side was known to make a loud noise when he would run down it. As he put pressure on his foot, he waited…
And was met with silence.
He let out a shaky breath of relief and descended, leading Kaeya with confidence. Every few minutes his head would whip upstairs, worried that he would see his father or Adelinde looking down. But as they approached the bottom, his worries melted away.
They had passed the most difficult part. Down here the adults wouldn’t hear them. Just the last two steps and—
He gasped, letting go of Kaeya’s hand and bracing his own for the fall that would end their nightly escapades.
There was a quick shuffle and a thud as Kaeya landed in front of him, his arms wrapped around him, steadying him. Diluc trembled, his heart thundering in his chest as he looked up at Kaeya. It was awkward being caught in the shorter boy's arms, but at least he hadn’t fallen and made a loud noise. Still, he looked up the stairs, waiting. Minutes passed, and the room stood still.
They were safe.
Diluc stood up and gave Kaeya a proper hug. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Kaeya mumbled.
Then, they were off. With Kaeya’s hand secured in his once more, they snuck into the kitchen. His eyes scanned the room for the red jar containing the reward for their adventure. He paused as he saw it. It was on the counter… The back of the counter. There was no way they could reach it without climbing a chair! They could grab one from the kitchen table, but what if it were to scrape the floor, or if they dropped it a bit too hard? They had already made it this far without alarming the adults, but they couldn’t lose this battle to a chair!? Would they be far enough downstairs that the adults wouldn’t hear? Was it worth the risk—
Diluc tensed as he heard Kaeya yelp. The smaller boy grabbed him. He could feel Kaeya nuzzle his face into his arm, hiding as he shook. Diluc gulped before facing forward, and then he saw it.
Their former adversary.
The mouse.
It stared at them with its beady eyes, one paw raised, startled. And they stared back, frozen in place. Neither of them moved, unsure of how to proceed. They didn’t have time to lose to a mouse! Unwilling to accept a second defeat from the mouse, Diluc raised his foot, shaking it in the mouse’s direction.
“Shoo,” he said, wiggling his foot.
The mouse did not “shoo.”
Diluc scooted forward, holding Kaeya close to him. He shook his foot again. “Go away.”
The mouse did not, in fact, “go away.”
Diluc huffed, impatient with these games, and chose a more efficient route. He leaned forward. “Don’t make me get Addie.”
He would never know if it was the mention of Adelinde or the close proximity between them that caused the mouse to flee, but it scurried across the floor faster than he’d seen any mouse move before.
“It’s safe,” Diluc said.
Kaeya moved from his arm, his head shifting as he scanned the room. Once he was sure it was safe, he relaxed, taking a step back. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Diluc said, patting his head. “Let’s get those cookies.”
Kaeya nodded and then they were off, tiptoeing across the floor until they reached the counter.
Getting a chair would be too risky, so Diluc chose the more efficient option. He fell on his hands and knees. “Get on,” he whispered. He was the stronger of the two, and he trusted Kaeya to get their prize.
Kaeya didn’t hesitate. Diluc could feel his feet on his back, wobbling as he tried to get his balance and then shifting as he leaned forward. There was a loud scrape of the jar moving against the counter, and Diluc grimaced.
“Careful, Kae! You can’t be noisy.”
“I’m trying.”
He felt the feet on his back shift a few more times before the jar was slid into place. The pressure was gone as soon as Kaeya stepped off.
“Got them!” Kaeya beamed down at him, holding two cookies.
Only. Two. Cookies.
Well, it would have to do.
Diluc scrambled to his feet, holding his hand up. “Great job, Kae!”
Kaeya’s hand met his slowly for a quiet high-five. Then Diluc took his cookie and the two devoured their prize. He squirmed in place as the rich chocolate met his tongue. How could his father limit them to three cookies? He could eat so many more if he would let him. Oh well, he would just need to keep sneaking them at night, and with Kaeya by his side, they would never fail.
The cookies were gone in seconds, and Kaeya rubbed his eye as he yawned.
“So worth it, right Kae?”
Kaeya nodded his head, sleepily. “Mhm.”
Diluc’s eyes softened. It was time for his accomplice to rest and him too. Then tomorrow, he would enjoy three more cookies for dessert. He grabbed Kaeya’s hand, guiding the sleepy boy back to the safety of his room.
Diluc swung his legs on his chair as he watched Adelinde serve breakfast. There were stacks of pancakes, eggs, sausages, and so many berries. His stomach was rumbling already.
“Master Crepus,” Adelinde said, pouring grape juice for the two boys.
“Yes?” Crepus glanced up from the newspaper in his hands.
“May I request the services of an exterminator?”
Crepus’ eyebrows furrowed. “For what?”
“I found some crumbs in the kitchen this morning. It seems that the mice have become active at night.”
Crepus hummed, nodding his head and returning to his newspaper. “I’ll look into it.”
Diluc’s heart beat a little bit faster, and for once, he was happy there was an actual mouse present last night. Adelinde set down the pitcher of juice, handing a filled glass to him, and their eyes met. She gave him a smile before speaking.
“The mice made a mess, but if they asked, maybe they could have had one more cookie.”
Crepus looked up, confused. Kaeya pursed his lips, holding his fork tight. Diluc internally begged Barbatos to let this one go.
Fortunately, she did not continue and retreated to the kitchen with a laugh.
Diluc took a sip of his grape juice. Maybe he could ask next time… No, he would get Kaeya to ask. He noticed that his father and Adelinde could never say no to him. With a smile on his face, he began to demolish the stack of pancakes on his plate, looking forward to the future four cookies he would enjoy.