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Barbara usually loves the quiet of the Mondstadt Cathedral, but tonight the silence feels... heavier.
It's been a long day of listening to the prayers and worries of the citizens, fulfilling her duties as both the Deaconess and the shining idol of the city is actually quite tiresome.
She retreats to a small bench hidden in the back alley of the cathedral, finally out from the public eye.
Just as she lets out a soft sigh and buries her face in her hands, the sound of light footsteps approaches.
Luckily, a familiar shadow falls over her.
"Working late again, I see."
Dahlia's voice greets her, low and calm. She looks up to find him standing there with his usual composed expression, yet there's always a hint of something else she can't really put into words.
In his hands, he holds a steaming mug of herbal tea. Without a word Dahlia sits down beside her and hands her the cup.
As the warmth reaches her fingertips, the tension in Barbara’s shoulders finally begins to ease.
"Thank you, Dahlia. You always seem to appear exactly when I need you most. Kind of like a guardian angel, haha"
"Well, managing the cathedral’s efficiency is my duty. And... keeping an eye on the Deaconess's well-being falls under that too, pretty much."
Dahlia replies bluntly, as he always does, but his gaze linger on the tired lines around her eyes.
"Sometimes... carrying everyone's expectations gets a little exhausting." Barbara whispers, tracing the rim of her teacup. He is the only person in the world with whom she can drop her bright idol persona and show her vulnerability.
Dahlia falls silent for a moment, but reaches out and gently tucks a stray part of her hair behind her ear. Of course, this bold gesture out of nowhere causes Barbara’s heart skip a beat, her eyes widen instantly.
"Barbara, you don't have to burn yourself out to shine bright enough. Whenever you find yourself in the dark, just know I'll be the one to stay by your side"
His direct yet profoundly sincere words make her face flush warm, she realizes he might have crossed the unspoken line of "just colleagues"
Dahlia’s hand trembles ever so slightly as he pulls back to hold his own cup.
"Dahlia, you're... not acting like yourself." Barbara stutters a bit, her mind is doing cartwheels just trying to process why he did what he did, leaning in so close just to fix her hair?
"Oh really? Hm, what makes you so sure, pigtails..." Dahlia replies, his voice dropping a subtle note. "I've always felt this way with you, Barbara. I just... never had a chance to act on it"
Barbara's expression shifts into that of someone who saw a ghost, her breath catching. Dahlia presses his gloved fingers against the wall beside her, his head tilting in the way that surely means a kiss.
Barbara is stunned, perplexed even, the room spinning around her. She can hardly even process the confession echoing in her ears, until hollow steps from the hallway put their moment on hold.
"Finally, somewhere private I can slack off... that nun lady was talkin' my ear off about 'the sins of over-indulgence'~ psh." A male voice appears to be relieved, his boots creaking the floors as he relaxing against a column with crossed legs.
Dahlia and Barbara are stuck in this rather... intimate position. If anyone in or outside the church sees them like this, they will surely be banished. Or at least that's what they fear would happen.
Before Barbara's panic instincts kick in, Dahlia manages to move a hand over her mouth to keep them both from being caught.
From the edge of the doorframe that, by some miracle, conceals them both, Dahlia's sharp vision notices the faint outline of a certain knights captain.
Dahlia raises a finger with a silent "shh" to Barbara as they realize it's Kaeya, their gazes locked on eachother.
"Damn, it's already midnight" Kaeya grunts, adjusting his eyepatch. "I was promised wine, where is that rebellious lady..."
The two deacons heart rates beat faster as they hear his footsteps moving toward them in front of the door. And the horror of a hand clasping the edge of the doorframe causes Barbara to jump, Dahlia presses closer to the wall to shield her unconsciously.
They can only hear the ragged breathing of Kaeya from behind the door, but another voice echoes through the hallway.
"Looky who it is, I didn't keep you waiting did I?"
Barbara and Dahlia recognize this smooth velvety voice as Rosaria, but at this point they're too distracted from breathing the same air that they can hardly look each other in the eye anymore.
Kaeya's demeanor instantly changes when Rosaria walks up, "Rosie... you came." A hint of softness shows him through despite his crooked stance.
"Yeah, it's me you big dummy~ C'mon let's grab a drink, this place sucks." She huffs a cloud of smoke, her shoes clicking as she meets him face to face.
Kaeya lifts up his belt, grinning. "After you, ma'am, ya know I could never turn down a fun time with the most beautiful rose in the gard'n.."
The two start walking hand in hand, and Kaeya's leg kicks the door closed. Barbara lets out a quiet "phew" in relief.
Despite them being barged in on at an unfavorable moment, and whatever that interaction was, it's only the least of Barbara's worries at this point... Dahlia is pressed completely against her on the wall...!!
Barbara struggles to stay cool, her face is flushed from a mix of embarrassment and overwhelm from their proximity.
"They're gone..." Dahlia says carefully, he moves back in an instant to ensure she does not overheat and die.
"I know, that was a really bad idea... you can give me a work punishment if you want." He sighs, shaking his head gently.
Barbara blinks once, she barely manages to utter out a few words to tell him otherwise.
"N-No! No need... for that. It was just a simple accident... happens all the time!" Her eye twitches while trying to give her most unfazed smile.
"No, really, I apologize miss Barbara... I really shouldn't have entered your personal space like that in the first place." He insists with serious guilt. "I have committed a great sin, fraternizing with a fellow church member... confessing to personal feelings..."
His resolve weakens as he speaks, the look in his eyes makes it absolutely impossible for her to not interrupt him this instant.
"Dahlia!" She stops him, grabbing his face.
"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself.. why don't you give yourself a break!!" Her voice strains a little, and Dahlia stares at her with a wide gaze.
"You're always so caring and supportive to me... but when it comes to your own mistakes you can never forgive yourself."
His eyes widen as he listens to her, it's true that one of his most vulnerable flaws is the need for perfection and efficiency.
"Your feelings... Dahlia, I feel the same way too." She holds his hands a little tighter.
"Maybe... it's not so wrong of us to fall in love. Because it isn't just a choice, it's... a song that plays inside us when our heartstrings are strummed by someone's pure self."
"Barbara... that is really, the loveliest advice I've ever heard." Dahlia praises softly, his thumbs brushing over their laced hands.
"Are you sure you aren't the true messenger of barbatos~? You got some pretty wise words in that cute head of yours." He hums, a bite of playfulness returning now that her words brought him peace.
Barbara laughs a little, her own smile returning. "You're always so bright, Dahlia..."
"Well, it's easy to shine when you're the star lighting up my life." He jokes, hinting with a little nudge at her shoulder.
They share gazes, and giggle together, the kind of laughter made by inseparable best friends.
"I got so nervous when you leaned to me, I couldn't even think of what to do..." Barbara expresses, her tone is completely honest now.
"And I was freaking out internally when we were hiding so close together.." Dahlia adds.
"We may not be the perfect deacons, but I think we would be even worse thieves..." Barbara whispers jokingly.
Dahlia grins, "Haha, that's not entirely true Barbara, you already successfully stole my heart~"
Barbara smiles, laughing with him.
"Next time, we'll go somewhere with no more interruptions!"