Cross-posted on AO3

Day 4 ALT: Identity Reveal

Diluc swore that if glared just a little harder, that the smug bastard in front of him would burst into flames. He felt his leg twitch forward, the urge to kill the man growing right that second.

Dottore laughed as he tightened his grip on Kaeya's arms, pulling them tighter behind him and earning a pained cry from Kaeya. Diluc felt his face darken further at the man's actions but dutifully remained still. The man laughed manically as he told Diluc to stay right where he was or the captain would be the one to pay the price.

Diluc could practically feel Jean's teeth grind next to him and the Traveler tense to his right. He could feel the heavy atmosphere from the other knights present, Lisa, Amber and Sucrose must have been itching to run forward, but the ladies stood their ground. Albedo had gone somewhere with Klee at Kaeya's request. The two captains had known that things were going to get ugly and didn't want Klee to be there to see it.

Diluc wished she had taught him how to make at least one of her bombs so that he could blow that smug look of the Harbinger's face. He had them right where he wanted them and he knew it.

He told everyone to drops their weapons and to step back.

Everyone seemed to hesitate until a loud clang turned their attention to Diluc. The man had dropped his claymore on the ground in front of him and was taking five steps back. Kaeya looked shocked that he was the first to follow the order and Diluc merely gave him an annoyed glare in return.

Most of the others seemed to be in disbelief too before they followed his lead, dropping their weapons and stepping back.

The man cackled again in delight, saying how happy he was with their cooperation.

Diluc only had a moment to register Kaeya's exasperated eye roll – while he was being held prisoner, really – before he shot his head backwards. There was a resounding crack and a yelp as Dottore let go of Kaeya, causing him to fall. Diluc was quick to rush forward to catch him, claymore quickly back in his hand.

The man seemed stunned for a split second before he raised his head anger shining in his eyes as his mask broke away.

Diluc heard Jean gasp behind him.

He, himself was stunned.

The man before them was none other than the ex-Inspector, Eroch. With mask gone – both metaphorically and physically – the man raved that it wasn't fair, that he had already won.

Diluc was hardly listening as rose to his feet.

This was the same man who had hid the real reason behind his father's death. The same man who had just held his brother captive and had hurt him. Diluc found himself in a state of almost terrifying calm that he had only experienced a few times in his life.

He demanded to know what a traitor wanted and what he was doing in Mondstadt.

The man merely laughed, more unhinged than before as he said that Diluc would know all about traitors since he raised one under his own roof.

Diluc felt his hackles raise as his glare worsened.

He told the man to shut his mouth and that he didn't know what he was talking about. The man gave him a smug smirk as he asked if that hadn't been the reason he had kicked Kaeya out on his birthday all those years ago, because he had found out the truth.

He went on to say that it had been Kaeya to discover he was a traitor and have him kicked out, saying that it takes a spy to know another spy.

Diluc felt himself growing angrier with every word but stopped when Kaeya began to shake next to him. When he looked at him, the captain was trying to wear a brave face but could tell that he was scared out of his mind.

At first, Diluc was confused, until he remembered that the other knights were here as well and most likely hadn't known about Kaeya's little secret. When he turned to the other knights, he noticed the mixed looks of shock and outrage. He couldn't tell if the outrage was over the audacity that someone was calling their captain a traitor or if it was because they believed him.

Amber looked the most shocked, her face nearly heartbroken. Sucrose didn't look much different herself. The Traveler's face didn't change, so Diluc guessed that they must have known already, as much of a surprise that was.

Jean looked slightly surprised but quickly shook it off as she noticed Eroch fleeing. She called for him to halt before moving to give chase, motioning for the other knights to follow her, which they were quick to do.

Diluc didn't miss how some of them gave Kaeya dirty looks as they passed.

Jean stopped briefly, telling Diluc to stay with Kaeya and take him back to headquarters and they would discuss things there.

Amber herself, spared them a sad glance as she rushed off as well.

As the knights disappeared after the ex-Inspector, Diluc looked at Kaeya again, but his head was bowed again and he was still shaking.

They both knew that things would probably go downhill from here.

A/N: The original outline was written on the 27th of January. Once again, I decided to go no dialogue. I'll try to do more stories and go back to putting dialogue in. I think it was hinted that Eroch was II Dottore, but I don't remember the theory being proven anywhere, yet. I'd like to think that it was Kaeya who figured him out and reported him. A part of him, maybe even a very large part, did it for Diluc and Crepus. I can't imagine that he would be too happy if he found out Eroch was behind the cover-up.