Cross-posted on AO3
Day 5: "Take Me Instead"
To say that Diluc was tense would be an understatement.
He was so wound up; he was surprised he hadn't flown through the roof yet. He had a headache that felt like a blacksmith had taken a hammer to his skull and his vision swam unpleasantly any time he tried to move. Careful not to move too much, Diluc turned his head to his right and looked through the bars of his cell into the one across the hall.
Kaeya was still out cold on the floor, having not woken since they had been brought here by the Fatui. He groaned in frustration as he remembered how they had been captured.
The Traveler had come to him one day and had asked to meet them at the statue under the Hero's Tree. When he had asked why, they had merely said that it was a surprise and that he wouldn't regret it. When he had met them there that afternoon, he had very much regretted showing up.
The Traveler had been sitting on the steps in front of the statue beside a certain cavalry captain. Who looked just as surprised to see him.
Without giving them much of a chance to register what was going on, Aether had stood from his place on the steps and dusted his pants off.
"Now," he started calmly, "you two are going to spend today together.
"Oh, no I'm not!" Diluc vehemently denied.
"Look, okay," the Traveler said very firmly, "I am done being a therapist. I've listened to both of your stories and it's about time you two got over yourselves and made up already."
Both of them were taken aback by the teen's forwardness, the boy who was usually so quiet and nonconfrontational talking back in such a snippy way. But their hesitance to comply was shown as they eyed each other warily.
The sight caused Aether to sigh dramatically as he walked away back towards Mondstadt.
"If you two don't do this, I'll sick Klee on you!"
By the way Kaeya winced at the threat, Diluc could guess that was something neither of them should risk happening. When he remembered how the Traveler had worded their sentence earlier before looking at Kaeya curiously.
Does that mean that Kaeya had confided in the blond that he had wanted to make up with him too?
He decided that maybe it was worth a shot to see if they were right.
Everything after that was a little fuzzy in his mind but after the initial awkwardness faded away, Diluc couldn't say that the day had actually been bad. It actually turned out surprisingly nice. Somehow, they had gone from stilted and tense to reminiscing about their childhood and even deciding to hold a friendly spar.
When they were heaving and covered in sweat they had moved to the shallow river behind the tree. It had inevitably ended in a splashing match that had ended in the two laughing like they hadn't in years.
Loudly, innocently and happily.
What happened next was a blur of activity that he could barely remember. They had run into some Fatui Skirmishers just as they left the water and an Electrohammer Vanguard had rushed them and collided with their still wet bodies.
The resulting Superconduct was enough to knock them both out.
Ever since then, Diluc has woken up multiple times since then, but each time had revealed Kaeya to still be knocked out.
Or at least Diluc hoped he was only still knocked out. The alternative was something he didn't even want to entertain.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps caught his attention.
Three of the Skirmishers from before walked up to their cells before they stopped and appeared to check on them. Diluc made it no secret that he was awake by flipping off the Skirmisher that looked into his cell since his throat felt like he had been chugging nails.
If they hadn't liked the act of rebellion, they didn't show it, moving on to Kaeya's cell.
Diluc felt something cold settle in his stomach when they opened the door and the Pyroslinger walked in, the Hydrogunner and the Electrohammer too large to follow them inside.
"Stop-," he tried to say, wanting to tell them to leave Kaeya alone, only to be interrupted by a hacking cough ravaging his dry throat. He could have sworn he felt his throat start to bleed, but he ignored it as he continued glaring at the Skirmishers.
The Hydrogunner gave him a brief glance but didn't pay any attention to him otherwise. The two Skirmishers were standing far apart from each other that Diluc could see when the Pyroslinger lifted Kaeya up and made his way back out of the cell.
Once he was outside, he handed Kaeya over to the Electrohammer and told him to carry him. The Vanguard didn't complain as he threw the captain over his shoulder that Diluc just noticed was missing the usual protective armor, probably to make carrying Kaeya easier.
Ignoring the blood starting to coat his throat, Diluc found his voice.
"Put him down!"
The Pyroslinger gave him a look before seemingly deciding to give the man a response.
"The Tsaritsa wanted the Khaenri'ahn for her own personal test subject for a new Delusion."
"Please," he pleaded, fear building in his chest. Not Kaeya. Not for something like that. "Take me instead. I've used a Delusion before; I'd be the better choice. I can take it."
While the thought of being a test rat for the Fatui made him feel physically sick, he'd rather have that happen to him than for Kaeya to suffer as he had.
The Hydrogunner merely laughed condescendingly.
"Sorry, Master," they chuckled darkly, "but the Tsaritsa was very clear that the one she wanted was the Khaenri'ahn. Someone close to the Abyss would be perfect, wouldn't you think?"
"Please," Diluc begged again. "Please, I'll do anything. Just don't take my brother."
The Pyroslinger huffed and just turned to walk away, the other two following close behind. As they walked down the hall and away from the cells, he called out one more time over his shoulder.
"Maybe you'll get lucky and the knights will find you before you die."
Diluc was left behind, screaming Kaeya's name as the Fatui took his last remaining family away.
A/N: the draft was originally written on the 27th of January. I actually wrote this on the right day, but I still have to wait until at least the 9th before I can upload it. I hope I can finish all of them.