Thanks for giving this little fic a shot!
I do not own Genshin Impact.
Diluc awoke on the back of a horse. Or, to be more accurate, he awoke slung over the back of a horse like a piece of luggage. His wrists and ankles were bound to the saddle straps, stretching him over the back side of the animal in such a way that its rump dug into his ribs and stomach. If he concentrated, he could feel other bags tied over the top of him. Between those and the blanket around him, Diluc imagined that he was probably completely obstructed from view. He blinked in the semi-darkness as sweat rolled down his forehead and into his eyes. The air under the woolen blanket was hot and humid; with that, the movement of the horse, the gag in his mouth, and the bruise growing at his temple, Diluc was beginning to feel sick. He groaned and squirmed, earning himself a not-so-gentle kick from the booted foot near his head.
"None of that, now," chastised the Khaenri'ahn man. "The last time I checked, luggage didn't move or complain."
Diluc grumbled and struggled some more, this time causing one of the bags on top of him to shift.
The man kicked him again. "I can do this all day. I was going to stop and rest the horse in a few miles, but if you keep this up, I have no problem riding until nightfall."
Diluc considered the warning carefully. Judging by the soreness in his ribs, arms, and legs, he guessed that they had already been traveling for a couple of hours, though he didn't remember leaving his apartment in Liyue Harbor. He imagined that the throbbing pain in his temple probably had something to do with that. That meant it was likely midmorning. Diluc doubted that he would be able to make it until nightfall tied and positioned as he was. He closed his eyes and, with a soft huff, let his body go as limp as he could, throwing all of his concentration into not vomiting into the gag between his teeth.
"Good boy."
Diluc scowled at the praise, lamenting the fact that he had to have been caught by someone with such an insufferable personality. For the next hour, he distracted himself from his discomfort by picturing all of the ways that the Khaenri'ahn could meet an untimely end. His captor suffered innumerable painful fates, including drowning in Liyue Harbor and being cooked alive in an impossibly huge wok at Wanmin Restaurant. Diluc knew that he needed to focus on escaping somehow, but he hoped that he would get a chance to return at least some of the physical discomfort he had been dealt.
It began to rain shortly before the Khaenri'ahn decided to stop. Diluc could hear the heavy drops strike the thick blanket that enveloped him and the horse's hooves squelch as they dug into the softening ground. The rain picked up as they traveled until it became a dull roar to Diluc's ears, the sound unchanged even when his captor took them under some sort of shelter. Diluc breathed a sigh of relief when he felt the horse finally stop and the Khaenri'ahn dismount. He forced himself to remain still despite the soreness in his wrists, ankles, and ribs, hoping to avoid any additional punishment as his captor unloaded the bags that had been piled on top of him and pulled off the blanket.
"How are you feeling, Your Highness?" asked the man, moving around to stand in front of him. He reached out and grabbed Diluc's chin, forcing him to lift his head. "I hope the travel accommodations have been up to your royal standards."
Diluc scowled at him, earning a satisfied smirk from the Khaenri'ahn.
"I'm so glad to be of service to one such as yourself." He patted his cheek. "I'm going to let you down so the horse can rest. He isn't used to carrying so much extra weight. You'll behave, if you know what's good for you."
The Khaenri'ahn finally let go of Diluc's face and bent to loose his wrists from the saddle, leaving them bound together, and then moved back around the horse to untie his ankles, freeing them completely. Then he pulled Diluc down from the horse, holding his waist in a firm grip as his captive found his balance. The world reeled around Diluc for a moment as he finally stood upright after hours spent slumped over the back of the horse. He instinctively leaned back against the chest of his captor to steady himself as he blinked to clear the black spots from his vision.
"What's this?" the man practically purred in Diluc's ear, his grip tightening on his hips. "I hadn't realized we had grown so close, Your Highness. Is there something you wanted to tell me? Perhaps there's a marriage in our future?"
Diluc growled, his rage finally boiling over as he felt the Khaenri'ahn slide a hand up under his shirt. He allowed his captor to get as far as his ribs before he made his move. In a rapid motion, he jerked his head back, feeling the briefest flash of satisfaction as his skull connected with his captor's nose with a loud crack. The man's grip on his hips loosened, allowing Diluc to twist and ram his elbow into his stomach. As the man stumbled backwards, he spun and delivered a swift kick to his ribs, knocking him backwards into the tall grass. Without a second of hesitation, Diluc turned and darted out of the natural shelter and into the rain.
The weather was far worse than Diluc had anticipated. Rain pelted him from every direction, soaking his hair and clothes in a matter of seconds and stinging his eyes. His shoes slipped on the slick grass as he ran, making it that much more difficult to put a decent amount of distance between himself and his captor. Diluc ran until his lungs screamed and his legs burned. He finally stopped when he spotted a rocky overhang that was partially hidden by bushes. Ducking under it, Diluc moved as far behind the bushes as he could, leaning against the rock for support as he caught his breath.
Reaching up, he pulled the gag from his mouth with some difficulty. The Khaenri'ahn had tied the rolled fabric tightly around his head and the rain had made the knot impossible to loosen. Instead, Diluc had to wedge his fingers under it and work it down his chin until the entire thing settled around his neck. When he'd done so, he closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, waiting for his heart to slow before he planned his next move.
He wasn't entirely sure where he was, though judging by the rocky terrain and tall grass, he guessed that his captor had taken him into the stony hills to the north of Liyue Harbor. He imagined that the man had intended to follow the road that led through the Guili Plains up to the Stone Gate and into Mondstadt. It was the safest and fastest path to take, even if it wasn't the most direct. Diluc had made the exact same journey in reverse four years ago after the Tsaritsa had taken his father's throne. He cursed under his breath as buried memories resurfaced. Now was not the time to dwell on the horrors of his past.
Diluc scrubbed his hands over his face, noting how dark ink stained his skin when he pulled them away. With all of the rain and no real protection, his hair would be nearly back to its natural color by the time he reached Liyue Harbor. It would be impossible to blend in with the population of the city. He would need to find something to cover himself and then beg or steal the necessary Mora to buy more ink. He stared down at the ink on his hands, watching as it rolled over his palms only to be caught by the rope that bound his wrists together. He scowled. He could deal with fixing his disguise later. Completely freeing himself and escaping the man that hunted him were much more urgent issues.
Unfortunately, the very rain that the city had been celebrating the night of his capture was showing no signs of letting up. It fell in heavy sheets, obstructing Diluc's view of the landscape and making it difficult to tell which direction he was facing. The last thing he needed was to end up lost in the hills. He sighed and looked down at his feet. His only option was to wait and hope that the Khaenri'ahn wouldn't find him.
Almost as if the mere thought had summoned him, Diluc caught sight of the man through the rain. He crouched lower behind the bushes and watched as his captor searched for him. The Khaenri'ahn had remounted his horse, but had apparently left his other luggage behind. He carefully directed the animal through the tall grass, ensuring that it didn't slip on the uneven ground. In his hurry to catch Diluc, he hadn't bothered to protect himself from the rain. His turquoise hair was plastered to his face and neck, the longer strands in the back tangling in the fur trim that lined his cape. Even in the heavy rain, Diluc could see the irritated frown on the man's face as he looked for signs of his prey.
"I know you're here, Your Highness," the man called, standing in his stirrups to get a better view of the terrain. "Come out now and I'll consider forgiving you."
Diluc kept his eyes trained on the Khaenri'ahn as he crept farther back into his hiding place. He was so focused on his pursuer that he failed to notice the fallen twigs underfoot until he stepped on one, breaking it with a loud snap. Diluc winced just as the man's head whipped around to look directly at him.
"There you are, little prince," he sneered. He turned his horse and spurned it into a gallop, drawing his sword as he bore down on his captive.
Diluc cursed. He had no doubt that the man had the skill to ride him down without killing him. He needed to time his escape properly if he was going to get away unscathed. He waited until the horse was nearly on top of him and then darted out of the bushes, yelling his best battle cry as he ran and startling the animal into rearing up. He heard the Khaenri'ahn swear loudly as he sprinted past him, choosing this time to run downhill. Even if he was going in the wrong direction, he would be far more likely to find a decent hiding place-or someone to help him-at a lower elevation. Diluc ran blindly, striding out as far as his legs could stretch in his attempt to outpace the horse. He silently prayed to all seven archons that he would find a hiding place before his captor caught up to him again, though the rain made it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead of him.
All too soon, he was able to pick out the sound of hooves over the din of the storm. He hazarded a quick glance over his shoulder and found the Khaenri'ahn rapidly closing the gap between them. Panic made his heart race, his eyes widening as he saw the man raise his sword. Just as he was within striking distance, Diluc felt his foot slip in a hole hidden in the wet grass and suddenly there was nothing but air beneath him. He heard the woosh of the man's blade as it passed over his head before his pursuer disappeared completely from view as he fell through the hole. Diluc didn't even have time to scream before he struck a stone pillar and bounced off of it, tumbling another fifteen feet before landing hard on his side in a shallow pool of water.
Diluc groaned, coughing to expel water from his nose and mouth as he sat up. His elbow, ribs, and hip throbbed where they had struck first the pillar and then the ground. He looked up, noting with a small frown that he'd fallen into a hidden cavern. Rain continued to fall through the hole above him, causing the ink in his hair to drip down his face and neck and swirl in the shallow pool of water he'd landed in. With a soft grunt, he struggled to his feet, the slippers of his Wanmin Restaurant uniform sliding on the slick bottom of the cave pool. As he stood, he glanced around his new hiding place. The crumbling remains of some sort of temple or altar surrounded him. Diluc thought he could recognize some architectural elements from a history book he had read as a child, but he didn't have much time to dwell on it. The moment that he straightened to his full height, he caught sight of a small group of hilichurls that were struggling to build a fire in the damp cave. The monsters saw him just as he noticed them and dropped their wood and flint to pick up their weapons.
"Shit!" Diluc cursed under his breath as he took a shuffling step back.
He looked frantically around for an escape route as the hilichurls advanced. He had received combat training in his youth, but with his wrists still bound in front of him and without a weapon of any kind, he stood little chance against the monsters. Unfortunately, the only path out of the cave seemed to be behind the beasts and they were closing in.
Diluc took another step back, stopping when the backs of his legs bumped into the stone edge of the broken pillar. One of the hilichurls leapt over a massive stone tablet while the other three skirted around the sides to box him in. Diluc gritted his teeth, his body tensing as he prepared to either fight or flee.
Suddenly, the water in front of him exploded with the impact of another body. Diluc barely made out a blur of silver fur and turquoise hair before the water flash froze, trapping his legs and those of the hilichurls in an instant. The Khaenri'ahn slowly stood, his entire being radiating cold hatred as he stared down the monsters.
"Yield now and I'll let you live," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.
The closest hilichurl growled and swung a spiked club at the man, which he easily dodged, the displaced air from the weapon's movement ruffling his wet hair.
"Very well, then."
With a powerful swing of his sword, the Khaenri'ahn wrent the unfortunate hilichurl in two, splitting it from clavicle to hip. The other three monsters screamed for the briefest moment before he dispatched them with another quick swipe that opened all of their throats. Diluc watched with a mixture of awe and horror as the monsters fell, more of the Khaenri'ahn's ice growing to cover their bodies. Then the man sheathed his sword and spun on him, taking advantage of the ice that still trapped Diluc's legs to overpower him and pin him to the pillar with a forearm to his throat.
"Are you quite done running now, Your Highness?" the Khaenri'ahn growled.
Diluc carefully considered his response, finally settling for a hateful glare. "You could just let me go."
The man sneered. "Oh?"
"I have no intention of going to Mondstadt. I've never been interested in ruling," Diluc explained, well aware of the ice that was slowly creeping up his legs. "Let me go and your Tsaritsa will never have to worry about me returning. I swear it."
"You assume she's my Tsaritsa." The arm on Diluc's neck pressed closer. "I swear no allegiance to the woman."
"I'll pay you."
The Khaenri'ahn snorted. "With what? Those measly 500 Mora you had hidden in that purse?" He patted a small bag that hung from his belt. "They're already mine. And that sum doesn't even come close to what I'll get when I deliver you to the Tsaritsa. I have a hell of a lot of debts to pay and you'll cover all of them."
"Listen, I-"
"No, you listen," snarled the man, moving closer. "I intend to collect your bounty. The conditions only stipulate that you are alive; they say nothing about you being unspoiled. I will break you in any way that I need to in order to finish this job..."
Diluc felt the Khaenri'ahn's other hand press between his legs.
"...and I mean any way. Am I clear?"
Diluc swallowed and nodded.
"Good." The Khaenri'ahn backed away.
Diluc watched silently as the ice, which had made it halfway up his torso, broke apart and fell away. As the man willed away the ice, Diluc looked for any sign of a Vision, but found none. He mused that it must be hidden away, frowning to himself as the Khaenri'ahn attached another length of rope to what bound his wrists and gave him a firm tug.
"Come along, then."
Diluc trudged after him, limping slightly as he waded through the cold water. When they emerged from the cave, he found that the rain had finally let up, allowing for layers of fog to gather over the humid hills. With the rain gone, Diluc was able to get a better sense of his surroundings. He looked around, noting that the skyline of Liyue Harbor was visible in the direction he had been heading when he'd fallen. He sighed. He'd been so close. Then he felt another tug on his wrists.
"Hey, Your Highness, I forgot to tell you…"
Diluc turned to look back at the Khaenri'ahn just in time to take a fierce punch directly to the face.
"...don't ever strike me again," said the man, his words dripping with malice, "or I will make you regret it."
Diluc only glared at him, pressing his hands against his nose and mouth to stifle the blood.
The Khaenri'ahn smirked. "Good boy."
He walked the rest of the way to where his horse was waiting, contentedly grazing on the tall grass. The man tied the end of the rope to his saddle and then mounted it, giving the rope another tug and sneering as it made Diluc stumble forward a few steps.
"You walk from here."
Diluc didn't answer, too distracted by the blood that dripped from his nose and filled his mouth. He gave one last glance at the outline of Liyue Harbor in the fog behind him before the movement of the horse forced him forward. His escape attempt had been painfully close to success, but still a failure. And he doubted that the next one would be nearly so easily won.
That's chapter 2! What did you think? I would love to read your thoughts! Also, if you have any suggestions for the name of Kaeya's horse, feel free to tell me. I'm honestly stumped on this one.