DainYa - your favorite

Kaeya was leaning on a wall, chatting with half-brother Diluc, enjoying the family reunion. Every six years, their big, mix-matched family met up to catch up. And there was a lot of them. In fact, this year the Mondstadt family had to rent a massive hall to fit all of its members, as babies were born in those six years. Lots of babies.

Last time that Kaeya has seen all of his aunts, uncles and cousins, he'd been sixteen. Diluc was still in his nerd stage, wearing t-shirts with hero symbols on it. Now everyone was all grown up; Diluc wore business clothes and was totally in love with his husband Venti, and had an adorable baby girl. Jean and Lisa are married. Albedo finally got his degree on the first try. Rosaria… well, Rosaria was still into the gothic lifestyle big time, and her shop was doing better than ever.

And Kaeya? From the hyper-active, weird, short kid, he grew into a slightly hyper-active, anti-social, taller guy. He didn't know what to do with his life, he's in Uni, but he didn't know where to go with it. Diluc walked off to say hello to his brother-in-law, Zhongli, and Kaeya was left alone, sipping on his drink and watching the people around the hall.

And then he saw him; the tall, gorgeous blonde, talking easily with his father. Kaeya's drink almost slipped out of his hand as his heartbeat picked up.

He desperately wracked his brain for answers. Who was that guy?! Has Kaeya met him before?! What if they were first cousins or something… Kaeya prayed that they weren't, because he really, really wasn't into incest. Not that the blonde would ever look at him, it's not like Kaeya stood out from the crowd of rowdy relatives. He was just another Mondstadt boy.

Kaeya watched the blonde from over the rim of his glass, and then realized that the guy had finished talking with his dad and was walking towards him.

No! Not towards you, you nitwit, Kaeya scolded himself, he's coming over to the refreshments table! Just look away and act casual, and for god's sake, stop blushing!

Kaeya looked away and took a sip of his drink. Lemonade, he thought. He hated lemonade. Kaeya turned away from the refreshments table slightly, trying to find someone he could strike up a conversation with, but there was no-one close enough. The blonde was walking over casually. If Kaeya left now it would look weird, and…

"Hi." The blonde said, completely ignoring the table next to Kaeya. The bluenette's brain quickly supplied him with answers to the simple question, and he willed himself to not panic.

"Hi," he said, and he hoped he sounded casual.

"Have we met?" the blonde inquired. He stood directly in front of Kaeya, blocking the other's view of the hall. "Are we like related or something?"

"I hope not," Kaeya said quickly, and then smacked himself mentally, "I'm one of Crepus' sons," he continued, and set his drink down on the table. He extended his hand towards the blonde, "Kaeya Alberich at your service."

The blonde's eyes widened, and he ignored the other man's outstretched hand.

"Kaeya?!"

"Er, yeah?" Kaeya offered helpfully, hand falling back down to his side. The blonde laughed,

"Oh gods," he said, "wow, you really changed," he stopped laughing, but was still grinning. "You don't remember me?"

"No…" Kaeya trailed off. Something nagged at his brain. He narrowed his eyes at the blonde, and suddenly it hit him. "Dainslief?!"

Kaeya remembered that annoying, always-better-than-him blonde kid, who'd been seventeen last time they met. Kaeya hated Dainslief because the other boy was taller, stronger and better at school. His grades were amazing and his hair and clothes were always perfect. Kaeya was always compared to him; Kaeya, look at Dainslief! Look how nicely his shirt is tucked in! And you! You have ketchup on yours, go change at once! Or Look at Dainslief, so well behaved at school. You should take notes Kaeya, and maybe not give your teachers a hard time for once.

But that was six years ago and now Dainslief was twenty three and damn.

"Yup," the blonde was grinning, "I didn't recognize you."

"I didn't change that much," Kaeya said, still dumbstruck, "you on the other hand…" his eyes swiped over Dainslief's body before Kaeya could stop himself. Holy shit those muscles though…" Dainslief smiled again.

"You kind of did," he said, "anyway, it's really great to see you. What have you been up to? Still getting into trouble?"

"Trouble? Me?" Kaeya snorted, "never," he grinned, "actually I'm in my second year of Uni. I study Law Enforcement."

"Oh," Dainslief looked surprised, "like Rosaria?"

Kaeya fought the wince. Of course, he wasn't the first to do anything in his family. His dad and grandfather both studied in Law Enforcement, so did Jean and Rosaria. He wasn't even the first homosexual in his family! That honor went to Diluc and Jean. And Dainslief. Shit.

"So what about you?" Kaeya asked quickly, trying to not get his hopes up, "what have you been doing?"

"A bit here, a bit there," Dainslief shrugged, "I travelled for a year; went to Celestia and Fontaine. I'm on my way to become an archaeologist."

"Wow, awesome dude," Kaeya grinned, "any girlfriends on the horizon?"

"Well there was Lumine," Dainslief said. He leaned on the wall next to Kaeya, "but we didn't really work out. What about you? Any boyfriends?" the blonde teased.

"Yes plenty!" Kaeya lied, "after all, who could resist the amazing Kaeya Alberich!"

"Who indeed," Dainslief agreed, growing a bit more serious. Kaeya felt a blush rising in his cheeks.

"A-Anyway," he stuttered, "I need to go talk to Venti… I'll catch you later!" and before Dainslief could reply, Kaeya was off, running into the crowd. He hid in the bathroom because he was a responsible-ass adult.

He saw Dainslief again about two hours later when the barbeque began. He was munching on a medium-rare steak, minding his own business as well as four of his cousins' kids, when the blonde pushed his way through the crowd towards him. Kaeya began to panic. Dainslief probably didn't know that Kaeya was starting to get a massive crush on him, which was awkward, and what would be more awkward was if Kaeya suddenly sported a hard on.

"Oh! Dainslief!" he exclaimed, abandoning his half-eaten steak, "mind the kids for me, please?"

"But…" Dainslief frowned, "where are you going?"

"I need to… get something off Sucrose!" Kaeya called, already sprinting away.

It was midnight and the real party started. Everyone with kids, or over thirty five had said their goodbyes and left the hall. Now, loud music was thumping through the walls, as all the teenagers and young adults partied. Lisa was taking shots with Rosaria, Mona and Fischl were dancing in the middle of the dance floor, with two-dozen cousins and siblings and significant others around them. Venti and about four of his friends were playing a prank on Bennett and his boyfriend, who were passed out drunk on the couch. Diluc was smashed, arguing with Zhongli about something or other. Barbara was mixing something into the punch with Aether, Lumine, and Hu Tao. And Kaeya was standing in a shaded corner, by himself, chugging down vodka like it was water. And then Dainslief came over.

"What's up Kaeya?" he asked, grinning, completely sober.

"Oh my gods," Kaeya said with a stupid grin on his face, "This stuffs so goooood," he held up the bottle, stumbled and hiccupped.

"Woah, you alright there?" Dainslief frowned, gently taking the bottle from Kaeya. "Where were you all day?"

"I was avoiding you," Kaeya admitted, eyes half lidded. His hand shot out and grabbed a fistful of Dainslief's shirt as he tried to steady himself.

"Why were you avoiding me?" Dainslief asked, casually placing a hand on Kaeya's waist, in case the boy fell over.

"Your hands warm," Kaeya mumbled, his gaze unfocused.

"You need to sit down," Dainslief ordered.

"Noo!" Kaeya whined,

"I should take you home," Dainslief sighed.

"I wouldn't mind going home with you," Kaeya grinned lazily. Dainslief flushed as the other man snuggled into his chest. Uncertainly, the blonde put his arms around Kaeya.

"Are you feeling okay, Kaeya?" Dainslief asked.

"Hmm," Kaeya hummed, "never been better."

"Kaeya, come on," Dainslief said urgently, "you're drunk."

"No 'm not," Kaeya disagreed, throwing his arms around Dainslief's neck. Their faces were inches apart, and even in the near-darkness, Dainslief could see Kaeya's dilated pupils. Dainslief really wanted to kiss him, but he knew he shouldn't. Kaeya was drunk. "Do you like me?" Kaeya asked suddenly, a crease appearing between his eyebrows. Dainslief wanted to smooth the line away but he was currently busy with an armful of drunk Alberich.

"Of course I like you," Dainslief said.

"Sometimes I hate this family," Kaeya grumbled.

"What? Why?" Dainslief asked, "I think they're great."

Kaeya rolled his eyes really hard and it looked like it hurt.

"Well yeah," he said, "for you. 'Cuz you're like one of a kind."

"What do you mean?" Dainslief pestered. Kaeya's hands were playing with his blonde hair.

"Your Aunt's favorite, y'know," Kaeya slurred, "and my dad's. I'm nobody's favorite," Kaeya pouted.

"Your my favorite," Dainslief offered.

"Liar."

"You're drunk, Kaeya. You need to sleep." Dainslief wrapped an arm around Kaeya's waist and started leading him out.

"Can you give me a kiss?" Kaeya mumbled, nuzzling Dainslief's neck.

"Maybe when you're sober," Dainslief said, burning red. Kaeya smiled, satisfied,

"Okay."