Sometimes, all it needs is for two people to talk it out.
"The guy just doesn't know when to quit huh?"
Paimon's remark merely went past Diluc's ears as he finished staring at the door that Kaeya had just left from, idly wondering on whether or not the cavalry captain would keep his promise of not exposing his so-called "Darknight Hero" persona, only to mentally scold himself and move on to other issues.
Like the searing pain that's currently plaguing his right arm.
Probably just a slight bruise, I can handle it later.
"Anything else that we should look into, Diluc?" Aether's voice brought him out of his thoughts, which said traveller seemed to just notice, "Diluc? You good?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes, pardon me for dozing off." He quickly masked his discomfort and hid his injured arm away. "It's been a long day for the two of you. Why don't you both head out? You should get some well-earned rest."
"You've had a long day too, Master Diluc." Paimon tilted her head in curiosity, "Are you sure you're okay? Paimon thinks you deserve some well-earned rest just as we do."
Diluc raised a dismissive hand, "I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine." He then gestured towards the rest of the tavern with one hand, while the other busied itself with a stray glass, "I still have to oversee closing time. Since we've cleared it off for the day, there won't be any more customers coming round."
The two were about argue back when they suddenly hear a voice coming from behind them.
"Really? That's shame… I was looking forward to some of Angel Share's finest wine, especially after such a chaotic day."
Aether and Paimon turned towards the direction of the voice, while Diluc didn't even need to look up from his distraction glass to know who it is.
"Master Jean? What are you doing here?" Paimon exclaimed. Aether merely stood back and appraised her, wondering why she wasn't out there overseeing the clean up like she would usually do.
"Just making my rounds, Paimon. It was quite a ruckus that those slimes made, but I take it that everything's fine around here?" Was all she said. Aether however, noticed her worried gaze on a certain redhead that's currently distracting himself from the conversation.
Aether decided to clue her in discreetly, carefully hiding his gestures from both Diluc and Paimon, just to smooth things over.
"Oh, we're both just peachy…" Aether replied with a slightly exaggerated tone.
Jean was about to question said tone when she noticed his hand pointing cautiously towards the man behind them, and that was all that she needed in order to understand what she had to do next.
"Well then, that is good to hear." Jean proceeded to place a hand above her chest, a smile in tow, "As the Acting Grand Master, I thank you both for what you have done for Mondstadt. You two must be exhausted. Go get some rest, I can handle it from here."
"You got it Master Jean!" Paimon replied enthusiastically, before backtracking on her sentence, "Wait, handle what exactly? Paimon doesn't remember-."
"Whoops, would you look at the time!" Aether suddenly yelped, making his way towards the door, "We best be on our way. Come on emergency food, I don't want us to sleep in too much tomorrow!"
"Wait- who are you calling emergency food!?" Paimon shouted back as Aether snuck a thumbs up towards Jean, who smiled and nodded in kind, signifying that she got his message as the pair went through the door and promptly shut it. Leaving Jean to appraise the challenge that she was about to tackle.
She took him in. Observing how he gently wipes the glasses that was just randomly lying around his bar. She can tell that he was in obvious discomfort, physically at least, specifically in accordance with the guarded movements he's been making to his right arm. Emotionally however, she wouldn't know, and a part of her regrets the fact that he no longer felt comfortable enough to voice those discomforts to her.
Not that she could blame him. Ever since Eruch ordered him to hide the truth about his father's death, his trust within the Knights of Favonius had been shattered. Now, with herself practically in the helm of it, that sense of distrust had inevitably fallen to her as well, regardless of the number of times where he had stated otherwise.
Hence her surprise when she found a note on her desk that simply said:
Tavern, closing time.
Arriving at the tavern, she had an inkling that his invitation would have something to do with the newly arrived Traveller that had been making a name for himself over the past couple of days. An interesting figure she had initially presumed, yet she hadn't quite known how much of an understatement that would've become.
Battling Dvalin hadn't been something that she could've imaginef of ever doing, yet with Barbatos himself helping them, along with Aether's mysterious abilities, the issue had been resolved with minimal damage and with an outcome that was probably the best for Mondstadt.
The sound of the tavern door closing brought her wandering mind back to the present, where she realized that the patrons of the bar had begun to thin itself. Which she took as an indication to get moving with her task in hand.
A part of her had suspicions of what the Master of the Dawn Winery had been up to during his evening busyness, and while one would assume that it'll be logical for him to be tending to his tavern, rumours of a certain vigilante that had been running amok in Mondstadt caused her to think otherwise.
Her presence there, was to try and confirm her suspicions in the first place, only to find it to be unnecessary as she spotted Kaeya walking out of the premise with a smirk that even she had to cringe at. Regardless of the fact that he'd seen him sporting that same exact expression countless of times.
She was still lost within her mind, trying to carefully construct her sentences to push towards the topic of interest.
Diluc, however, was way ahead of her.
"So, what is it that the Knights of Favonius have to handle that's so important, that the Acting Grand Master herself had to come down and check?"
Caught off guard by his distinguished wit, she staggered internally but recovered on time before she could give off any visible reaction.
"Like I said, I'm just making my rounds." She glanced sharply towards his right arm, which he took notice of immediately, "And I'm making sure that a certain someone hadn't hurt himself while playing hero all alone, especially after he made it look like he was done playing that game."
Diluc merely scoffed, not willing to give up that easily. "Well… whoever he is, he should probably stop playing such useless games and just focus on achieving the real deal."
Jean groaned with a roll of her eyes and steeled her resolve. If she's unable to coerce an explanation gently, then she might as well go all in.
"You're incorrigible." She argued, leaning on the counter.
"And you're persistent." He shot back, and he was about to mimic her leaning stance before wincing as the pain in his right arm bursts off as soon as he applied a bit of pressure on it.
That was the last amount of reassurance that Jean needed to stop the charades.
"And I won't stop being so, until I get to the bottom of this." She almost growled back at him, which surprised the young Ragnvindr, before she looked towards the other corner of the tavern, "Charles! Take over for now. The Master and I have a bit of catching up to do."
Charles himself had been wondering on when the Gunnhildr will make her move. Throughout his time of knowing the Diluc, only Jean had been the one to have been able to force the young master to move slightly more to her will rather than his own, which Charles himself had relied on many times to make sure Diluc gets the proper attention that he needs.
"Will do, ma'am!"
Diluc sighed in exasperation, "Look Jean," his formalities dropping as he tried to reason with her in a much more open manner, "There really is nothing-,"
"I'll be the judge of that." She interjected, her next sentence whispered furiously, "Windrise. Five minutes. You know the place." Was all she said as she turned towards the door and left the premise. Leaving an astounded Diluc and what's left of his people from the winery, snickering at the rare instance of their ever-graceful master getting silenced through sheer fierceness, not that it was undeserved.
Not wanting to let his people have the last laugh, he cleared his throat and made his way to the door, opening it slightly and then turning to their direction.
"Enjoy your amusement while it lasts." He started, some of the snickering slowly fading away, "Knowing her, when she's done with me, she'd go for those who allowed me to do all this in the first place."
And with that, the snickering came to a sudden halt. Satisfied that his point was taken, he promptly left the tavern to let his people ponder on their fate.
A bit over five minutes later, he came upon the small steps leading to Windrise's statue of the seven. He spotted Jean with her back against him as she kept both of her hands on her sword that's been planted on the ground.
Easing himself beside her, he looked at her to see that she had her eyes closed, and she didn't say much of a greeting as she felt the wind gently caressing their surroundings.
"You're late."
"Pardon my lack of punctuality." Diluc sarcastically replied, "But what is a walk if you don't stop for a bit and enjoy the view?"
Jean sighed to herself, sheathing her sword right after. She then turned to him and pointed towards the small steps behind them.
"Coat off and sit."
Diluc raised an eyebrow, surprised at her directness.
"You might want to be careful with your words, Acting Grand Master." He replied teasingly. Failing to realize her growing scowl, he crossed his arms nonchalantly, "Most men would be prone to misunderstand-"
Giving him no time to react, her hand shot out and sharply caught Diluc's right arms. Precisely at the bullseye of his wound.
Which was enough to shut him up.
Moments later, they were sat by the tree. Surrounded by a smaller version of Jean's dandelion field, all while Diluc began to quietly mutter gibberish to himself as she carefully tended to the cryo burn that had been ravaging his arm. Letting his light complains fall unto deaf ears.
"That was uncalled for." Diluc muttered, almost begrudgingly.
"You were being difficult."
"And who's fault is that?"
"Uhh… yours?" Jean replied half-inquiring as she looked at him, head tilting in confusion in response to his own weak reply, "I'm not entirely sure where you were going with that argument."
That brought Diluc back to silence. Now that he thought of it, he really didn't know where he was going with that argument either, and silently gave her the win on that one. As soon as she went back to focusing on his wound, he took the time to appraise her features.
Still dressed in her usual Knights attire, her blonde hair shimmers beautifully beneath the light of the statue and passing crystalflies. With an elemental aid kit by her side, her hands worked delicately to nab the frozen parts of his skin with adequate pyro and anemo mixed moisture in order ebb the blisters away. He then realizes that her expression sports not only the face of concentration, but also a tinge of emotion that he hasn't been on the receiving end of, for quite some time.
"You're upset with me."
"Why, such an astute observation, oh Diluc Sir." She animatedly replied, not letting her eyes off his wound while doing so, "Pray tell, how is it that you've come to arrive at that conclusion?"
Diluc merely chuckled with a hiss of pain as she, purposely as he might think, added more pressure to her nabbing, "First off all, that reply is evident enough." That shot earned him a glare as she began to bandage him up. "I'm joking… As if your pouty face and furrowed brows aren't enough to tell me."
She looked at him indignantly, "I don't pout."
"Sure, you don't."
"Even if I do," she paused her sentence to secure the bandage, giving it a sharp pull that was met with one last grunt of pain from the redhead, "I'm fairly sure that I have every right to be doing so, considering the circumstances."
Silence befell them. Diluc knew that her statement can't be further from the truth as she had every right in her mind to be upset with him. As a matter of fact, it wasn't the worst thing she could've chosen to do. She could have arrested him on the spot, she could have easily let his wound fester and have him suffer the consequences later, yet here she is, taking time out of her obviously busy schedule just to fix a problem he had created.
He felt a slight tug on his hips as he looked down to see that she had unclipped his Vision from its latch, fondling it while an unfamiliar shine glazed over her eyes as she examines it further.
"Kaeya?" she inquired briefly, side-staring him.
Presuming that she was asking about how he managed to get it back, he simply replied with a wave of his hand.
"I've had my suspicions…" she began softly, resting her chin on the fist of her hand while keeping her eyes on the Vision, "I thought it was all too coincidental. A pyro Vision user, dressed in black, and never to be seen under the light of the sun." She scoffed in noticing a pattern within her description, "The last two sounding so much like a tavern owner that I'm familiar with."
It was Diluc's turn to feign mild offence, "You make it sound like I'm a hermit of some kind."
"Who knows? With how you've been acting, it wouldn't be too far of an assumption to make, hmm?" Diluc's Vision began to glow on her hand as she created a small swirl of fire on her other hand, "The Vision was the only thing that was preventing me from forming a solid judgement since I haven't seen yours in years, and it was presumably locked away somewhere in the headquarters storage. But lo and behold, it all came together when I saw you with it at the tavern."
Looking at the fire that swirls softly on her palm, a smile graced her lips. "All that, coupled with the fact that Kaeya went out of the tavern with the most obnoxious grin I've ever seen. It didn't take long for me to put two and two together."
If Diluc were to be honest, he had barely heard any of the things that she had said. His attention was still focused on the light flame that she held.
"You still remember how to do that."
"What, this?" she asked after tracing his eyeline to the flame, "Of course I do. It's as unique as a birthday gift could get."
Diluc chuckled with mirth, "I still remember that day…"
Jean giggled at the memory that they were both reminiscing on, "You mean the day Adelinde almost ripped your head off?"
"To be fair…" Diluc began defending himself, "I was in a bit of a rush."
Knowing exactly why he had to rush that day, she decided to tease him for the time being, "What, because you forgot my birthday gift?"
"I didn't forget." Was Diluc's short reply.
"Then why couldn't you get one before the day?" A bit of genuine curiosity now slipping into her teasing.
Which become her own undoing, as she forgot how straight-forward the Ragnvindr can be.
"I couldn't find anything that I deemed worthy of gifting to you." He replied almost nonchalantly, with Jean completely missing the slight blush that he had wore as he continued speaking, "You're one of the most important people in my life. You still are, so I couldn't just give you any old gift now, can I?"
Silence then befell them. Diluc had thought that she had missed what he said, but the moment he turned to look at her, it was clear what exactly had happened to her person as her face was practically on fire, while she struggled to control the bumbling mess of words that her mouth had decided to automatically spit out.
"I-I… You, you… W-what?"
Seeing her flustered expressions only made Diluc laugh. One that he hadn't known to have sorely needed, considering all the ridiculous events that has happened over the past few days.
"W-What are you laughing at?" Jean had asked in rhetoric frustration. Embarrassment clearly written across her face.
"Jean… You have not changed." He said almost breathlessly as he got control of his laughter, "Always the one to start the game, but always the one to lose."
Knowing that she has no winning argument against it, Jean merely continued pouting. Looking away from him while crossing her arms with a huff.
"Don't be like that…" He said with a low chuckle, leaning to get a better look at her still-red face, "For what it's worth, I do apologize. I hadn't mean to make you worry."
She remained silent for the longest of time. At least, that's what it had felt like for the now-concerned Ragnvindr. He was about to ask her once again, before she began speaking. A hoarseness in her voice that wasn't there before, now present.
"You've made me worry for four years now."
Ah…
Four years ago, he'd promise not to leave her worrying again.
Four years ago, he left Mondstadt with that promise shattered to pieces.
Four years later, he hadn't thought of apologizing.
"I plead guilty to that." Diluc answers, gathering his hand together as leaned on his knees, "I broke that promise in the worst way I could've done."
He only watched as she leaned further into the cusp of her elbows, further obscuring her face from his vision.
"Do you know what it felt like back then, for me?" Her voice turning ever so slightly watery, "How helpless I have felt? Knowing that I couldn't be there for the person that has always been there for me?"
He can still recall the early hours of that day as if it had happened yesterday. The morning where Jean enthusiastically came up to him to tell him that Varka had personally requested her to lead her first expedition near the Gorge, and how she'd be sure to bring him some trinkets from it.
And he recalls as bright as day as the moment she left, she had turned to him with her ever cheery smile.
"Promise me that you'll be okay while I'm away?"
"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Only to have it be the last time that they'll meet for the next three years.
"When news got to our camp, I wasted no time packing back. I prayed my hardest to Barbatos, hoping that you'll be fine." She suddenly continued, "And when I got back, all I found was an estranged brother, a now fatherless household, and a downtrodden Grand Master who was weakly grasping a pyro vision that wasn't his."
It was his turn to remain silent. Knowing that he has no right to be saying anything at the time being.
"And now, you've been back for a year." Rubbing at her eyes, seemingly to clear the stray tears that had began to gather, "But I've never truly felt like you've returned. You'd always look at me with a façade. A face of indifference. Even though I know that there is more to your feelings than you are ever willing to let on."
It had been that way for some years now, Diluc would confess to himself.
Suddenly, she snapped towards him. Watery, yet fiery eyes bore right through his skull.
"So, yes. Am I upset? Very." She said furiously, "Upset that I hadn't been there for you. Upset that I can no longer talk to you the way I usually do. Upset that you no longer trust me to help with your worries."
Diluc can only look at her with surprise written all over him.
"I'm upset at how distant we have grew to become."
This time, silence befell both of them. The wind picked up on the unease and swirled vehemently around them, knowing the god who is in control of it, she held her thoughts at bay and buried her face deeper into the cusp of her elbows. Waiting. Just to see if the man next to him had his own piece to say.
A rustling next to her made her think that he has had enough of her ramblings, and decided to leave her to her own device.
She just about raised her head, ready to be disappointed, only to feel a sudden warmth.
That is his arms wrapping around her shoulders.
"Di-Diluc?"
"I'm sorry." Was all he initially said, burying his face to side of her shoulder, "Please don't take any of this as a sign of distrust. I wouldn't dare to ever question my own trust towards you." And that is as truthful as he can be. The only reason he still trusted the knights at all was quite literally for that simple reason. The fact that she is one of them, and still is. Now more than ever as she is the one leading them in their daily excursions.
Jean froze for a good minute as she tries to wrap her head around the feelings of this mysterious man. In the end, all she can do was slowly raise her own hand, and latch on his arm that had wrapped around her front.
"I did a lot of things during my time away from Mond, and I've tried to let go of many regrets." Diluc said, his voice soft yet earnest, "Most I managed to let go of, and there were very little that I did end up holding on to." The tightness of his embrace grew ever so-slightly, "But one regret that I can never truly let go, is to have never said something as much as a goodbye to you."
He pulled away, grabbing her hand in the process. He positions it right in front of his features, "So please, you do not have to accept it, but please allow me at least try to renew that promise that I have sullied from you, all those years ago."
And with that, he left a small peck on her knuckle, further solidifying the blush that has been slowly creeping up Jean's face.
"F-Fine…" Jean relented, trying her best not to stutter. However, she wasn't willing to let him have it all his way, "Under one condition."
"Anything." Came his instant reply.
"Please, and I mean this," She raised an authoritative finger, "Leave any sort of sign behind as to where you are." She looks away, "Just… Anything that would let me know if you're okay and where I can find you, in case things go wrong in your solo excursions."
"Alright… I'll come up with something." Diluc replied, a smile finding its way to his lips, "Thank you. For giving me a second chance."
Jean simply sighed, "You know very well that I can never win against your reasonings." She looked at the sky, as if reminiscing, "Besides, I once promised your late father that I'd be there for you, even if we weren't friends." She smiled back at him, "Now that you are here once more, I can at least begin honouring my own promises."
Diluc nodded in reply, his smile still very much on full display.
"Though with an adventurer of Aether's calibre now out and about," She pushed his shoulder playfully, "I highly doubt that you can hide anything from me, ever again."
"I don't intend to." Diluc chuckled, looking back towards the city, "This time… I want to make things right." He gazed back towards her, "With Mondstadt, and with you."
This time, she couldn't help but smile at his sincerity. Mustering a bit of her courage, she sidled closer to his side, and leant her head on his shoulder. Relishing out how much had she missed having such a strong shoulder, both literally and figuratively, to lean on, right there by her side.
"Though it does bring me relief…"
"What does?" the redhead asked.
"That after all these years, even as distant as we have grown…"
She looks up to his expectant eyes.
"I still know you… Diluc Ragnvindr."
Her gaze had given his heart a bit of a start, but he manages to reply in kind, "Likewise, Jean Gunnhildr."
The two then let the night breeze carry their conversation. Nature choruses around them in celebration of two souls that was once so close to one another, that has finally found their way back to each other.
From a distance afar, an anemo dragon is perched atop a cliff edge with a bard in green wiping his tears from his overexaggerated expressions.
"Old friend, you are always so overly dramatic with your unnecessary theatrics."
"B-But, it's a tale as old as Mond itself." Venti spoke with the voice of an emotional narrator, "Ragnvindr and Gunnhildr. Oh… how their ancestors would beam upon them."
"Interesting. Now do be on your way, your antics have tire me so."
All the dragon got in reply was the bard blowing his snot on one of his wings.
"I should've let you plummet when I had the opportunity."
