Chapter 6: Diluc

Diluc wasn't exactly thrilled with the current circumstances.

He had always made a point of keeping his Mondstadt life separate from his more devious personal activities, mostly to keep the people he was protecting safe, but also to hide his past.

He scowled as he kept his wary eyes on his informant, who was quite pleased to chat with the Traveller on their way to the suspected Abyss hideout. Normally Diluc got his information through an encrypted letter that suddenly appeared on his desk, or a lowly lackey sent to deliver it personally. It was unusual for someone like Quinn to come in person, so out in the open.

There were members of the underground information network from all over Teyvat, of all nations. While Diluc knew he could trust Quinn's information, he couldn't discern what her plans were with the Traveller.

Still, he did trust the blonde haired outlander. Diluc had no doubt that the Traveller would be able to handle themselves if things went south.

"So, you're really just here to try to find your sibling, and nothing else?" Quinn asked, obviously skeptical.

"That's it." The Traveller shrugged their shoulders rather indifferently.

Quinn laughed. "While you seem honest enough, many find that hard to believe, given someone of your strength." Her easygoing smile did little to hide the burning curiosity in her eyes.

Diluc stepped in to help his outlander friend. "We're here," he stated, earning an annoyed glance from his informant and a thankful one from the Traveller.

The four stopped before a dark crevice carved into the cliff face in front of them. A chilling breeze flowed out of what could be assumed to be a large, previously abandoned domain.

"This is the place, right?" Diluc asked, turning towards Quinn.

She nodded. "According to my information." She still sounded ticked that Diluc had interrupted her interrogation of the Traveller, though her gaze wandered, scanning the surrounding area.

"But Paimon thought the Abyss Order was almost completely inactive in Mondstadt," the small floating creature asked, still in the habit of referring to herself in the third person.

"The Abyss can be quite good at covering their tracks when they want to," Diluc explained, crossing his arms as if to make a point.

He turned towards Quinn, expecting the informant to agree with him, but the white-haired woman's gaze was fixed upon something in the distance. Diluc squinted, trying to see what it was in the foliage that had caught her attention. He couldn't make anything out, since it was almost completely dark, save for the dappled moonlight that filtered through the branches overhead.

"Uhh…" Paimon trailed off before she could even start to articulate her thoughts. Diluc suddenly noticed the very concerned look on the Traveller's face. Just as he was about to reassure the two companions, Quinn turned back towards them, smiling mischievously.

"You can come out now," she called out into the night. Diluc found his hand immediately flying to the hilt of his claymore, the Traveller doing the same in turn. The only person who seemed completely unconcerned was the mysterious informant.

There was no response. The poor Traveller looked even more confused, while Paimon cowered being them.

Quinn sighed dramatically, tossing her arms in an exasperated gesture. "Please, we know you've been following us. Stop hiding and we'll get this over with."

"Diluc stood firm in his ready stance, glowering at the nearby rustling bushes. He wasn't sure who had been following them, but he silently cursed at himself for not noticing. He'd been so preoccupied with the Traveller's presence that he had forgotten to be aware of his surroundings. A mistake that would have to be corrected.

After few more excruciating moments of rustling leaves, a silhouette of a slender figure stepped out from his hiding spot behind some nearby trees and bushes. He stepped into the dim moonlight, and…

"Kaeya?!" Paimon cried out.

The Traveller visibly relaxed, sheathing their sword. Diluc stiffened at the sight of his estranged brother.

"You nearly scared us to death!" Paimon screeched. "What are you doing skulking around in the dark, following us like that?!"

The Traveller nodded in agreement, and all eyes turned towards the blue haired knight. Kaeya put his hands up in a defensive gesture.

"I certainly never meant to give you a fright, my dear Traveller," Kaeya assured. "I was simply following a lead," he explained cryptically.

"Please," Quinn scoffed. "You couldn't have been any more obvious, not even bothering to cover up the traces of alchemical energy at the Winery."

The Traveller seemed to put together the missing pieces of the puzzle far quicker than Diluc. "You set us up," the outlander accused. "The mora, Albedo… you had everything all planned out, didn't you?"

Suddenly Diluc understood. He felt anger start to well up in his throat, which he promptly shoved back down as he turned towards his younger brother.

"You seemed to have stooped to a new low, Kaeya, resorting to using the Traveller to spy on me," Diluc said, careful to keep his tone neutral while crossing his arms in disapproval.

Kaeya simply shrugged. "Its not as if I have any better means of keeping up with your activities," he shot back with a glare.

Diluc couldn't disagree. He always made sure to keep Kaeya at a firm distance from himself, no matter how painful or how difficult Kaeya made it.

"Maybe if you could just leave me alone, you wouldn't have to worry about what it is I do in my spare time."

No matter how hard Diluc tried to push his younger brother away, Kaeya always seemed to be able to find new ways to antagonize the wine tycoon. Just the sight of the blue haired knight sauntering into Angel's Share was enough to give Diluc a headache. He assumed this was his punishment, and simply tried to avoid his estranged brother as much as possible.

Kaeya scowled at Diluc, but turned his attention back towards the Traveller and Paimon.

He quickly switched to his trademarked charismatic smile. "I must apologize, though I didn't mean to implicate you in my original plan. I simply saw the opportunity, and took it," Kaeya explained.

"But what exactly were you trying to achieve?" Paimon asked, although by the look on the Traveller's face, Diluc could tell that the young outlander had already figured it out.

Quinn had been remarkably silent, carefully watching these events unfold. But she finally seemed ready to offer her own insights.

"It must have taken you some time to successfully work out when Diluc would be receiving new information," she told Kaeya. "I must say, I seem to have underestimated you, your highness."

Kaeya froze. His gaze flicked to Diluc, the laidback smile doing little to hide the burning look of betrayal in his piercing blue eyes.

Diluc forced himself to relax, having stiffened himself at hearing Quinn's comment. He swore under his breath, then returned a warning gaze of his own towards the blue haired knight.

Luckily, both the Traveller and Paimon seemed unfazed.

"We're investigating a potential Abyss hideout. Since you're already here, why don't you join us?" the Traveller offered, still giving Kaeya a weary look.

"I'd be much obliged." Kaeya seemed to recover his usual smooth composure rather quickly. "After all, it is a Knight's duty to investigate any possible dangers to Mondstadt."

Diluc scoffed in annoyance. It wasn't enough that Kaeya had to butt his head into all of Diluc's business, he also had to bring up his knightly duties at any given opportunity. He always felt as though the blue haired knights was doing it on purpose, as if to rub salt into Diluc's old wounds. Yet another reason why he never offered any reaction, to avoid encouraging this sort of behaviour.

"Well then, shall we?" Quinn interrupted the wine tycoons thoughts, gesturing towards the entrance of the domain.

Both brothers nodded in silent agreement. The Traveller and Paimon took the lead, Quinn following close behind. Diluc waited to take up the rear, gesturing for Kaeya to go ahead of him.

"What, afraid I might stab you in the back?" Kaeya sneered before entering the domain.

Diluc grit his teeth in frustration. He took a few moments to fight back his emotions before following his brother into the cold passage.