Located in one of the back streets of Mondstadt, there lay a tavern by the name of Angel's Share. The tavern, owned by none other than the heir of the Ragnvindr clan, who is also one of the most successful businessmen in the entirety of Mondstadt. And yet, even with his rich background and high society status, Diluc Ragnvindr could be found serving as a humble bartender on several occasions in his tavern. It was also at his tavern that Diluc agreed to host a bartending academy week to teach people the ways of bartending, in hopes that a younger generation might be interested in joining the industry one day.

Diluc had expected a small turnout, if any at all. The people of Mondstadt, though they loved to drink, lack the interest in learning the ways of making the drink. It did not help that customer service was required as part of their learning and many who service their first batch of customers would drop out on the first day. He had left Luka to take care of the event, assured that only a handful of people would show up (he hoped that the one who almost gave a customer alcohol poisoning would not make a return), so when he heard that the Traveller would be taking part in this round's bartending academy week, Diluc almost could not believe his ears.

(It was unexpected but not surprising, the Traveller was willing to try anything that looked interesting.)

The entire week the Traveller had attended the bartending academy week, Diluc had expected to hear some incident happening (based on past experiences) but nothing happened. After thanking Diluc and Luka for allowing them to experience life as a bartender, they left on their next adventure with Paimon by their side.

Diluc had thought that was the end of that but not even he could have expected something like this to happen.

It all started when a strange man walked into the tavern. It was not as if the tavern had not seen its fair share of strange patrons but what they lacked was the aura the man exuded, like his very being existed on a much different plane from everyone. His eyes carried a knowing gaze, as if he already knew who everyone was. His refined outlook spoke of the way he carried himself, well-mannered and yet distant enough that it would be too difficult to casually approach him. He sat himself in front of the bar counter and Diluc put away the glass cup he had been wiping to serve the customer.

The man had not known what to order, even with the menu laid out before him. He did order in the end, deciding to follow Diluc's recommendation for a glass of Dandelion Wine. And yet, when the glass was served, the man did not drink, only taking up the glass as he swirled the alcohol within. He continued to play with his drink until it was time for the tavern to close. It was then that he emptied the glass in one gulp before gently setting the glass on the bar counter. And when it came time to pay, the man had not a single mora to his name.

(Diluc hoped the man never came back again. He did not need two leeches in his tavern, one was already enough!)

And yet, the man returned the next day and the day after. At least by the second day, Diluc was smart enough to refuse to serve him until he paid off his debt (but he had not expected the man to be content at being ignored). Eventually, when Diluc was tired of the man returning to his tavern and not buying anything, he asked for the man's reasons for coming.

The man, Zhongli, explained that he had arrived in Mondstadt weeks ago and saw the Traveller taking part in the bartender academy week. They exchanged small talk with him before he left to explore the sights of Mondstadt but he decided to return to the city to meet the Traveller again.

Unfortunately, no one knew where the Traveller currently was, not when their adventures kept taking them to the far reaches of every country they have been in. Diluc informed Zhongli of the Traveller's departure and the lack of information of their return. Zhongli had left the tavern and Diluc had expected it to be the end of that. However, the very next day, Zhongli returned to the tavern.

Zhongli explained this time, he was here to enjoy what the tavern has to offer. However, Diluc was still unwilling to serve him, even when Zhongli told him to bill the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour for his drinks.

Unfortunately for Diluc, Zhongli kept coming back day after day. Even when he was physically escorted out of the premises, the man kept coming back. Zhongli was like a persistent cockroach that would not leave him alone no matter how many times he thought he had killed it, sprayed it with bug spray, and even tried setting it on fire once. The cockroach kept coming back.

Sadly, Diluc was not allowed to set fire to his customers, not even the non-paying ones, so he relegated himself to physically escorting the man out of his tavern every night. Every. Single. Night. By the time the next month rolled over, Zhongli was still coming back to his tavern and Diluc was this close to giving up and letting the man stay in his tavern like he owned the place.

It was one day, when Diluc finally gave up and approached the man to ask what was his purpose of returning. Zhongli merely smiled and said the tavern brought back fond memories. Diluc scoffed, the man had to be lying, he had never seen this man in his entire life and his father had never mentioned about a strange man who never paid for his drinks. However, when Diluc voiced his thoughts, Zhongli smiled cryptically as he sipped his (free!) glass of water.

When Diluc retired for the night, he wondered what the man had meant when he said that it was the familiar spirit and aura, not the tavern, that brought back fond memories for him.

The subsequent days after that, Diluc would engage in small talk with Zhongli. He learned that the man hailed from Liyue and that he worked as a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour. In exchange, Diluc told him about the Dawn Winery and the history of the Ragnvindr Clan.

Days turned into weeks and the topics shifted as the two became familiar with each other. Diluc learned that Zhongli loved a certain drink he could not remember the name of but enjoyed the smooth flavour of it and Diluc revealed that he never liked alcohol and prefered grape juice instead.

As their bonds continued to grow, Diluc became familiar with the man's presence. The glass of water was replaced with a glass of dandelion wine and their talks became more personal as they shared history of themselves, revelations and secrets not for the ears of others.

Zhongli had revealed to know Venti personally (when the bard had walked into the tavern, noticed Zhongli and promptly fled the building), as he was once the Archon who ruled over Liyue. Diluc had nearly kicked the man out of the tavern, feeling that Zhongli had broken the fragile trust he held, but Zhongli knew how to soothe his fury and he explained how he no longer wanted to rule over the people and chose to retire. Diluc had revealed that he had an estranged adopted brother when Kaeya walked in smiling with his usual false smiles, eye twinkling of untold secrets. Diluc wished he could go back in time to stop himself from shouting at Kaeya when the man had riled him up that night. Zhongli had comforted him as he slumped against the bar counter after chasing everyone else out of his tavern.

The next day, Diluc pretended the night before did not happen and Zhongli was willing to indulge him.

A few days later, Zhongli stopped showing up at Angel's Share. For those few days, Diluc's life had been quiet. The time he had once spent chatting with the man, it was now an empty block of time with nothing to do and no one to talk to. Rather than let those times be wasted however, Diluc opted to research the drink that Zhongli had once loved. He threw himself into experimenting with ingredients from both Mondstadt and Liyue, mixing alcohol from both countries and forcing himself to taste every one of his creations even with his blatant dislike for alcohol.

When Zhongli returned to the tavern a week later, he explained apologetically that he had to return to Liyue, having disappeared for a few months when he was expected to only stay in Mondstadt for one month. Diluc nodded in understanding, well aware that beyond the tavern, Zhongli had a life he had to return to. Instead of questioning his friend, Diluc placed two empty glasses in front of him and pulled out several small unlabeled bottles. He explained that he had been experimenting on mixing drinks in an attempt to recreate the mystical drink Zhongli had once loved. He opened one of the bottles and poured the drink into both empty glasses and offered one to the man. Zhongli took the drink with thanks and took a sip.

That night, Diluc went home proud when Zhongli told him the drinks were close to the taste he once loved.

In the subsequent days after that, Diluc would close the tavern early so he and Zhongli could spend the rest of the night chatting and drinking together. Rumours of their closeness had spread all over Mondstadt and Diluc found that he could care less about what the people said or assumed them to be, not even when Kaeya showed up at the tavern to ask where his 'boyfriend' was, Diluc simply ignored him and went back to cleaning the bar counter.

It was only when Zhongli came to him to ask about the rumours he heard of their relationship that he realised he could ignore it no longer.

Where do they both stand in this relationship?

Diluc invited Zhongli to his home at the Dawn Winery and brought him to his bedroom. No doubt, the rumour mill would be running overdrive the next morning by the maids who saw them. But for now, Diluc's bedroom offered the privacy they needed to talk things out.

Are they still friends? Do they even want to move beyond that?

He had to consider the feelings that they both held for each other. Do they view each other as something more than friends? What if this was not love that they feel but just another kind of happiness? He also had to consider the age gap between the two of them. Diluc is a human, a respectable young adult, while Zhongli is a pure-blooded adeptus whose age went into the thousands. Zhongli would live forever while Diluc would not, is there even a future for this?

As the thoughts ran through his head, Diluc had not noticed Zhongli attempting to get his attention by clearing his throat until he was physically shaken by the man. Even without the man prompting him, Diluc told him everything that was on his mind. Zhongli listened calmly and he only spoke once Diluc had finished telling him his doubts and worries.

Zhongli spoke and asked only one question: What does Diluc want? No matter the choice he makes, Zhongli would not judge and he would be content with whatever happiness Diluc sought in their relationship. If Diluc chose to end the relationship now, Zhongli would be saddened by it but he would not choose to pursue the matter any further. In the end, no matter the choice, Zhongli would not judge him nor would he blame him.

However, Diluc was unable to come to an answer and instead of forcing him to decide now, Zhongli nodded in understanding. He had wanted to leave but Diluc offered to let him stay overnight.

That night, Diluc was unable to sleep, not when his mind kept thinking about Zhongli who was sleeping in the bedroom beside his room. On the other side of the wall, beside his bed, Zhongli was just there. Diluc could almost imagine Zhongli sleeping beside him without the wall in the way.

(He ended up not sleeping the entire night.)

The next day, the two of them sat at the large dining table where breakfast was being served. They sat on opposite ends and ate slowly in silence. Eventually, when Diluc could no longer deal with the silence (and the stares from his maids silently questioning his choices right now), he stood up and moved to sit beside Zhongli while the maid quickly moved to shift his meal over. As this was going on, Diluc spoke to Zhongli while the latter placed his cutleries neatly on the plate to give his full attention.

Diluc was never one to talk a lot in any circumstances and this was no different. Zhongli had not minded before and he still does not mind now. Diluc said only one line, a line that will forever shift the bond they share together, he said that he was willing to give it a try.

Zhongli smiled in reply, words were not needed to express his willingness and agreement. Diluc thought that would be the end of that but yet again, Zhongli surprised him when he leaned in and stole a quick kiss from his lips. The maids in the background squealed in happiness but all Diluc could focus on was the ghost of a feeling from the kiss. Zhongli leaned back, looking smug at his actions and it was that smile that broke Diluc out of his stupor. He turned back to his food, hoping that he could hide away the heated blush covering his face.

(But he could not hide the faint smile on his face.)