Kaeya actually preferred legwork to officework, if not swordplay then intelligence gathering and solving puzzles and mysteries, working out the larger plan. But, as Cavalry Captain with no cavalry to captain, he often ended up filling in wherever the order was most shorthanded. This week that meant he had been cooped up in his office with mindless paperwork. That wasn't to say he was actually needed on the street though. His paperwork mostly consisted of intake forms for the variety of criminals that had been deposited just outside the Knights of Favonius Headquarters. In the past few days alone there had been a half dozen treasure hoarders, a petty thief, and even two citizens turning themselves in for littering.
Despite the overkill cleanup of any potential criminal in the city, or perhaps because it had already been completed, he had been able to leave the end of his shift on time every day and found his brother tending bar at Angel's Share twice already this week. If he was allowed to fill his evenings with semi-friendly banter and good wine, what more could he really ask for?
Friday, he was finally able to extract himself from the office and assigned himself on patrol, if nothing else for a change of pace. Outside the city, he found more of the same however. He passed no less than four hilichurl camps that had already been dismantled, an abandoned treasure hoarder encampment, and couldn't find a single abyss mage even in areas they were known to inhabit.
Left with literally nothing else to do, he clocked out early and made his way to the tavern, hoping some informant would have some news of where all the villains had gone. As he entered the tavern, he was surprised to find Diluc behind the counter, again. He didn't make a habit of working the bar more than once a week, at most, to find him here for the third time this week was highly suspect.
"Death After Noon," Kaeya said as he claimed a stool at the counter.
"Isn't it a bit early?" Diluc queried.
Kaeya shrugged. "Nothing better to do. Someone took out every monster and criminal in the entire city."
Diluc made no comment, concentrating on making the drink.
Kaeya gave his beverage a quick stir and found it sweeter than usual, but made no complaint. If the drinks weren't as strong, he could stay for more. He continued to watch as Diluc was called away to serve other customers, noting the tremble in hands and the way he had to think a bit too much about the ingredients. If he didn't know better, Kaeya might have thought he wasn't the only one starting drinking early today.
"That looks good," a new customer said, eyeing the Calvary Captain's drink. "I'll have whatever that is."
"Death After Noon," Kaeya proffered. "Sparkling wine mixed with three parts Dandelion wine, and the bitterness just disappears completely. Quite delectable."
Reminded of the proportions again, Diluc mixes the drink, properly this time, and hands it across the counter.
There is a lull in orders, and Kaeya finds him staring blankly at nothing again, before calling him over.
"You okay?" he asked. "You seem a little out of it tonight."
"Fine," Diluc commented automatically. " Just a bit tired."
"You can take the night off," Kaeya suggested. "Even the Darknight Hero needs to rest now and then," he added, low enough no one would overhear.
Diluc meets him with a glare and a weary sigh. "Can't sleep."
"Looks to me, more like you can't stay awake."
He couldn't get any restful sleep. What was the point of going to bed only to wake an hour or two later to terrifying nightmares? Besides, what he did in his free time was none of Kaeya's business.
Diluc was called away again to help another customer, Kaeya keeping an eye on him from his stool at the bar. As the night wore on, the sleep deprivation's effects became more evident. Kaeya periodically reminded the bartender of ratios and ingredients and narrowly was able to save an entire tray of drinks from hitting the floor. Finally, he settled on persuading most of the drink ordering patrons to keep it simple with an ale or glass of wine, rather than extravagant cocktails.
As last call was announced and closing time approached, Kaeya concerned himself with how he was going to make sure his brother made it home safely, and actually slept. In theory, it shouldn't be hard. Diluc had already killed every monster in the vicinity. But, with how the evening was progressing, he wasn't positive Diluc would remember the way home, much less be capable of defending himself should any trouble arise. He would offer to let Diluc crash at his house, but they weren't that close anymore and he doubted the other man would consider the offer. Save each other from imminent danger, yes; hang out when it wasn't necessary, not so much.
The last other customers having left, Diluc returned with an armful of glasses to be washed, and Kaeya made his move.
"You planning on walking all the way back to the winery tonight?" he asked, resigning himself to having a very late night escorting Diluc then making a return trip to the city himself.
Diluc pondered for a moment as if the idea hadn't even occurred to him.
"I'll just stay here," a pause, "I have a room upstairs," he added before Kaeya could conjure an image of the redhead passed out across one of the tables like an overindulgent patron.
Diluc finished washing the glasses and set them aside to dry rather than individually wiping them, then wordlessly headed for the stairs, forgoing the hassle of telling Kaeya to leave, or maybe forgetting he was there in the first place. He stumbled over the first step, oblivious to the fact Kaeya then felt the need to hover behind him in case he lost his footing again.
Pushing open the door to a spare storage room turned makeshift bedroom, Diluc shed his vest, gloves, and boots, then collapsed heavily onto the bed, too exhausted to do anything more. He was vaguely away of Kaeya's presence lingering by the doorway and spoke again as the other man turned to leave.
"Kaeya….would…. Could you stay?" the words escaped his mouth before he could stop himself, a flush of embarrassment tinting his cheeks. They weren't close like that any more. He was a grown man for archons sake. Kaeya could leave, it was fine. He just… if Kaeya was safe, and here, when he inevitably woke from whatever tonight's terror would be it would put him more at ease, help him ground himself in the present reality.
The blue haired man looked surprised, but shrugged. "Sure, I'll stay." He tugged off his own boots, and threw his coat over the back of the chair, startled again when a warm hand grabbed his own, pulling him to the edge of the bed. Apparently his presence was enough, he thought, as his gaze landed on his exhausted brother whose breathing leveled as he succumbed to sleep.