The clink of a glass as it's slammed down onto the bar. Aggressive—enough so that others might worry about something shattering—but all Kaeya does is raise an eyebrow.
He leans back in the hard-backed bar chair legs kicked up and boots resting on the table. "Off," snarls Diluc, lips curled into a nasty scowl.
Kaeya smirks, throwing his arms behind his head in an exaggerated stretch. Makes no move to drop his feet, far too intent on needling Diluc as much as he possibly can. He normally isn't in the bar at the same time. The moment Kaeya steps in, Diluc sneaks out the back, too awkward to even share a quick glance.
But tonight, he's stuck around. Suspicious. Kaeya watches him through a narrow-eyed gaze, thumbing his chin as he chills in his chair.
"Off," repeats Diluc, this time nudging at his ankles.
"You're no fun."
"It isn't about fun, it's about—" Diluc cuts off his own biting tongue. He rubs at his face, sighing, and then through gritted teeth continues with, "Remove them. Please."
Oh, that's a red flag. Diluc does not ask nicely. He doesn't say please, least of all to him. "What's wrong?" asks Kaeya, mostly concerned. A smidge amused. Entirely wary.
Diluc snorts. "Nothing. I'm—nothing."
Kaeya gives him a once over, eye washing from Diluc's head to toe. "Well, you don't look sick—"
"I'm not sick."
"You said please."
"I have manners."
Kaeya snorts this time. "You do not." Diluc has the propriety of an old dog who's been kicked a few too many times, more likely to snap at fingers than trust a man. He does not do polite, he does rude glares and grudging respect once a person has proven themselves a handful of times.
"And you do?"
Kaeya expects more bite to that but it comes out seemingly amused—enough so that for just a moment, it's like they're kids again, pushing and pulling at each other. Nothing but skinned knees and bruised elbows as they tumble across the ground, wrestling as boys do to get out those frustrations. Cut lips and scratches on the face. Teasing and tittering as harmless names are thrown around.
As adults, they just trade snide insults, harsh words laced with poison, and, frankly, Diluc should be happy that Kaeya isn't about to slip him something that'll knock him right out. He's done worse on less whim.
"Certainly more manners than you," drawls Kaeya. He reaches over and takes the wine glass, swirling the liquid gently before sniffing. Earthy. Tones of chocolate and berries. Sharp and tangy, more tart than bitter. A favorite in Kaeya's book.
And another red flag.
"You're up to something," he finishes, saluting Diluc with his glass in a mock toast before taking a sip. The flavor that bursts on his tongue is definitely a red blend that speaks to Kaeya's palate.
"I'm not—"
"Wow, so annoyed." Kaeya rolls his eyes dramatically, waving his hand. "No need to be testy. We're all friends here, even if you pretend to not be."
"It's your birthday," snaps Diluc.
Oh. Kaeya blinks, momentarily stunned. It isn't that he forgot, it's just that he's so conditioned to swallow down the things that make him twitch. Birthdays are fun things spent with families and considering he's lacking one, he'd rather just not think about it at all.
But Diluc does. Despite all the nonsense and vitriol that lays thick between them, he's gone out of his way to give a good gift of alcohol, at least. And no—it isn't exactly what Kaeya would want. He misses the old days where they were as thick as thieves and did everything together, but—
"Thanks," he says after a long moment. "You didn't have to."
"Of course, I didn't. I don't have to give you the time of day, and yet, I find myself here, entertaining your drunk—"
"I'm not drunk." A pause, another swirl of his glass, and a sip of the wine. "Yet." Diluc looks none too impressed, a scowl pulled so tight across his face that he resembles his father. "Don't give me that look." He hates it, hates it.
Diluc pinches the bridge of his nose. Takes a deep breath, no doubt counting to three, an old trick he used to do when they were bumbling kids. "I don't have time for your games. Do as you wish. I've given you a present. As far as I'm concerned, any expected familial courtesy is done."
Kaeya reaches out and grabs Diluc's jacket sleeve without thinking. "Wait," he says, quiet-like and hesitant.
Diluc does. He stands there stiffly, awkwardly, as if he's about to run off. But he stays. And then he sits, dropping into the chair opposite, arms crossed over his chest. Kaeya nearly laughs at his cross expression, the way that Diluc's lips purse as if he's swallowed a lemon.
"You don't have to stay."
"No, I don't have to."
"Well, don't force yourself," says Kaeya, ruefully.
Diluc's expression shifts, softening. Most wouldn't notice, just a twitch of his mouth. But it's there. "There are worse things I can be forced to do."
A small peace offering. Kaeya laughs, throwing him a grin that Diluc will find entirely insufferable.
But, he stays, and that's probably the best birthday present he's received in years.