Well, this little one-shot wasn't planned, but Storm has been writing fluff- for a challenge trust me she hates it- for the last few days and really just needed to kill or something. What better time than for Diluc's birthday? There are no apologies here, mind the tags and enjoy a little angsty present for all.

Bloodmoon

Diluc let out a shuddering breath, his vision swimming as the deep gash in his shoulder throbbed painfully. He should have been more careful, should have known letting his guard down for even a moment could get him killed. For fuck's sake he'd been in this frozen hellscape for years at this point, he should know better by now.

Blood dripped down his arm, leaving a trail of crimson in otherwise pristine snow as Diluc finally saw the shape of a building through the trees. He forced himself to keep moving, even as exhaustion weighed down his bones, as death beckoned him closer with each second that passed. He couldn't die here- he wasn't allowed to. So one foot in front of the other, step by step, he continued on. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he finally stumbled inside.

His wound was bad, the Ragnvindr was coherent enough to realize that, and he already knew he was too low on bandages to care for it properly. The next best option was cauterization, even if he knew it'd hurt like a bitch.

He worked fast- as fast as he could with a nigh useless arm at least- and turned to the fireplace. Not for the first time, he missed his vision. If he had it, starting a fire hot enough to heat metal would have been a lot easier. It was… better he didn't though. Diluc couldn't be trusted with it, not after what he'd done to his little brother.

It only took a few minutes to get a strong enough flame and begin to heat up the blade of a spare dagger. He never used it anyway, may as well put the metal to use. It was still too long, he could tell, even if he was doing his best to ignore the pool of blood steadily growing beneath him. Then, finally, the dagger's blade began to glow a dull orange and Diluc removed it from the heat, taking a breath. He never liked the smell of burning flesh, especially not after that night, but it was better than bleeding out. He steeled his nerves, pressed the flat side to the wound, and suddenly the world went black.

✦•—✧—• ⟡ ✦ ⟡ •—✧—•✦

Diluc blinked his eyes open, the sounds of a storm raging outside Dawn Winery. Night had already fallen, plunging the world into shadows and leaving only candles and the occasional flash of lightning to illuminate the hallway he was standing in. Aside from rain pounding on windows and the rumble of thunder, all was silent. Then, there was a knock at the door. He paused, trepidation in his eyes because this felt so familiar, like he'd lived this moment a thousand times over and just couldn't quite remember how the story went.

After another heartbeat, he moved. Though he wasn't sure what he expected to find behind the door, Diluc wasn't prepared to see Kaeya's face staring back at him with fear and guilt twisting his features. The only thing the younger man said was, "We need to talk. Outside."

All at once the memories slammed into Diluc. It was that night, the night he'd lost everything- his father, his brother, his home, all of it washed away. He wanted to say no, wanted to insist Kaeya come inside to talk instead. He wanted to protect him, keep him safe, keep him close. Maybe if he did then he wouldn't lose his little brother too.

Instead, he heard himself say, "...Sure." He stepped outside, the door clicking behind him. Once he was outside Kaeya started talking, but Diluc wasn't really listening. He'd already heard these words a thousand times, heard Kaeya lay claim to crimes he could never have committed. It wasn't his fault, the world was cruel and unfair and Diluc just wanted to pull him into a hug, assure him they were still brothers, promise to protect him as he had all those years ago.

He didn't. Diluc's body wasn't his, he couldn't control what happened. There was nothing he could do except watch as he attacked his brother, the last family he had, in a blind fury. He choked on a sob when he saw Kaeya's face. It hurt to watch the younger man struggle to evade, hurt every time flames licked his skin. It hurt to know he was the one inflicting these wounds.

He knew what was coming. He was one, two, three swings away from the end of this nightmare. Any second now the Archons would step in, give Kaeya the Cryo vision that would save him and Diluc would see him standing in the rain, fear and disappointment on his face but he'd be alive. They'd save his brother from the cold embrace of death, stop Diluc from making the worst mistake of his life.

They didn't.

This time, the Archons didn't see him fit to hold a vision. Kaeya was going to die and it was going to be Diluc that killed him. Another desperate cry tore from his throat, drowned out by the crash of thunder. He couldn't do it, he'd rather kill himself than Kaeya, anyone but the little brother he loved so deeply.

Diluc struck him in the side, claymore cutting far too deep.

For a moment everything froze and Kaeya stood there, his chest heaving as the teenager tried to draw desperate breaths. Diluc couldn't move, he couldn't break the spell that seemed to keep both of them standing in painful silence. There was a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder, and the moment was broken. Diluc rushed to keep his brother from hitting the ground, his weapon tossed aside as he caught Kaeya and gently guided him to the ground. "Kae no please, I'm sorry," he begged, voice choked and desperate as he held his brother close and tried to stop the bleeding.

"Please Kae," he started, panic shining in his eyes, "don't leave me. I- I'm so sorry, I should have listened." He paused as another sob bubbled up. He choked it back, listening to the sound of Kaeya's ragged breathing. He dreaded the moment it stopped. "Don't leave me, I'm sorry- I can't do it without you Kae," He sobbed again, desperate and fearful. "Father left it to you- the Winery's yours you- you can't go too…"

It was too much. The wound was too deep and Diluc was no healer. No matter what he tried it didn't stop, there was nothing he could do to save him. Crimson blood mixed with mud as rain poured down around them and it was all he could do to hold his brother close. He hoped it was a comfort to Kaeya, but he doubted it. Not after the damage he'd caused. He let out a broken sob, gently pulling the smaller teenager into his lap. He was going to watch another family member, the last one he had, die in his arms.

Diluc gazed down at his brother in all but blood. He was still a child- barely fifteen years old and already- he was dying, and it was all Diluc's fault. He looked down. Kaeya's eyes were closed and for a moment he could convince himself that his brother was just asleep, that he'd wake up any moment and flash a grin, that everything was still normal. Then he saw the gaping wound in Kaeya's side and reality slammed into him. His brother was dying and it was all his fault.

"Archons please, don't take him from me," he begged, even knowing his prayer would never be answered. The Archons had no mercy for either of them, not for a Khaenri'ahn or a brother killer.

For a long moment, Diluc just listened to the sound of Kaeya's soft breaths as the storm raged around them. He told him stories, spoke of the happiest memories he could recall- all of them shared. The soft smile on his brother's face was all he needed to know it was appreciated. Then it was quiet. He could feel the rain, but it made no sound. Lightning flashed, but no thunder followed. And Kaeya wasn't breathing.

Kaeya wasn't breathing.

A fresh wave of panic washed over Diluc and he pressed two fingers to Kaeya's neck, desperately searching for any sign of a pulse, any indication he was mistaken. There was nothing there.

"Kae," he pleaded, voice strained and desperate, tears streaming down his face and mixing with that horribly silent rain, "Kaeya please, you can't leave me like this- wake up, Archons… Kaeya please wake up-"

He didn't, of course. Despite all of Diluc's pleas, his brother was gone.

✦•—✧—• ⟡ ✦ ⟡ •—✧—•✦

Diluc woke with a start, pain lancing through his arm as he jostled the wound there. For a second he didn't move, letting the pain fade to a dull throb before more gingerly pushing himself to his feet. He was back in the cabin, surrounded by what belongings he had and the dying embers of the fire he'd lit the evening before. Fragments of his dream (nightmare?) spun in his head and he couldn't quite fight the panic down.

Kaeya was alright, he had to be, didn't he? He'd have heard if something happened, surely. Every time news from Mondstadt made its way to him, Diluc listened carefully. If his brother had gotten hurt… he'd know, right?

It wasn't enough to think he was okay. Diluc needed to know. Without a second thought, he started packing, gathering everything that was important enough to take with him. He had to leave anyway, there was no doubt he'd left a trail straight here and Tartaglia would be looking for a rematch. If he ended up cutting his stay in Snezhnaya short, then it was no one's business but his.

It was more important he make sure Kaeya was okay.

Ah~ a brother's love. Diluc really went through it this time, didn't he? For all those who read Tracing Starlit Memories, this is intended as something of a prequel to that. Just a little snippet of Diluc's time away from Mond, if you will, and maybe the rest of his trip through Snezhnaya will get written one day.

Anyways, that's it for today! Have a great day and we hope to see you in the next story!