Episode 9: Inception
The human soul has a remarkable ability to adapt over time. Take a person raised in poverty and give them riches, and they will slowly begin to act like someone who was rich from the beginning. And those less fortunate learn to live with the cruel world they find themselves in, even when that life would likely crush someone who hadn't experienced that level of hardship.
Diluc's entrance into the Harbingers' world had been rocky at best. None of them trusted him at all, and some of them openly wanted him dead. Only Damselette and Childe could be considered any sort of ally, and that was stretching that definition much farther than Diluc was willing.
However, as time kept ticking away, he began to lean in to his current position. Diluc was a cunning man. He hadn't survived this long without any social instincts, and he began to put them to use, slowly gaining trust among the Harbingers bit by bit. At least, that was how he wanted to view it.
All too soon, summer had already arrived. The chill breezes of spring were left behind once again as the nights became warm, and the days even hotter.
Still, he had never managed to tell Keqing that he had become a Harbinger. He had always been one to gallivant around in the dead of night, and she knew that, but this was something much worse, and much more obvious. At times, he would spend an entire day or more gone, with no explanation other than "work" or "clearing out some bandit camps."
That simple life that the three of them had dreamed of back then… that peaceful future that they would all defend together…
In the blink of an eye, that feeble little dream had already faded away without a trace.
Opening Theme: SECONDWALL - 君の世界を
One particular early-summer morning, a tired-looking young man was treading the dusty path leading to Dawn Winery. His sword on his back rattled with each step, and his coat flowed behind him, despite the warmer weather.
As he rounded the bend in the canyon between Mond and Liyue, a smile spread across his face. He was home again. And today would be different; today he would tell his wife the truth, no matter what consequences awaited him. That was the decision he had arrived upon after weeks of deliberation.
Arriving at the front door, he unlocked it with his master key and pushed it open.
Inside, several maids were bustling about, already active this early in the day. Indeed, Dawn Winery almost always had something going on - that was one thing he loved about it.
"Morning, girls," he nodded to a few of them, feeling friendly.
"Welcome back, Master."
He would have headed on upstairs, but when he noticed the couches near the fireplace, he stopped in his tracks.
There were two familiar faces sitting there chatting with Keqing… belonging to two individuals that he hadn't seen in a long, long time.
The tall man on the couch turned towards the sound of footsteps, and offered Diluc a generous smile. Standing to his feet, he reached out a hand.
"Good to see you again, stranger."
"Zhongli… long time no see," Diluc replied, shaking his hand firmly.
Beside the dark-haired man was a much shorter girl that matched his color palette.
"And Hu Tao," he nodded to her.
"Right! At your service!"
"Seems like you said something similar once before," Diluc smiled fondly.
"I probably did," she grinned.
At last, Diluc made it to Keqing, and hugged her affectionately.
"How was work?" she asked.
"Nothing too bad. Just the usual, meeting with merchants."
"I see, that's good," she replied, but Diluc thought he caught a glimpse of some other emotion in her eyes.
While that touching reunion had been going on, though, Zhongli had been sizing up Diluc. Something about the clothing he wore and the feeling emanating from his pack had rubbed the former Geo Archon the wrong way.
"Diluc, forgive me if I'm being rude, but those clothes… they look quite different from your normal attire."
Diluc mentally cursed his own carelessness. Indeed, his current outfit had a color scheme of black, gray, and white - much different from his old suit. The hooded coat he wore was somewhat suited to warmer weather, but still reflected the style of a much more wintery land. But it was the emblem shining on his chest that completely gave Diluc away. He had made a point of not wearing it around Keqing, but he hadn't anticipated a welcome party today.
"Ah, yeah. I decided to switch things up a while back. Does it not fit me?" he said hesitantly, trying to play it off.
"Hmm, if I had to choose, I'd say no," Zhongli replied, his stern eyes seeming to see right through Diluc.
Growing more paranoid by the second, Diluc made a split-second decision and pulled Zhongli aside. The two of them stepped outside, getting some "fresh air" on a bench.
"Diluc, there's something you aren't telling us, isn't there? Something you don't want known," Zhongli wasted no time in kicking off the unpleasant conversation.
The young man sighed deeply. He considered trying to deceive this man, but Zhongli's intuition was razor sharp, and Diluc knew it. His best option was to come clean now. After all, he still planned to tell Keqing the truth today. Staring off into space, he answered.
"Honestly, yeah, there is. I haven't told Keqing anything, but I'm going to today. Just know that before I start."
Zhongli nodded with a finger and thumb on his chin.
"My intuition tells me that you also have something rather putrid in that bag of yours," the brown-haired man noted.
"Is there nothing I can hide from you?" Diluc said wryly.
"When you get to be as old as I am, you notice things that others don't."
"Seems like it. Well… where should I start? I haven't seen you in almost a year. Hell of a way to catch up."
"You don't need to say much. I'm sure you have your own circumstances. Just know that the path you're walking is a thorny one. Those people you associate with are not like you. They do not see the world as you do. This new path of yours might lead to disaster if you aren't vigilant."
As always, Zhongli cut right to the heart of the matter, concisely summarizing the truth at the bottom of their conversation. He left no room for misunderstandings.
"I'm well aware of that. It was my only choice to protect this world. I can't give up on that, or there's nothing left."
Zhongli leaned back in his chair, and was quiet for a while.
"I remember what you told me when we first met again after the Reset. You claimed that this was your wish, and that you desired to be with her forever. If that's still true, you must not allow yourself to falter or turn to the side. Tell her the truth, and embrace her with everything you have. Otherwise, you might wake one day to find that your efforts were all in vain."
Diluc listened attentively to Zhongli as he effortlessly handed out timeless wisdom. His words struck Diluc to his core.
"You're right. This is my fault. I'll make it right," the redhead mumbled, looking down at his hands.
"Good. And don't forget that this world is much bigger than you, young man. One person cannot hope to "protect" it on their own. Even if that person holds tremendous power."
"Perhaps you're right."
Zhongli cracked a small smile.
"I can see that you still have the same heart. That reassures me. In any case, it seems that our conversation has now achieved its purpose. Shall we head back inside?"
"Yeah, let's."
Back indoors, the men found the women engrossed in conversation. They were smiling and laughing, reminiscing on old times. It was a truly heartwarming scene.
"Ah, Mo- I-I mean, Zhongli! You're back."
"Yes, I am. Is there any reason for that statement of yours just now?" he replied, looking curious.
"N-No! We definitely were just having a normal conversation! Nothing strange!"
His sharp eyes surveyed her, and then he nodded.
"Understood. By the way, my apologies for coming unannounced, Diluc. We had informed Keqing ahead of time by letter, but it seems you weren't at home."
"No, it's perfectly fine. You're welcome here any time. Feel free to consider this your home away from home, even."
"I could never be so presumptuous, but I do appreciate your sentiment."
Diluc smiled at the man's manners, which resembled his wife's in a lot of ways.
"Well, since you're here, I suppose I should start acting like a proper host," Diluc spoke up again.
He clapped his hands twice, and in a matter of seconds, Adelinde was at his side.
"Yes, Master?"
"We have honored guests. Prepare something extra special for dinner tonight, and make sure the guest bedroom has only the finest bedclothes."
"As you wish," she replied instantly, taking a small bow.
Hu Tao's eyebrows were raised as she watched the unusual scene.
"Wow, didn't know you were this kinda guy, Diluc."
"I'm not. Just good at playing the part," he grinned. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should go get cleaned up."
"Of course," Zhongli replied.
"Keqing, could you come with me as well? There's something I'd like to discuss with you," Diluc addressed her as he started up the stairs.
"Sure," she replied, standing from her seat on the couch. "I'll be right back, you two just relax."
Zhongli smiled and nodded as Keqing followed her husband up the stairs.
"Those two sure are close," Hu Tao said, smiling up at Zhongli.
"Mm," he nodded.
Still smiling gently, she laid her head on Morax's shoulder affectionately.
Once the married couple had reached the privacy of their master bedroom, Diluc addressed her again.
"Keqing, before I start, I want you to know that I only did this to keep you from worrying or having to suffer."
"Hm?" Keqing looked confused, but her eyes grew wider when she saw Diluc's serious expression.
"I've been lying to you. I haven't been going to work, at least, not the way you probably imagined."
"Diluc…"
"That night when you were kidnapped, I had to make a difficult decision. I made a deal with the Harbingers that night… and I joined them."
Silence reigned as Diluc finally aired the horrible truth. Keqing's face looked sad, but not as shocked as Diluc had expected. Regardless, he forged on, resolute to finish this confession no matter what.
"I'm so sorry for lying to you. I won't try to rationalize it any further. Just know that I love you, and I did what I had to do to keep you safe that night."
She still didn't answer. Every moment of silence felt like needles on Diluc's skin. Finally meeting his gaze resignedly, Keqing spoke up.
"I know…" she whispered in a small voice. "I figured you were hiding something, but I wasn't totally sure what it was. I… I heard you talking to me that night when you carried me home."
Diluc's eyes grew wider, then softened with understanding.
"I see. So you were awake then, huh?"
"I woke up to your voice, and just listened for a while. Sorry for deceiving you," she answered quietly.
"Deceiving me? Please. I'm the liar here."
"Yes, you are."
Diluc knew it was true, but still couldn't help but cringe a bit. Her words so easily hurt him, even when little else in that damnable world could.
"Really, you're such a terrible… terrible… liar…" Keqing sniffled as tears began to fill her eyes.
Diluc rushed to embrace her immediately. He hugged her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"I was so worried about you! Damn it!" she cried and cursed, raising her voice as she punched his chest. "You never tell me anything! Do you not trust me enough? Why won't you let me help share the burden?! Isn't that what a wife is supposed to do?!"
Her words were painful, yet undoubtedly true.
"You're right. Damn it, you're right… After all this time, I should be able to trust you, and yet…" Diluc bit his lip hard in frustration.
Keqing continued to quietly sob in his arms for a while longer, and then spoke up again with tears in her voice.
"Please, Diluc. I'm begging you… don't leave me behind."
He remained silent, his brows furrowed deeply, so she continued.
"Please don't push me away… I love you so much… I want to know everything, even the painful things. If I don't, then I just end up feeling lost. I don't know what to do when you act like that… it really hurts…"
Her answer to his honesty came slowly and deliberately. The depth of her words sunk in bit by bit, causing grievous harm to Diluc's already-scarred heart.
"I'm such a fucking idiot… I don't know how to love someone at all, do I?" Diluc lamented in a low voice.
"Neither do I! I'm learning as we go! Just please… let me learn with you…" Keqing tearfully begged.
He stared into those amethyst jewels as they sparkled with tears, and resolved in his heart to live up to that hope of hers. Even after everything he had said - after all the harm he had done to her, her heart still shined so bright that his darkened eyes could barely stand to look straight at her. Looking down at his clenched fists, he spoke.
"Alright. Even if it hurts, I'll be honest with you. If I can't even do that, then there's no point to anything anymore."
Keqing smiled kindly, and hugged him again.
"This is why I love you."
"I love you too, even if I am a piece of shit."
"You're my piece of shit, though," she giggled, wiping the last of her tears away.
"I'll just pretend I didn't hear such a crass word come out of my wife's mouth just now," Diluc said, then chuckled.
"You heard no such thing."
Diluc smiled and went silent for a bit, contemplating his next words.
"Still, though, I'm not sure what will happen from now on. Can you live with that?" he steered the conversation back on course, still not certain of his wife's true feelings.
"Well… It isn't like I've never dealt with the Fatui myself. But the Harbingers… they have a lot of enemies for a reason. I'm a little uneasy about it, to be honest. I can't trust them at all," she said, meeting his eyes earnestly.
"I'm still not thrilled about it myself, but I'm going to do my best to remain me, no matter what. That I can promise you."
"Then as your loving wife, it's my job to accept that. I'll take it all, even if you resort to roughing me up…"
"Hey now, what kind of twisted view of marriage is that?"
The two stared at each other, then burst out laughing. As they did, Diluc could feel the weight of countless lies being lifted off his back. Somehow, even after returning from a long day at "work", his tired body felt light as a feather.
Love truly can be miraculous.
When Keqing returned to the first floor with the guests, her eyes were red, but her smile told Zhongli all he needed to know.
As the day peacefully drifted on, the sky began to turn orange, and evening arrived. The two couples spend most of the day catching up, partaking of the mansion's delicious cuisine, and discussing what might lie ahead in the future for them.
Liyue had been left with a major void to fill after Keqing's departure, but the country was still standing strong, according to Zhongli. This brought peace to Keqing, who couldn't help but feel restless at times because of her comfortable, laid-back new life. From now on, she could focus on being by her beloved's side without too much anxiety, knowing that her homeland was in good hands.
"But still, I can't believe you two got together," Keqing brought up with a small grin.
Hu Tao chuckled nervously, glancing at the tall man sitting next to her.
"Is it really that strange? I am aware that I'm an unusual man in some regards, but even I have a heart. Plus, the two of us get along quite swimmingly. To sum it up, I could find no reason to put a stop to it," Zhongli finished with a straight face.
"T-That's quite romantic of you," Keqing replied, trying to be considerate.
"Don't worry, he isn't always this sensible about it! In fact, when we first realized what had happened after everything reset, he was-"
"That revelation won't be necessary, young lady," Zhongli cut in, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I thought I told you I hate it when you call me that!"
"I can't seem to recall such an event," he smiled, with one eyebrow prominently twitching.
Diluc and Keqing looked at each other and smiled. It seemed that a lot had happened between these two - things that only the two of them would probably ever remember now. Something about that left a slightly bittersweet aftertaste amidst the happy scene.
"I'm glad you two are happy now. It… makes me feel a little better about the choice I made, even if it was incredibly selfish of me," Diluc interjected with a complicated look.
"There's no need to dwell on the past, Diluc. We are here now. Nothing can be done to change that, so we must make the most of it. Embrace the day while it lasts," Zhongli smiled kindly.
"You're right."
Just then, Keqing let out a loud yawn, then covered her mouth in embarrassment.
"S-Sorry! I'm not used to having guests this late," she blushed.
"No need to be formal with us! I'm getting tired too," Hu Tao kindly threw Keqing a line.
Diluc stood to his feet.
"It is getting rather late. I lost track of time talking, but it's already almost 9."
The two pairs agreed that it was bedtime, and headed upstairs. Zhongli and Hu Tao took residence in the large guest room that had been carefully prepared by the maids, while Diluc and Keqing headed to the master bedroom.
After taking a relaxing bath, Diluc headed for bed, where Keqing was already resting and reading a book by the light of the lamp on the nightstand. She was wearing her loose-fitting night clothes, and she looked lovely in the dim amber mood lighting that barely reached the darker corners of the room.
Diluc slipped under the covers next to her, his fancy night clothes making a hissing sound as they brushed against the sheets. That sound alerted Keqing, and she pulled herself out of the book she was studying intently.
"Ah, you're done bathing? I can turn out the light if you're ready to sleep."
"I'm pretty tired, wasn't expecting a social gathering when I got home."
Keqing chucked and turned out the light, then snuggled up to Diluc, her face only a few inches away from his.
"I understand. You probably need some space, right?"
"Nah, that doesn't apply to you."
Diluc spoke in a low voice, and pulled her closer with his strong arms. Keqing let out a small squeak, then quickly returned his embrace.
The night was quiet and serene. In the bushes outside the window, the crickets sang spring's swan song, and welcomed the beginning of a new season. The moon shone down on the land as if to watch over a growing child, carefully making sure that all was well. Some of that pale light managed to filter through the bedroom window, casting a soft, bluish glow on Keqing's smooth skin.
Overcome by a passing moment of joy, Diluc took her cheek in his left hand, and joined his lips with hers lovingly.
"Mm- haa… I love you so much…" Keqing panted as their lips parted.
"Same here," Diluc muttered in a low voice, then resumed his assault on her lips.
The two of them just lay there for a while, exploring each other's mouths, with their arms and legs hopelessly intertwined. That is, until Diluc slipped one hand under Keqing's nightshirt. His practiced fingers quickly found her nipple, which was already begging for attention. He rolled it between his pointer finger and thumb, then gave her breast a squeeze.
"Hn!" she moaned lightly, covering her mouth.
The both of them knew that their guests weren't far away: out the door, to the right down the hall, first door on the left. Close enough that if someone were to suddenly scream, for instance, they would very likely hear it.
Diluc began to feel a rush of sadism as he watched Keqing squirm and cover her mouth while desperately trying to remain quiet. One corner of his mouth raised in a smirk, and he brought his face to hers yet again.
"Haah… Mmmh!" Keqing moaned into his mouth.
Every little sound she made vibrated against his lips and tongue, stimulating him even more. At last, he pulled back again, and eyed her with a serious expression.
His right hand reached for the buttons of her nightshirt, and quickly undid them one by one. She made no effort to stop him, merely breathing heavily as a tiny droplet of drool dangled from the corner of her lips. Her eyes met his, sparks flew… and right then, they both knew it was too late to turn back.
Diluc kneaded her now-uncovered breasts, prompting countless cute little moans and gasps from her. Every one was like a spark to gasoline, causing the fire in Diluc's chest to rage even hotter. Soon, he had no choice but to remove that last pesky part of clothing covering Keqing's bottom half.
Once he spotted her soft, plump pussy glistening in the moonlight, Diluc became nothing more than an animal - a simple beast wholly controlled by its lust.
His hand found her entrance, and instantly began to caress it; gently at first, then with more force, and at last, directly stimulating that spot in the back that made her squirm with pleasure every time.
After bringing her to the brink of orgasm, though, he pulled his digits out. They were wet with her slimy secretions, and he brought them to his mouth for a taste. That action prompted Keqing to cover her blushing face in embarrassment. What he did next, though, was even more embarrassing for her.
He inserted those same fingers into her mouth, which was still moist and slippery from their intense kiss. She gasped softly, then moaned as his fingers caressed her tongue and teeth. Her eyes slowly drifted shut, and she began to embrace those rough fingers of his with her mouth, gently sucking on them.
As she did, he began to line up a certain body part of his with her entrance. Feeling something warm brush against that sensitive place, she opened her eyes again to find him looming over her. His penis was only centimeters away from being inside.
With one swift motion, he filled her up. By now, that pussy of hers was very used to him; it had been painstakingly molded into a place where only he belonged. As he bottomed out, Keqing unsuccessfully tried to stifle a yell of pleasure.
"Careful, they might hear us," Diluc grunted as he pumped into her again.
Tears filled the corners of Keqing's eyes as she desperately held back her voice. She covered her mouth with both hands as Diluc manhandled her, filling her up then pulling back out again, only to repeat that motion.
"Haaahhh… if you do it like that… Mmh?! I can't hold back…!"
The bed creaked, and Keqing's voice slowly got louder as Diluc relentlessly fucked his loving wife. Despite the situation, neither was willing to concede. Perhaps they were even getting off on the idea of getting caught.
"Diluuuuc… I can't…! They're going to hear us! Ohhh?!"
"Let them," he answered gruffly.
This was a side of him that Keqing had only fully discovered after the Reset: his somewhat sadistic, beast-like persona that sometimes arose during lovemaking. However, he never went too far, and always took proper care of her after it was over.
That thought made her heart warm… and her pussy even warmer.
"Fuck, you're squeezing so hard," he moaned.
"I can't help it! Mmhhhhh… thinking about someone hearing us…" she trailed off before finishing the thought.
But Diluc already understood very clearly. This girl had some latent masochistic tendencies, after all, and he was more than willing to indulge her tonight.
Soon, wet slapping sounds began to fill the room, audible over Keqing's whimpers and moans. Diluc's pace sped up, and Keqing's voice reached a fever pitch.
The wet, warm folds of Keqing's vagina milked Diluc with all their might. Every once in a while, he felt them pulsate, granting him even greater pleasure. He could feel every part of her: her sweaty thighs, her soft yet firm belly, her bouncing breasts, her lithe fingers wrapped around the back of his neck, and her pretty purple hair as it brushed against his leg. He immersed himself in her as he felt a building explosion begging to be set off beneath his crotch.
"I love you!" she yelped in between gasps.
That tender declaration pushed him over the edge. His penis got so hard that it felt like it was trying to burst out of its skin, and a sharp blaze of pleasure radiated from its base to the tip and back again. It throbbed violently as he spilled his seed into her, but he could barely contemplate such a fact. The ecstasy of the moment was so strong that no other thought could exist along side it.
Keqing yelled out as she felt a sudden rush of warmth mingle with the intense tingling in her lower belly. Not even considering their guests, she threw her head back and squealed. Diluc continued to pump into her until he was empty, grasping her hips firmly like she was some sort of sex toy meant exclusively for his pleasure.
At last, they came back down from that lofty peak to reality.
Diluc took Keqing in his arms, and she limply accepted his embrace.
"Oh god… what if they really did hear us…" she whispered in his ear, the reality of the situation finally hitting her.
"I'm sure they were already asleep," he replied noncommittally.
And that was the end of that. The two of them snuggled together, completely worn out from their intense act of copulation. Within minutes, both of them were out like a light.
Meanwhile, somewhere down the hallway, a certain brown-haired girl slapped her bright-crimson cheeks, and pulled the covers up over her head.
The first thing he was conscious of was a cool breeze touching his skin. Then, a blue sky above, perfectly clear and beautiful, punctuated by a mountain that seemed to reach out and touch it. Next, his hands, which looked oddly abnormal in a way that his foggy mind couldn't quite fathom. Finally, taking in what was closest to him, he saw two unusual figures nearby.
Amongst a city that looked both modern and ancient, two beautiful young women walked side by side. One had long, flowing white hair, adorned with a cloak that seemed to be born from I⬜⬜IN⬜TY itself. The other had deep magenta-colored hair, and beautiful violet eyes that almost seemed to glow from within.
The two women strode along a stone path cheerfully, without a care in the world. They chatted and smiled like the best of friends, until the day grew long. No, not just that day. Many such days. So many.
The scenes before Diluc's eyes morphed rapidly, as if he was being thrust through time itself. Glimpses of daily life; happy moments, sad ones, they all went by in the blink of an eye. But every single one of them revolved around those two women - and with each passing second, Diluc became more and more certain that he had seen them somewhere before.
Without warning, the bright blue sky gave way to a crimson one. Beyond the distant mountains, the sun was setting. Silence reigned over a quiet stone path that led far from the bustle of the city. It would have been a beautiful evening were it not for the centerpiece of the scene.
On a makeshift pole at the edge of a city's smoldering ruins, a small, frail female body hung.
Dried blood was caked around her torn limbs, and her stomach was opened like a can, with all of her bowels and organs lying unceremoniously in a festering pile on the ground beneath her. She had clearly been there for a while; her pitiful remains had already begun to rot, filling the air with a gut-wrenching stench. Her lovely eyes had been cruelly gouged out, since they could ⬜⬜⬜ into ⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜, and that simply could not be allowed. All that remained were two black, seeping holes where they once were. The pure-white ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ she once wore so proudly were now replaced by short, bloody nubs.
Diluc's heart was crushed. He felt an immense empathy for this girl, even though he didn't even know her name at that moment. Still, tears began to pour down his face unabated as he stumbled up to where she was hanging, lifeless and alone.
"What… is this…?" he muttered, feeling his wet cheeks.
But then, through his blurry vision, he noticed that he wasn't the only one viewing this macabre display. To his right was another woman - one that looked quite familiar. Her long white hair was strewn in the dust about her as she sat on the ground, wailing and crying despondently.
He knew who this was. That's right, he certainly knew. He had known for a very, very long time. In fact, he couldn't pinpoint a time when he hadn't known. Such a concept was utterly preposterous to the him of right then.
But just as his mind began to rectify itself with the truth once more - as his lips began to tenderly form the shape of that girl's name - that world ceased to exist.
Ending Theme: satella feat. Sennzai - Reincarnation
With a gasp that must have lasted several seconds, Diluc bolted upright in bed. He desperately glanced around the room as the final wispy remnants of that dream evaded him and disappeared from his memory.
Beside him, Keqing was sleeping peacefully, completely undisturbed by his rude awakening.
For reasons that he couldn't fully grasp, Diluc glanced down at his hands.
He had ten fingers. Yes, that had always been the case, hadn't it?
He tried and tried to remember what he had just seen, but not even the smallest shred of that dream remained in his mind. Why, then?
Why am I shivering?
Next:
Episode 10: On an Early Summer's Eve
A/N:
Haven't had much time to edit these chapters in the last week, but hopefully these 4 will make up for it.
Thanks to everyone who is reading and enjoying this story so far. Are you enjoying this unexpected new direction for Diluc? Is it too absurd? Any theories about what's going on?
Much more to come.