My goal was to enjoy the tavern atmosphere for the night while watching Diluc work, but the large volume of customers quickly suggested that wouldn't be possible. The tables were full, the bar counter was crowded, and people stood around the tavern huddled in conversation.

"This is good business," Diluc said when I asked for the third time if he was holding up okay. "It's nothing I can't handle."

I glanced at the empty, dirty glasses that were beginning to collect on one side of the counter. Diluc tried his best to clean them all, but there simply wasn't enough time to do everything—taking orders and making drinks came first. There was another employee waiting tables somewhere, but the tavern could really use an extra pair of hands.

After another minute of listening to customers grumble about the wait, I asked, "Can I help with the cleaning, at least? I feel useless just sitting here otherwise."

There was hesitation on his face, but it didn't take Diluc long to give in with a sigh. "Alright, if you insist. There's a spare apron under this side of the counter, and the towels are in this compartment."

Satisfied with that, I hopped off the barstool and slipped past a few customers as I made my way around the counter. Determined to be helpful, I quickly found the apron and looped the connecting strings around my waist before tying them in a secure knot. Though the rest of our outfits were different—me in my day clothes and Diluc in his bartending getup—I smiled at our matching aprons.

I'd spent enough time observing Diluc at work to know how to clean the glasses and where to put them afterward. Soon enough, I'd fallen into a steady rhythm of cleaning and sorting the glasses and mugs. The chatter around me soothed into a controlled ambiance rather than the restless crowd.

The waiter emerged from the patrons and set a round tray full of empty glasses on the counter. He offloaded them to me and said, "Master Diluc, I need another round of misty garden spritz for the table in the back. Did we hire a new employee?"

Diluc nodded and quickly prepared the cocktails. "For tonight."

"Welcome to the team," the waiter said to me before whirling away once the new drinks were carefully balanced on the tray.

Eventually, the waves of customers died down, and it was only until I had a handful of glasses left to clear away that I found the time to make small talk.

"So, if I'm one of your employees, should I be calling you 'Master Diluc?'"

Diluc paused on the drink he was stirring and said to me, "That won't be necessary."

"Really? Not even 'sir?'"

"No, not even 'sir.'"

That was too bad. I thought it was fun working behind the bar and wanted to lean into the employee role, but if Diluc didn't want me to, then it couldn't be helped. Before I fully let it go, I remembered how he had a similar reaction when I had jokingly called him 'Master Diluc' over winter break. Just like back then, his throat bobbed, and I even managed to hear Diluc clear his throat over the buzz of surrounding conversation. Interesting.

"I suppose there is the matter of sorting out compensation."

Surprised by the suggestion, I set down a freshly cleaned glass with a loud clink. "You don't have to. I'm here because I want to help you—not for mora."

"What kind of business owner would that make me? I'm more than able to pay your earned wage."

"I know, but I don't want this to be a transaction thing. This should be a me-being-here-for-you thing. No strings attached."

Diluc sighed again, and I could tell he really wanted to compensate me for my time. Knowing him, he didn't make a habit of owing people—whether it be favors or money. "In that case, I'll respect your wishes."

It was a relief that he didn't push back on the subject, but I kept the conversation in mind for later. Though I doubted he'd go to such lengths, Diluc might try to slip a pouch of mora in my bag when I wasn't looking. On second thought, Kaeya was more likely to pull a move like that.

Where was he, anyway? The tavern occupancy had dwindled enough for me to see past the bar counter, and though I noticed the familiar faces of some of my peers, Kaeya was none of them. Of all people, I expected Kaeya to hang around at a place like this the most, but I imagined it'd be uncomfortable to wear a stuffy turtleneck amongst jostling drunks.

That reminded me of my plan to rescue Kaeya from his tortuous sweater.

"Okay, maybe one string attached," I said.

Diluc didn't stop shaking the mixer in his hands, but he did lift an eyebrow at me. I took that as a sign to go on.

"In exchange for my act of service, can Kaeya wear his normal clothes again? No more turtlenecks."

"I don't see a correlation between these two topics."

"Come on, Diluc. Hasn't he suffered enough?"

Diluc smiled as though it was a fitting end. "I suppose he has."

"So, will you lift the punishment?"

"No. I'm willing to consider it, but you'll also have to convince Childe. After all, it was mutually agreed upon between us."

I forgot about that.

With my plan thwarted, I went back to cleaning—not that there were many glasses left. The rush of customers had disappeared, and I wondered how many of them were now tripping over their own feet in the streets. Many that remained in the tavern clearly had their fill of alcohol for the night, and my cheeks heated every time I glimpsed a couple's intimacy.

There was one specific table where a man and woman had chosen to sit in the same booth rather than across from each other. I looked away for a moment to grab a new towel, but when I checked on them again, there was no space separating their bodies. His hands were tangled in her hair as she moved to sit in his lap, and I only managed to tear my eyes away after hearing Diluc grumble.

"If their…business goes any further, I may have to step away for a bit and handle the situation. There aren't many aspects of managing the tavern that I dislike, but matters such as this land on that list."

Of course, after spending so much time around inebriated customers, Diluc would have had the wildest experiences with them. Personally, I wouldn't know how to go about ending that heavy makeout session without becoming flustered myself. After glimpsing their table again, there wasn't a single beverage in sight.

"Are you sure they're drunk?" I asked.

"It's a strong possibility. Their table may have been cleared already. Even if that wasn't the case, the end result is still the same. Whether it be passion fueled by alcohol or feelings alone, I cannot have lewd behavior on display in my tavern."

It didn't take much long after that before said lewd behavior took form. The woman moved to sit on the table itself and dragged the man with her. Their ruddy faces gleamed with heated affection as he clambered over her—treating the surface as a bed. By now, several others had taken notice. Whispers and hoots broke out, and that was Diluc's cue to take action. I forced my jaw shut as he grumbled on his way over and gave sharp orders for the couple to separate.

They didn't listen.

He was left with no choice but to physically separate the two, which normally wouldn't be a problem with his strength, but the man and woman had somehow gotten into a state of undress. Visibly frustrated, Diluc struggled to intervene without grabbing anything inappropriate. The second-hand embarrassment was strong enough to reach me, so I quickly refocused back on my task—or tried to.

Being kissed like that…I blushed at just the thought of it. Brazenly doing so in front of an entire tavern of people was more than inappropriate, but in private was another matter. The unrestrained, frenzied touches were nothing I'd ever experienced. Not with Thoma, who was incredibly sweet with all of his actions. Not even with Childe—not yet.

If I were to think of a time when I witnessed a fraction of that intensity, the scene from earlier today came to mind. Diluc was undoubtedly fierce, though he kept his true strength hidden behind calm, rational thoughts. Except, that hadn't been the case in training. His passion…did it only extend to violence? I wouldn't mind finding out.

"Excuse me, miss?"

Startled from my thoughts, I nearly dropped the glass in my hands and realized just how tightly I'd been gripping it.

"Yes?" I replied to the customer—a blond man—and immediately corrected my breathlessness. "How can I help you?"

"Could you tell me what your selection of wine is?"

Wine? I didn't know much about the alcohol kept in stock. Playing it safe, I answered with, "Red and white."

That wasn't a good response. He knew it. I knew it. From the obvious wine rack behind me, it was clear that 'red and white' hardly scratched the surface. He looked at me as though I had a screw loose, and I couldn't blame him. A typical employee should be aware of more than just the basics.

"What's your usual order?" I asked and hoped it would be simple enough for me to find.

"This is my first time here. I normally go for a mulled wine made with harra fruit, but I understand if you don't have any in stock. It's more of a Sumeru specialty."

He was from Sumeru? With that in mind, his clothes did look different from people living in the town. I immediately thought of Kaeya when I spotted the deep v-neck of the man's shirt. I then locked onto his red eyes and was reminded of Diluc next. It was impossible to get these men out of my mind.

Trying my best, I turned around and perused the wine rack for mulled wine. Many of the bottles were labeled with signature names instead of the actual type, so I only lingered for a bit longer and brainstormed a tactic to keep this customer from leaving.

"Have you ever had a pinkity drinkity?" I asked with my brightest sales smile. "It's a unique cocktail imported from Mondstadt. One of our most popular items."

The man shook his head. "Pinkity drinkity? I do like a good cocktail every now and then. For someone working at a tavern who doesn't know their wines, you seem pretty enthusiastic about it. I'll give it a go."

"Well, I'm only a temporary employee." I laughed it off and retrieved a new bottle of pinkity drinkity from the icebox.

By some miracle, I executed a pour nearly as perfect as the ones I'd seen Diluc do. Whatever that bartender from Cat's Tail put in the cocktail, I was positive this man would enjoy it as much as I did. After he complimented its color and took a tentative sip, my prediction was confirmed when his eyes immediately brightened.

"This is amazing. The flavor is really…wow." He downed the rest of it quickly and let out a satisfied exhale. "I'll have another glass. Maybe I can finally find some joy after my useless luck out here."

So, he was the type to indulge in a drink after a bad day. Taverns were a great place for venting, and I couldn't ignore my own curiosity about this man. For instance, what was someone from Sumeru doing here?

"Oh, I'm sure it can't be that bad."

"Believe me, if I had known the gates of Celestia Academy were blocked off from the general public, I wouldn't have spent a third of this month's paycheck to take the trip," he complained. "I'll be lucky if I can make my next rent payment."

I didn't need to pry any further for the man to dive into his lamentations. He was an Akademiya scholar and known as the Light of the Kshahrewar—a title that apparently came with immense pressure. Wanting to impress his professors with a profound architectural design, he traveled here to gain inspiration from Celestia Acadmey's campus buildings.

"These are the only images I could find in the Akademiya archives." He pulled two photographs from his briefcase. They were grainy and partially ruined by water damage. "And now there's no hope of me getting a glimpse of the buildings for myself. Can I have another glass?"

I served another pinkity drinkity to the poor guy and prepared to grab a spare bottle.

"You know, I'm actually a student there."

He nearly choked on his drink. "You are? And you're working here as well? I feel bad for judging your expertise earlier. A fellow scholar in economic duress…Is there a tip jar I can contribute to?"

"Oh, no it's fine. I'm only helping out for the night. The owner and I are close."

"Close?" He lifted a sculpted brow. "By any chance, is this owner the frowning redhead who was behind the counter earlier?"

"That would be him."

"Ah, there's nothing quite like a young romance."

My mouth fell agape, and I quickly shut it before asking, "How did you know?"

"How could I not? Some people are less aware of such things, but I have quite the eye for it. He wasn't very subtle about the looks he gave you throughout the evening. You'd have to be blind not to notice."

I hadn't noticed.

"Judging from your blush, I can tell you cherish him just as much. That's good—a breath of fresh air, even." His smile flickered slightly before he beamed once more. "Hey, since you're a student at Celestia Academy, do you think you can grant me access?"

A vague sense of déjà vu crossed my mind, and I was mentally transported back to when Itto and his gang tried to obtain dining hall rights. They had ultimately succeeded and then accidentally damaged campus property. After that incident, I doubted anyone other than the headmaster could approve of an outsider now.

"Sorry," I said. "That's out of my control."

He slumped. "I figured, but it was worth an ask."

Despite only having just met this man, I felt the urge to lend a helping hand. Random acts of kindness couldn't hurt, and I saw no reason to resist.

"What if I took some photos for you?"

"What? You would really do that?"

I nodded. How hard could it be? I'd wanted to cheer him up, but instead of smiling once more, tears formed in his eyes. A bolt of panic shot through me, and I didn't know how to handle the crying patron.

"I couldn't possibly expect you to—you're too kind. We're just strangers. Is it really alright for me to—thank you. May you be blessed by the Dendro Archon." He sniffled and wiped away his tears. "Unfortunately, my departure is tomorrow morning, so handing over the photos won't be easy."

"Can't I just mail them to your address?"

"Right, right. Let me grab a pen and paper to write it down." He dug into his briefcase once more. "Thank you, again. Please, let me buy you a drink. Wait, I don't even know your name. I haven't given you my name yet, either. Where have my manners gone? The heavens finally look upon me and—"

Two hands braced themselves on either side of me, landing on the bar counter. Diluc had returned, and I jumped slightly at his sudden closeness. With his chest to my back, I could feel the rumble in his voice when he delivered a stone-cold question.

"What's going on here?"

"I was talking to…"

"Kaveh," the man supplied.

"I was talking to Kaveh about how I could help with a dilemma. He came all this way to observe the campus architecture, but he can't even get past the gates."

The displeasure in Diluc's tone was clear. "So, he wants to use you."

"No, not at all. I offered to take pictures and send them to Sumeru."

"Really?" Diluc didn't bother containing his disbelief, though he did step away to stand at my side and folded his arms. "Tell me, Kaveh, is that all you're interested in?"

Kaveh handled the pressure of Diluc's stare rather well. With a casual nod, he said, "Other than that, I was actually thinking of purchasing a crate of pinkity drinkity to take back home with me. I can't remember the last time I received such a great recommendation. Whatever you pay your bartender, it isn't enough."

"I agree," Diluc mumbled under his breath.

There wasn't much left for me to do after that. Less and less people entered the tavern, and Kaveh eventually joined those who exited as the night came to an end. His mailing address was safely tucked in my pocket, and I made a mental note to scope out the most impressive buildings on campus later.

For now, I helped close once the last patron had left. The waiter on duty was out the door once he wiped down all the tables and mopped the floor. When the final glass was cleaned, I relaxed on the customer side of the bar as Diluc carefully examined the list of transactions made throughout the day and checked the register.

"What else did you and Kaveh talk about?" he suddenly asked without looking up from the receipts.

Caught off guard, my memory blanked long enough for Diluc to look up with suspicion.

"Nothing much. We established that I don't know wine very well. And…he said you were sneaking looks at me. Is that true?"

Diluc's eyes darted back to the receipts, and I smiled when I saw the tips of his ears turn pink.

"I was only checking to see if you were alright."

"Why wouldn't I be, Master Diluc?"

His head snapped up again, a warning in his eyes. "You're not my employee, Lumine. Not in the typical sense. If you call me that, then I should be allowed to give you proper compensation."

He already knew I wouldn't accept mora, and it occurred to me that compensation could take on many forms. With my arms folded on top of the bar counter, I leaned forward with a conspiring grin. I already knew what I wanted. The real question was how I wanted it.

"You already denied my first request. You won't deny me a second time, right?"

His eyes tracked me as I stood and walked around the counter. "As long as it's within reason."

When I reached him, I did my best to feign indifference when our arms brushed. I peeked around his strong frame to glance at the gleaming mora in the register. The traffic of customers had yielded quite a profit, but that fact barely held my interest.

Humming lightly, I let my hand trail to the stack of receipts in Diluc's grasp before settling on his wrist. When I drew my gaze upward to look at him, so too did my hand move up his arm. Thank goodness he couldn't hear the hammering of my heart.

"There is something you can give me," I said thoughtfully. "As many as you can afford."

His eyes narrowed slightly, probably considering what bountiful demand I had in mind.

"A kiss." There. I'd gone and said it. The ball was in his court.

"A…" His jaw went slack, eyes falling to my lips. "Kiss?"

"Kiss me, Diluc."

I felt bold while saying so, but a wave of vulnerability hit me right after. If he didn't want to, I would quickly step back and pretend it was a joke. My heart continued to ricochet in my chest, but I swear it stopped completely when Diluc finally unfroze and abandoned the receipts in his hand. They fluttered to the floor right as my eyes fluttered shut.

In a swift movement, Diluc ducked down and placed a hand at the nape of my neck, pulling me in to press a firm kiss on my lips. There were no thoughts on my mind—only the feel of his other hand as it gripped my hip and pressed my body against his, the soft bump at my waist as it hit the counter, and the sound of our breaths after we parted and joined once more.

Returning the energy, I kissed Diluc back. A second time, a third, and I quickly lost count after that. The hand at my neck moved upward, gently tugging at my hair. The hand at my hip moved downward, gripping my thigh in a vice that hitched my breath. My own hands didn't know where to land—unable to stay in one spot for too long, desperately needing to feel all of him. They traveled from his arms to his broad shoulders, flattening against his chest and clasping around his neck.

Completely sober, there was no question if our intimacy was the result of alcohol or attraction. Fantasizing couldn't beat reality. Exhilaration thrummed in my body. When we broke apart to breathe again, only a second was spared before I rose on my toes to get closer, and he dove back down to meet my lips.

The height difference quickly became irrelevant when both of his hands moved to my hips, lifting me to sit on the counter. Surprised, I let out a gasp.

"We should slow down," he panted.

"You're the one who brought me up here," I said, equally breathless.

He chuckled hoarsely and pulled me into his arms, not for a kiss, but to nestle his head in the crook of my neck. Dazed, I stared forward and questioned if this was all a dream.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for this. Though, I intended for our first to be…more controlled." He sounded sheepish, which I found very cute. "Forgive me for not holding back."

"Never."

Diluc pulled away, soft shock and worry on his face. "You will not forgive me?"

"Never hold back. I want everything from you, Diluc." I reached out and brushed away a lock of hair that had come loose from his ponytail.

His face leaned into the touch, cheek resting in my palm. At the contact, a spark of energy shocked us, and we both flinched. The purple glow faded from my fingertips, and I stared at my hand like it was an anomaly—because it was.

"What was that?" Diluc asked and grasped my hand tenderly, searching for a sign of anything.

The first time this happened, I had brushed it off. The second time, it had surely been a coincidence. Three times, though? Exhilaration may not be the only sensation thrumming in my body. I had a feeling that, from now on, sparks would continue to fly.