Home Is Where My Love Lies

by Kaliesto

When things have settled a little for Diluc, and Kaeya after arriving on the Astral Express, they start searching for a way to return home. Part Two of Home Is Where My Boots Are (I'm very sorry it took so long!)

Whether or not they are directly linked, or the characters know each other, I think of my stories as all having happened within the same little world! In my stories. I frequently mention things that have happened in others I have written, but most of them should be able to be read stand alone without issues.

Also, while I try to keep it very close with Genshin lore, I don't know every single bit of lore, and can't remember it all. So, some things are slightly different, there are also some things that are only guessed. I'm just here to write stories for people to read, should they choose!

As for my version of travel time, everything is small, and close together in the game, so I spread it out a little. It should take time to get places! (More dramatic that way rofl)

Thank you to my husband for being my proofreader!

As always, thank you for reading, I hope everyone enjoys it!

Feel free to leave a comment :)

Chapter One

Diluc was hallucinating. His brain was currently too scrambled to think of another rational explanation for his current situation. No other explanation as to why he was currently staring at his mother, in person. He'd been drugged, and was now seeing things.

The woman looked shocked for a moment, but quickly schooled her expression, "I'm sorry, I'm afraid that's just not possible. My name is Himeko, the navigator for the Astral Express. Now that you're awake, and we've established that there's no attacking going on, would one of you be able to tell us how you got here?"

Himeko, his mother. This was his mother, she was standing right in front of him. Diluc felt like he couldn't breathe. A hand on his shoulder made him jump, and stumble back as Kaeya's face came into his field of vision. His stomach swirled as nausea made itself known at the movement.

Kaeya's mouth was moving, but his voice didn't break through the sound of blood rushing in his ears. If his mother was here, was his father as well? He would be there for Diluc if he were, he had no doubt in his mind about that.

This was a trick. It was impossible for her to be here, for either of his parents to be with him. He looked at the man who had been far too close when he woke. It wasn't Il Dottore. Dark hair, glasses, golden eyes, and the coat wasn't white, as he'd first thought, it was his vest. but that was probably a trick, too. That psychopath could do anything.

All sound came rushing back at once, and hit Diluc like a rushing wave. Kaeya looked worried, still talking to him. Diluc ripped off his coat, and started pulling at his sleeves. There were no tears, or cuts in the fabric. He pulled his sleeves up, looking frantically across his arms, one of Dottore's favorite places for injections. There was nothing.

The doctor had said so many times, too many, that he enjoyed turning Diluc's body into what he considered art, and this could mean he'd done anything. Scratching, hitting, cutting, burning, biting, injecting, electrocuting… touching. He'd done it all to Diluc, a self-given invitation to do as he pleased while he had Diluc strapped down.

Kaeya gently stopped him, trying to get Diluc's attention, "Diluc, there's got to be another explanation," he said, seeming to know what Diluc was thinking, "We need to figure this out, okay? Diluc, can you hear me?"

Kaeya was here, and he didn't look panicked or hurt, just concerned. He'd hallucinated that his brother was with him before. It took so, so much effort to get over that, to be able to tell if it was the real Kaeya or something out of his mind. How could he tell if his brother was just his imagination now?

"Diluc… It's going to be okay. I'm going to figure this out, just breathe-" he said as he held Diluc's arms.

Contact. Physical contact. Fake Kaeya had only ever circled him, taunting him. Real Kaeya helped him, and made sure he was okay. This was his brother.

The man wearing the coat had moved closer, talking to him, and reached his hand out. He didn't touch Diluc, but was far too close for his liking. Diluc pressed himself against the wall. Panic. His body was going into panic mode, all while trying to shut down from exhaustion.

There was too much going on, and his body was demanding rest. Kaeya said something to the man, and he backed off. Kaeya gently guided Diluc towards the bed he'd been in before.

No. No beds…

He pulled his arm away from Kaeya, and backed himself into a corner where he could see the room, before sliding down the wall. This wasn't Dottore, nor one of his labs. It was not a hallucination.

He just needed a minute…

~xxxxxxxxxx~

Kaeya crouched next to Diluc as his brother slid down, talking under his breath. He was still far more responsive than he could be sometimes, but the man in the coat, and bed were definitely massive triggers. The man couldn't have known, and was obviously very concerned, only wanting to help. All the strangers in the room looked concerned, for that matter.

Things had already gone very downhill before Diluc had even seen his mother, and Kaeya couldn't blame him. As if everything else wasn't bad enough, she tried to explain that she wasn't by giving her name.

Kaeya had looked at that painting so many times, completely fascinated by it. He'd been curious. Since Crepus had been a wonderful father, would she have been a wonderful mother? He'd dreamed of the entire family playing together on a sunny day, having picnics, and dinner, just as Diluc had surely done a million times.

The painting was beautiful. She wore a white dress, not unlike the one this woman had on, with a royal blue cloak, accenting her bright red hair, and deep golden eyes. On the bottom of the frame was a metal plate: Himeko Ragnvindr, Beloved Wife and Mother.

This woman was Diluc's mother, no doubt, but why would she deny it? Everything that he'd ever heard about her would suggest that she'd wanted to be in Diluc's life more than anything. Crepus had told them stories about how excited she was to become a mother, the preparations she'd made. This person didn't seem like she was lying. There was something else going on.

"Um… What just happened?" the pink haired girl asked.

Too much is what just happened.

Kaeya shook his head, "Where are we?"

Himeko stepped forward, "You are aboard the Astral Express. We were making a jump, and the two of you popped up out of nowhere. The Express' travel was brought to a sudden halt by this, and those who weren't properly seated… went for a bit of a ride. Is there anything we can do to help your friend?"

Diluc looked up wearily, "… I'm fine."

Kaeya held back a scoff at Diluc's lie, but he was happy to have his brother respond. Even if he went right back to silence.

"Some space would be nice? It's a little crowded in here…"

Himeko nodded, and turned to the others, "March, Mister Yang, would you please go help Dan Heng, and Pom Pom?"

Kaeya watched as the pink haired girl, and man left with a nod. He'd have to remember their names. The gray haired girl crouched nearby, and gave them a small smile, Himeko came over as well.

The girl spoke up, "I'm Stelle, what's your name?"

He could put on his usual fake smile, and charm, but he just didn't feel up for it. Truthfully, his body was sore, and he felt like he was going to vomit. A good nap would do.

"I'm Kaeya, this is Diluc."

He looked at Himeko, who was watching Diluc closely. Surely she could see the resemblance. His brother truly looked like both of his parents. His father's eyes, his mother's face shape, and nose, and both of their lush, fiery red hair.

"Would you mind if we ran a test?"

Diluc's jaw tensed, and he immediately positioned himself to where he could move away quickly. Himeko noticed this, and raised her hands to calm him.

"All we would need is a bit of your saliva. No one here would hurt you, I promise."

Kaeya looked back to his brother to find Diluc already looking at him with tired eyes, and a pallor the shade of green that Kaeya felt. It took a few minutes, but the redhead finally agreed. Kaeya had to admit it, he was shocked.

Himeko went to a cabinet, and pulled out a few supplies. She brought over a vial for each of them, and explained what to do. With that done, she turned to them once more.

"If you are up for moving, I would like to have Stelle show you some quarters. I'm sure you could both use the rest. We had already checked over your injuries before you regained consciousness. You'll be sore, but there shouldn't be anything more than bruises. Judging by how you both look, you are nauseous?"

Diluc didn't respond, and Kaeya nodded.

"That's likely from your arrival while we were in mid-jump, then being tossed around. I can give you something that may help, if you would like."

Again, Kaeya nodded, but there was no response from Diluc. It wasn't his panic attack version of non responsiveness. He was moving, biting his lower lip, and while his breathing was a little elevated, it was close enough to normal.

"I think we'd both appreciate that."

With a small smile she handed Kaeya two tablets, "They are chewable. One for each of you, if he decides he needs one. After you've had the chance to recuperate, we would be happy to show you around the Express, as well as try to figure out what happened."

With a nod from Himeko, Stelle stood, and reached a hand out to help Kaeya up. He hesitantly took her hand, and as he stood, his stomach came awfully close to rebelling. Once that was settled, he held out a hand for Diluc.

He was staring at Himeko again, but looked like he was doing a little better with far fewer people in the room. Eventually, he took Kaeya's hand, and turned an extra shade of green as he stood. Kaeya had so many questions, he knew Diluc's mind must have been brimming with them as well.

Before they reached the door, Diluc stopped and slowly turned back to Himeko. He looked at the ground, and Kaeya knew that look many times when they were children. Diluc was about to ask for something he knew would probably be turned down.

"… Could… Could I stay with you?"

The request took Kaeya by surprise, but he couldn't say he blamed Diluc. He thought that if he were in his brother's place, he'd probably do exactly the same. Himeko didn't answer straight away, and Diluc didn't look up at her. Finally, she sighed, moved closer, and made a small gesture, succeeding in getting Diluc to look at her.

"You are rather unsteady on your feet, and truthfully, you look as if you'll pass out any moment. I really think you should rest. There will be plenty of time to talk after, alright?"

Diluc looked away again, but nodded. Kaeya shared a small, sad glance with Stelle, and they were led to their room.

Chapter Two

"We just passed the new visitors walking with Stelle… What did you do to them? The redhead looked like a kicked puppy!"

March was right, and Himeko had already questioned her choice to send him away, but he really did need to rest, and she needed time to figure this out. She couldn't deny the resemblance between him, and herself, but there was an issue with him being her child – she'd never had one.

"He asked to stay with me, and I told him to rest."

"He just wanted to hang out with his mom, and you sent him to bed? That's harsh!"

"March, he's not my son. I collected dome DNA samples to run, then we'll see if we can find his parents."

Welt made a small noise, that same noise he always made when he had something to solve, "I'll take care of this. Maybe you should take a break as well. A lot has happened in a short time."

Understatement. Himeko took a deep breath as Stelle walked in, "How are they? All settled in?"

"They are," Stelle nodded, "Perhaps a little dejected, though…"

Oh, she loved her crew, but they really had a way, "I know, I know. As I was just saying, we'll find his family soon."

"The sooner, the better! Poor guy seemed a little out of sorts. I wasn't sure if he'd actually walk by Mister Yang in the hallway…"

The blue haired man cleared his throat behind them, "Actually, that's what I came here to talk to you about."

Well, Himeko thought it would take a little longer than that for one of them to find their way out of their room. However, she was fairly surprised that it wasn't Diluc.

"Is he okay? Does he need medical attention?"

She realized she may have sounded a bit too concerned, as her crew turned to look at her with raised eyebrows. Even Kaeya let out a small laugh. She ignored all of it.

"He's fine. He's already asleep, seems this… trip?… was fairly draining for him."

"How can we help you, then?" Welt asked, pulling out a chair for the tired looking blue haired man.

Kaeya looked grateful to sit, "I shouldn't be telling you this without his permission, and he'll likely kill me if he finds out. My brother has… had some very bad experiences with someone who called himself a doctor. There are things that trigger these issues. Waking up in a lab, surrounded by people he doesn't know is bad enough, which you couldn't have known. The doctor, though, his coat is similar to yours, but white. With blurry eyesight, well, even I couldn't tell at first. While that may not simply be a trigger on its own, waking up to all of this, and…" he looked at Himeko, "And other things, in an already altered state…"

Welt nodded, and removed his coat, "I'll put this away for now, and I'll try to interact with him as little as possible. Is there anything else we can do to help him?"

"He doesn't like to be touched. As long as you avoid it happening out of the blue, it should be alright, he'll tolerate it if he's expecting it, but he'd really rather have it not happen."

Himeko couldn't help but wonder what it was that had happened to cause this kind of trauma. What had he been through? What did his family do to help him with it? The man had been a hair from a panic attack, did this happen often? Speaking of his family-

"You are brothers? Does that mean you also think…" she trailed off.

Sadness crossed the man's face, but only for a split second before it was schooled again, "Adoptive brothers. Our father took me in when I was young… His name was Crepus. Does that sound familiar at all?"

Himeko shook her head, and the sadness was back.

"I'm sorry. We're going to figure this out, we just need a little time."

Kaeya stood, still a little unstable on his feet, "I'll let you work. Thank you for listening."

"Of course, thank you for letting us know. It's never our goal to cause people discomfort."

With a nod, the man left.

"Well, that explains some things. I'll have to apologize later for causing him such distress," Welt said.

The computer chimed, and he cleared his throat. Himeko tried to decipher the look on his face. Surprise, maybe?

"There are matches in the system. Himeko, congratulations, it's a boy."

Her jaw dropped, "That…. That's not possible!"

She briefly considered that this was some sort of elaborate joke set up by her crew, but she knew it most certainly wasn't. They wouldn't do that. Welt turned the screen for her to see. There it was, plain as day. Diluc was her child.

Himeko felt like the air was suddenly three times thicker than it had been. Trying to draw in air was starting to make her slightly dizzy, and she realized she might be working her way to a panic attack. She did her best to slow her breathing, and find her center once more.

Dan Heng entering the room went unnoticed, "Hm. I don't believe I've ever seen such a face on you. Are you alright?"

She couldn't answer that, good thing March, and Stelle were there to do it for her.

"She just found out she's a mom!" Stelle exclaimed.

"Mhm! Isn't she glowing?!" March added helpfully.

Dan Heng blinked at them, but kept his usual straight face, "It seems a lot has happened since we last saw each other… just under an hour ago. Would somebody care to explain?"

"The two men who, hm, "boarded" the train during our jump. It would seem one of them is Himeko's child. Although, she's not the only person we know with whom he shares genetics with," Welt said calmly.

That snapped her out of it, "Someone we know? Who?"

Welt turned the monitor to where he could see it, hit a few keys, and turned it back. Now, instead of her own profile beside Diluc's, it was yet another redhead they knew.

"What?! Is that for real?" March exclaimed, "Himeko, did you and Argenti-"

"No! No, we absolutely did NOT."

"Diluc would be Argenti's paternal nephew," Welt explained. "Stelle, you speak with him frequently. Has he ever mentioned having a brother?"

"Is this guy just related to every redhead out there?" March said, obviously talking to herself.

Stelle shrugged, and took out her phone, "Never. I can ask him, though."

"What about the other man? Were you able to find anything?"

Welt shook his head, "There's nothing in our database that matches this man's DNA. The scan shows that there are some oddities with it, however. I'd like to send a request to Herta Space Station to run it through their larger database."

Himeko nodded, "Okay, do it. Thank you," she turned to Dan Heng, "How are repairs?"

Dan Heng raised a brow at the change of subject, but still answered, "I believe they are complete. Things weren't as bad as they seemed initially. Pom Pom is waiting for your availability."

Himeko took a breath, and pushed away from the table. She could really use a distraction anyway.

It wasn't much of a distraction. Pom Pom instantly bombarded her with questions about their guests. Then, upon receiving a text from someone, presumably on the crew, about Himeko's interesting situation, and started asking about picking baby names.

"He's already grown, already has a name, and he's not my child!"

"The percentage of shared deoxyribonucleic acid says otherwise! You said he already knew you were his mother. Did you ask him how?"

"He looked ready to pass out. It will be easier for us to talk about it when he's feeling better."

"Awe! He'll be so excited to learn about all his siblings here on the express!"

Himeko blinked, "I'm sorry… what?"

"All the younglings you and Mister Yang have adopted along the way, Pom Pom included. We're all a big happy family!"

Every one of them was crazy, herself included, but she loved them for it. DNA aside, Himeko was curious about Diluc. A piece of her wanted to find out everything about him. What was his family like? Did he have a significant other, and what were they like? Where was he from? Did he have other siblings, or was Kaeya the only one? What did that so-called doctor do to make Diluc have such a reaction? … What was Diluc's real mother like?

Though she wasn't sure how she felt about that last question, there was so much she needed to know. She supposed she'd have time to find out. This was certainly an odd situation, and they didn't yet have any information to start working on its solution.

"Have you considered getting some rest as well?" Pom Pom asked, putting their paws on their hips.

She probably should, "There's more to be done. No worries, I'll take a break when I need to."

"You'd better!"

Pom Pom was obviously not convinced, but went back to what she was doing anyway. With that Himeko headed back to the med bay.

Chapter Three

Diluc woke slowly, aware of a thrum that he wasn't used to. This would usually register as a threatening situation, but it didn't, and he was struggling to remember why. He reached for Jean, who always slept to his right, but his arm merely fell off the side of the bed.

That was when his eyes finally flew open, and he sat up suddenly. What a mistake. The room spun around him, and a familiar blue flashed in front of him before his eyes snapped shut. The events of the last… however long it had been, caught up with him.

He and Kaeya were somewhere called "Astral Express", supposedly having been somehow thrown into this situation, and they'd been sent off to get some sleep… by his mother. That was a whole new well of emotions that came blasting its way to the surface.

She didn't know him, and probably didn't want him, at least not there. Apparently she didn't even know that she had a child. He went to lay back down, to bury himself under the blankets, and act like the misery that was waiting for him didn't exist. Kaeya, however, had other plans.

His brother held him in place, repeating whatever it was that Diluc hadn't been listening to. He wasn't up for dealing with this. He shouldn't have to deal with this, so he was simply trying not to.

"Is he okay?"

Crap. Not alone. He opened his eyes again, this time more slowly, and saw Stelle standing behind Kaeya. She looked worried, and Diluc wished even harder that this was a dream. He'd have to face this no matter what. Diluc laid back down, and pulled the blanket over his head. It was too early to deal with life-changing events, and he didn't feel like having spectators.

"He's fine," Kaeya said.

"… Are you sure? Because he doesn't seem fine."

"He's… being Diluc."

Stelle hummed, "What does 'Being Diluc' mean? It seems like it means that he's not fine."

Diluc sat up, pulled the blanket off, and stood, which was yet another horrible idea as he had to catch himself on the wall, "I'm fine, and I'll be as Diluc as I want because I am Diluc."

He didn't know exactly what they meant either, but it was better than being harassed by his brother, and a stranger. Feeling less dizzy, he stumbled his way to the bathroom. After spotting himself in the mirror, he could see why Stelle was asking if he was okay.

His already stupidly pale skin was closer to white than peach. He had smudges of what he could only assume was dirt on his face, as well as a large bruise on his cheek, his eyes were tired, and puffy looking, and his unruly hair was absolutely everywhere. He looked like he'd been out fighting Abyss mages all night, and lost.

As Diluc washed his face, he thought about Jean. He already missed her, and realized how used to sleeping next to her almost every night he'd become. She was warm, soft, and smelled good. Her closeness helped his nightmares, and loneliness. He hoped she wouldn't make herself sick with worry. They had to figure this out as quickly as possible, but he realized it would likely take some time.

He wondered how Kaeya was faring, being separated from Albedo, and Klee. Physically speaking, Kaeya hadn't been that far off from how Diluc had looked, minus the paleness, and bruises, but had already cleaned himself up. In the short time he'd seen him, Kaeya seemed to be okay. In fact, when Diluc walked out of the bathroom, Stelle was laughing as his brother was mid-story.

"She had fish everywhere. I think Diluc was pulling pieces out of his hair for a week!"

"Klee sounds adorable. I'd love to go fish blasting with her sometime," Stelle said, turning to Diluc, "Hey, you look a little better. Are you feeling up for some food?"

Food? He hadn't thought about that, and it didn't sound particularly enticing.

"I'd like to talk to… Himeko, if that's alright."

It felt weird calling her by her first name, but he reminded himself that this wasn't his mother. If he didn't get that through his head, this would only hurt more in the end. He also didn't want to scare her off.

Stelle led them to a different room. He and Kaeya stopped in their tracks the moment the large windows came into view. Diluc hadn't even realized that they hadn't seen a window until now. Outside, inches away, was the vastness of space, with twinkling dots littering the pitch black surrounding them. They weren't on a planet.

They knew other worlds existed, of course. Lumine had come from somewhere, and who knew where Paimon had come from. They had even been to another planet, but being in space? It was like something out of the exceptionally rare science fiction novels that he was sometimes able to get his hands on. It was beautiful, nearly as breathtaking as the blonde he wished was there witnessing this with him.

"What is this? Kaeya asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"It's space. The Astral Express is a large space-faring train. Himeko can explain it better than I can. She should be here soon."

Once seated, Diluc found himself fidgeting, knee bouncing up and down. Thankfully, both Kaeya, and Stelle acted like they didn't notice, at least until Himeko came in. He jumped up like an excited kid whose mother just got home, startling the other two.

He hadn't even realized he'd done it at first, but it was not a few seconds later that he plopped himself back on the seat next to his brother, and looked straight ahead with his jaw clenched. Kaeya moved a little closer, and nudged Diluc's arm to get his attention, he ignored it.

"Diluc, doing okay?" Kaeya whispered.

Diluc nodded stiffly. He had no idea if he was actually alright, there were too many big things going on to process. Meeting your mother for the first time in your life is overwhelming, but realizing that's not possible, that the person is only their spitting image, and no more… It was like Celestia thought he was the best place to use as a landing pad, crushing his heart to smithereens.

A moment later the pink haired girl, and another man entered, closely followed by the man who had been wearing the coat, who stayed closer to the door. Diluc watched him closely for a moment. He wasn't wearing the coat anymore, and now that he was more composed mentally, it wasn't difficult to see that this man meant no harm. He'd have to apologize.

The last person to enter was… was it a rabbit? Regardless, it smiled and greeted him as it skipped past. Everyone but the man with glasses circled around where Diluc, and Kaeya were sitting. He hated being the focus of things.

At least when he was working at the tavern, he was just the bartender, and outside of people ordering drinks, was ignored. At least until Kaeya and his friends came in to pick at him. Here, the attention was unavoidable.

"First, I think we need more formal introductions. This is March 7th, Stelle, Pom Pom, Dan Heng, and Welt Yang. I'm Himeko, we are the crew of the Astral express. Welcome aboard."

Kaeya stood, and bowed, "A pleasure to meet you, even under the circumstances. I'm Kaeya Alberich."

It always stung when Kaeya used his non-adoptive name. This was Diluc's fault, wholly, and completely, so he let it sting. It was what he deserved.

"… Diluc?"

Oh, right, "My name is Diluc Ragnvindr. Thank you for having us, and I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused."

"It's no problem at all. Things happen, and we figure them out!" March said.

Himeko smiled at that, "Indeed. We hope we can help sort this out. At this point we don't have much information to go by. Pom Pom was able to look at the logs from when you came aboard. Other than an odd energy surge that matches the exact time you came aboard, there was nothing obvious to help us. We'll keep working on that, but in the meantime I thought we could get some information about where you're from. We may be able to locate your home planet, and get you home."

"We're from Teyvat," Diluc said, ignoring the surprise on Kaeya's face, "I'm not sure where that would be, considering the sheer number of planets there likely are to choose from."

"Indeed," Dan Heng said, "There are many inhabited planets. I'll search the archives, and see what I can find."

Stelle hummed, "… That name sounds familiar, but I can't recall from where."

Diluc, and Kaeya perked up at that. There was hope they'd be able to get home, then. Now if he could just put a stop to thinking silly things like introducing Jean to his mom. He'd never be able to do that, something he'd already realized long, long ago, he just had to remember it all over again.

"Alright, then. That's where we'll begin." Himeko turned to Diluc, "If you wouldn't mind, I would like to speak to you privately."

Diluc nodded, and watched as Mister Yang left quietly. He'd have to catch him later. They followed Himeko to yet another room. It was smaller, more like an office, but still a comfortable space.

"Would either of you like some coffee?" Himeko asked.

Diluc shook his head, "No, thank you."

"I would certainly appreciate some, thanks."

Kaeya dug right in, taking a large gulp, only to immediately cough it back up. His eye was watering as he continued to cough, until Himeko handed him a glass of water.

"Are you alright?" she asked, taking the glass back, "Would you like some more water?"

Kaeya was fairly certain that the coffee was an assassination attempt. It was terrible.

"I'm – I'm good. Swallowed wrong."

Himeko nodded, not picking up on the lie, and seated herself across from them, "Last night Mister Yang ran the samples you gave us against everyone we found in our database. We didn't find any matches for you, Mister Alberich, but we've contacted someone who can do a wider search."

"You can just call me Kaeya, and I'm not surprised. I take it you found someone who matches Diluc, then?"

She paused, and looked at Diluc, "Two people, actually."

If they didn't know where Teyvat was, then how could he possibly be related to people who weren't from there? He'd never heard of anyone from Teyvat leaving to pursue space travel. Even the most advanced nation didn't have that kind of technology.

"There is a man named Argenti. Is the name familiar at all?"

Diluc shook his head, "It's not. Who is he?"

"He would be your paternal uncle," she explained.

That wasn't possible.

"I… I don't have any blood relatives left, and neither of my parents had siblings. I don't see how I could possibly have an uncle, as nice as it would be."

And it really would be nice. As it was, he was the last of the Ragnvindr bloodline, and had no immediate plans to have children. His father would be ecstatic to know he was with Jean, and probably not surprised in the least.

Diluc had always loved Jean, and his father knew it, but with how much he had changed after everything, with how damaged he was, he was scared to have children. Terrified that he might hurt them, frighten them, or traumatize them.

"Stelle has contacted him in regard to how he may be related, but hadn't heard back yet. I'll let you know as soon as we know."

"So," Kaeya said, "Who is the other person you found?"

Himeko looked down at her hands for a moment, intertwining them in her lap, "That would be me. The results acknowledged that I am, in fact, your mother."

Diluc heard the words, but it was like his brain simply froze, and couldn't figure out what to think.

"W-what… but… What?"

"Believe me, I was quite shocked as well. I've never had a child, and you should know… if I had, I never would have left them. I don't know what this means, but we're going to figure it all out."

Diluc stared at her, not knowing what to think. She was his mother, but she wasn't. What was that supposed to mean, and how was that possible? Did she have amnesia? She seemed to remember her name, and was very certain about never having a child.

Kaeya stepped in front of him, cutting off his view of Himeko, "Luc, why don't we take a little break? You still haven't eaten, and all of us need to think."

Think?

"Where do I even begin? She's not my mother, I know that, Kaeya. I killed mine, but she's sitting right here? Really, where do I begin?"

"I'm sorry?…" Himeko asked.

She was confused by his statement, but he thought it was fairly clear. His existence was responsible for his mother's death. There wasn't much else to say about it. It was his fault, and it shouldn't have happened.

Kaeya turned to her, "It was when he was born. Whatever he may say about it, it was not his fault."

Diluc huffed out a noise between a laugh, and something he wouldn't admit was close to a whimper, and stood, "I apologize. Thank you for telling me. I'd like to go back to the quarters you gave us."

He tried his best to keep his voice even, but he couldn't. He couldn't stay here. He couldn't control his emotions. He couldn't look at his mother —no, not mother, Himeko— Once again, Diluc needed time. So, with Himeko's permission, he left the room, and Kaeya behind to go hide.

Chapter Four

That hadn't gone as Himeko hoped, but she wasn't entirely surprised. It was a lot, and not a single one of them knew what it all meant. She wished she could do more for Diluc, but things were confusing enough without her interference. Time, and space was best.

Now knowing that he'd lost his mother without ever having the chance to know her, his responses, the hope in his eyes when he saw her, it all made sense. It had obviously taken a large toll on him. How could it not?

When the redhead left, his brother didn't seem to know what to do with himself. Instead of going after Diluc, he'd stayed, saying the same thing she'd already thought. Time, space. It was also her understanding that neither of them had eaten. She could at least get Kaeya to eat something, and work on Diluc later.

It seemed Kaeya got along with everyone easily, though she had picked up on the fact that he wasn't exactly forthcoming about himself. When asked a question about his life, it was frequently diverted to another subject, and the transition of said diversion was always smooth.

What Himeko had gathered was that both men had a significant other, Kaeya spoke of his a lot, Diluc was a bit of a quiet hothead, but meant well, and neither seemed to eat much. Kaeya's plate remained mostly full as they chatted. He was looking better than he had the evening before, but she supposed there could be some residual nausea. She wouldn't push the subject unless it became a problem.

"It sounds like you care greatly for Klee. How you talk about her is wonderful, I'm sure you make an excellent father figure for her."

That was the first time she saw the confident bluenette blush, tanned cheeks turning pink. Stelle appeared beside Himeko, and laughed.

"He does certainly talk about her a lot! As well as Albedo… sounds like you have a bad case of it." the gray haired girl said as she tapped her chin thoughtfully, "I've never been to a wedding before… just saying."

Kaeya swallowed hard, "… Wedding?"

It was March's turn to appear, "You know, tie the knot, form a union, make it official, exchange vows… get hitched! I'm excellent at planning weddings, by the way."

Himeko opened her mouth to shoo the others off, but it seemed her crew wasn't done embarrassing the poor man. Dan Heng seemed to pop out of nowhere.

"Joining in matrimony is certainly a big step in a relationship, nothing to be taken lightly. However, love for one another can be crystal clear for both parties. Marriage is certainly something to consider. On the Xianzhou Loufu it is considered "good luck" to have a Vidyadhara join as a guest, as well as to have the ship's Arbiter-General conduct the ceremony."

"Vidy… What?"

Kaeya looked terrified, and his brother, who had apparently shown up just in time to hear enough of the conversation, burst out laughing. It was a stark contrast to the quiet demeanor she had become accustomed to in the very short time they'd spoken.

"You didn't tell me you were planning on getting married, Kaeya…" Diluc crossed his arms, and raised an eyebrow at his brother.

Kaeya snorted, "Why? Don't you approve?"

"Hah. Shouldn't you be asking Albedo that? Some time before the ceremony, perhaps?"

"When are you going to ask Jean? We can make it a double date."

Diluc's cheeks turned red as Kaeya turned the tables on him. Himeko laughed to herself. Even if they weren't related by blood, they were definitely brothers.

Stelle cut in, "Before we get too far into wedding plans, I remembered where I'd heard the name Teyvat. When I was first helping out on the Herta Space Station, there was some sort of artifact storage room. There were some wings there, suspended in a pod. I had asked Arlan about them, the head of Security, and he mentioned that they were from a world called Teyvat."

Himeko nodded, "Interesting. It might be worthwhile to make a trip to the station, then. I'll talk to Pom Pom."

As she left, Diluc followed at a distance until they reached another compartment. She turned to him, waiting for him to talk, but he didn't. Diluc walked over to the large windows, and looked out over the stars. It was her understanding that something like this was completely new to them. The closest they got to the stars was the highest mountain they could climb.

"I apologize for earlier," he said eventually.

Himeko hummed, "You didn't. This is a very odd situation, one which is close to your heart. You are well within your rights to be upset by it."

Diluc remained silent, seemingly lost in space. Himeko took a seat at the small table beside him. Talking to Pom Pom would wait for a time, and she wasn't willing to leave him alone until she knew he was okay.

"My father used to tell me stories about her. He was very proud to have won her over, and said he was the luckiest man in the universe. She was kind to everyone, would help anyone who needed it in whatever way she could."

"She sounds wonderful."

"Doesn't she?" Diluc sighed, and finally turned around, "What is Herta Space Station?"

"It's something like a spaceship, except a space station usually remains stationary instead of moving. People live there, and in the case of this station, conduct scientific research."

Diluc tensed at that, "It's a laboratory."

Himeko nodded, knowing what this question actually meant, thanks to Kaeya, "It is, but they are good people. They do not harm."

"… I'd like to go."

Himeko thought about it. It would likely be good for him ultimately, but she worried about his reaction. Although, what they had initially seen wasn't the best example of how well he was capable of handling things. He was quite disoriented.

"Alright. If you feel the need to leave at any time, just let one of us-"

A loud clunk came from the room nearby, a closet. Diluc immediately took up a fighting stance, Himeko held her hand out for him to stay. The noise happened again, followed by a grunt. None of the crew had come through, and they certainly hadn't gone into a closet.

She slowly approached the door, and Diluc positioned himself on the side, ready to take action if needed. She wasn't sure if he had any experience with confrontation, but she'd just have to trust that he did. In one quick move, Himeko grabbed the handle, and pulled the door back.

With a yelp, a streak of burgundy, and blue fell to the floor. Before the sprawled out person had a chance to react, Diluc had a knee in their back, and their hands pulled behind them. Not harsh, but just enough force to safely restrain.

Stelle, and March came running in, ready for a fight. Instead, March let out an annoyed noise, and Stelle put her bat away.

"Well, well. If it isn't our favorite uninvited guest. Did you at least bring snacks, Koski?" the trailblazer said, putting her hands on her hips.

Himeko had long ago lost count of the number of times she needed to roll her eyes, and had somehow managed not to. This was certainly one of those times. It seemed like Sampo Koski was everywhere, and it usually meant nothing good. Diluc looked at her with a raised eyebrow, and she motioned for him to let the man loose.

"Mister Koski. Care to explain how and why you are aboard the Express?"

Sampo straightened himself up, and bowed deeply, the usual fake smile plastered on his face, "Miss Himeko! A pleasure, as always. It's always so lovely to see you, and your wonderful crew-"

It had taken exactly one word from Sampo to visibly get on Diluc's nerves. The redhead crossed his arms, and growled, causing the conman to scoot a few steps away. Sampo looked between Diluc, and Himeko a few times, clearly trying to figure something out, but immediately went back to smiling.

"A little family reunion, huh? Let me guess… nephew?"

Time for a new approach. Himeko giggled lightly, "Forget it, then. Stelle, why don't you show Mister Koski the nearest airlock."

Stelle didn't even hesitate. She took Sampo by the arm, and started to lead him away, the conman stumbling behind her. Kaeya had come to stand next to Diluc, and simply watched Sampo's struggle. Although, it was likely neither one knew what an airlock was.

"Okay-Okay! Please, I'll tell you, just… Don't throw me out an airlock!" Sampo whined.

With a nod from Himeko, Stelle let the man go. He straightened himself, and his clothing before speaking.

"I just happened to be visiting Penacony after a long trip, and well, I needed to hitch a ride home."

"Wait a minute, isn't Penacony already a long trip from Jarilo?" March asked.

Sampo paused, seeming to have been caught in who knew what.

"Yes, well… that's not the point. The point is that I needed a ride home, and who better than the Trailblazers, hm? Really, it's great to see you all again!"

Normally Himeko couldn't care less about what Sampo Koski got up to, whatever mischief he caused. As long as it didn't interfere with their goals, or cause trouble for her crew. However, she didn't take kindly to the man sneaking onto her train.

"I'll make a deal with you, Mister Koski. You tell me where you were before Penacony, and I'll get you back to Jarilo. Otherwise, you can find your own way through space."

Sampo didn't respond nearly as quickly as she would have thought, given the ultimatum. He seriously was thinking something through. Still, it only took a moment before he hung his head in defeat.

"Fine, fine. I was in a place called Sumeru. It's warm, and extra green, and-"

"What?!"

The sudden exclamation from Kaeya, and Diluc made everyone jump.

"I take it, you know what Sumeru is?" Himeko asked.

Diluc nodded, "It's one of the seven nations in Teyvat," he turned to Sampo, "You know how to get back there, then?"

Sampo grimaced, let out a nervous laugh, and took a couple steps back from Diluc, "Oh, well… heh. I'm afraid that's not really possible…"

"Mister Koski, if you are trying to find some way to make a deal out of this-"

"No, no, no! It's not that, you misunderstand! Where I was is a different universe. The only reason me and Geppie made it back was thanks to the power of a god. She's quite impressive, by the way, considering she looks like a little girl-"

"The dendro Archon sent you back?" Kaeya said, then his face fell, "From another universe…"

Everyone in the compartment turned to Himeko. That… wasn't ideal. It had taken a god to send Sampo, and Gepard home, something they did not have readily available. The Aeons weren't exactly known for their interaction with the various races who followed them.

"I still think the best course of action is Herta Space Station. It's possible they have at least one artifact from your planet, and they are very knowledgeable people. They may have an idea for getting you home."

With two weary nods, Himeko went to find Pom Pom.

Chapter Five

Diluc sat across from the man who had been hiding in the closet, Sampo Koski, and stared at him. The man squirmed uncomfortably in his seat under Diluc's gaze. The words "stared", and "gaze" may have been too kind. He was definitely glaring, but every instinct he had said not to trust the Sampo.

Kaeya looked back, and forth between them for a time, before he finally decided to strike up a conversation. After all, information was key, and they could use some. Himeko's crew had given them some space, but eagerly watched the trio.

"So, how did you end up in a different universe?"

"Ah, well. The Captain got into a bit of a fight, you see, and I couldn't just leave him there, a reliable guy like me!"

Diluc growled, and somehow managed to look even more menacing. Sampo sat up straight in his chair, trying, unsuccessfully, to put more distance between them.

"You could really scare a guy looking like that, ya know? You're as bad as that gray haired fellow! At least the General had a sense of humor…"

A gray haired man, and a white Haired General with a supposed sense of humor, both from Sumeru. That sounded familiar. He and Diluc spared each other a glance. They were on the same page.

"Let me guess… you were in custody, and he said something about having a "captive audience"?"

"Of course! Only a novice would pass that one up. He had a certain sophistication to his jokes. Truly a connoisseur, if I do say so myself-" Sampo paused, and narrowed his eyes, "You know him, don't you?!"

Diluc sighed, "If you repeat a single one of his jokes, I'll throw you out one of those airlocks myself."

Kaeya laughed, "We've been on the receiving end of his humor. Diluc thought it was dry, but Mister Grumpy here has no sense of humor."

Diluc rolled his eyes, but stayed silent, much to Kaeya's surprise.

"I was told there are other nations. Where are you handsome fellas from?"

"Not Sumeru," Diluc answered bluntly.

"Oh, are you really afraid of 'lil ole me? I don't even know how to get there!"

"Yet you have been there. What actually happened?" Diluc asked, leaning forward to invade the man's space.

Sampo tried to lean back, but there wasn't far he could go, "L-like I said, Geppie ran into a fight, and I helped him out! It was a fragmentum monster, but it had, well… one of those," he pointed at Diluc's hip, "A Vision, was it? The Archon thought whoever owned it must have come from Sumeru, and by killing the monster we got caught in the energy when it tried to return to where it belonged. That's it, that's everything I know!"

Kaeya crossed his arms, and cradled his chin in one hand, "Hm. That's a lot."

Diluc sat back down, "Geppie is the captain you mentioned, I assume?"

"Yes…" Sampo nodded, "But should you ever meet him, you might want to go with Gepard, or his title. Only those close to him get to call him Geppie, you see."

Kaeya snorted, "Is that so?"

Every time Sampo said the name, his cheeks turned the slightest pink, and his fake smile changed. He was down bad. It didn't matter, Kaeya didn't need to make it his business. Or at least he wouldn't unless he had to.

"How long ago was your little adventure?"

"A few days. Four, to be exact."

Four days ago, this man had been on their world, and now they were sitting here together. What a coincidence, yet he couldn't figure out why there was a slight time difference. He wasn't sure if it even mattered.

Some might have called this entire situation fate. Diluc coming across his long since lost mother, and apparently having an uncle. Kaeya hated fate. He'd always been told his fate by his biological family, and it had been demanded of him that he uphold it. Kaeya would fight that fate until the day he died.

Diluc narrowed his eyes, "Where is the Vision?"

"Both of us were teleported, but it didn't seem like the Vision was, so it's probably about where we left it. I doubt Geppie would have gone back for that."

"Where is your friend?" Diluc asked.

Sampo's fake smile completely dropped, leaving an unnervingly serious face on the man, "Safely returned home, I would hope." A moment later, the smile was back, "The man has a lot of people depending on him. Wouldn't want our Geppie getting hurt!"

Kaeya would admit it, he would never open up around most people anymore. No one wanted him, they wanted something else, someone else, and Kaeya gave it to them. However, he had nothing on this guy.

He could see it. The potential to do good, to be kind, and helpful, and concerned for the safety of someone other than himself, but it was so well layered that if someone wasn't looking, they'd never see it. Kaeya guessed there was exactly one person the other bluenette would be willing to drop the act for. At least they got some information out of him.

He could hear the Express crew whispering behind them. Apparently getting Sampo to talk was some real entertainment. He wondered what the others had gone through with this man. Probably something like what his contacts, and anyone who wasn't close enough went through with Kaeya. Birds of a feather they may be, to some extent, but their kind didn't flock together.

As soon as Himeko entered the room, she raised an eyebrow, and made her way over.

"I see our guests are all having a nice chat. Anything interesting?"

While the question was obviously aimed at Diluc, and Kaeya, it seemed Sampo couldn't help but get his two mora in.

"Miss Himeko! These two young men are lovely, really! Are you planning on making them crew members? Personally, I really think they'd add a lot. You know, I always say you can't surround yourself with too many people! All friends, more the merrier!"

Himeko chose to simply not respond to the odd rambling, and addressed everyone in the room, instead, "We'll be making a jump very soon. I suggest everyone take a seat."

Stelle plopped down on one side of Sampo, with March on the other. Dan Heng left the room, and Welt entered, seating himself at a distance. Himeko directed Diluc, and Kaeya over to one of the seats, and sat down next to Diluc.

"You remain seated for the entirety of the jump. It can be a little disorienting the first time. You may have some dizziness, and nausea. Just try to take slow, deep breaths, and you'll be okay."

It sounded like it would be interesting. He briefly wondered what made it so disorienting, but he assumed he'd find out soon enough. Diluc sat stiffly, nervous. Kaeya knew better than to think it was because they may find themselves suffering some discomfort. Diluc had a high tolerance for setting things like that aside. This was about him, and his mother.

Kaeya didn't have the slightest idea what to do. There was probably nothing he could do. Diluc was hurting, and Kaeya felt useless. He wouldn't be particularly happy to see his family again, but this situation brought up all the times he'd wondered about having a complete happy family.

When Crepus took him in, Kaeya's life had changed drastically. There were things he didn't understand, like a lack of expectations, having food every day, and not being shoved into a closet. It was just what his life had been before, and hadn't completely realized that wasn't how everyone lived. He had been taught to be terrified because this was how the people who followed Celestia would treat him. Instead, it was only his family who did such a thing.

With a short announcement from Pom Pom, the world turned into a slurry of blue, all colors bleeding into it. It felt like everything stopped dead, but started moving too quickly at the same time, and he couldn't tell where he was. A moment later he was exactly where he had been sitting before.

He suddenly felt incredibly grateful that he hadn't eaten much, and by the look on Diluc's face, the redhead was probably thinking the same. Kaeya took some deep breaths, as they had been instructed, and the effect started to slip away. He realized that Himeko was talking to them, with Welt hovering in a closer seat that he had been in before, watching from a distance.

"Diluc, Kaeya, are you okay? Here, drink some water."

"I-I'm fine… that was weird," Kaeya said as he took the glass she was holding out.

"Ugh, tell me about it! I'll never get used to that feeling!" Sampo said dramatically, flopping over in the seat, "At least I wasn't in the closet this time."

Diluc sat forward with his elbows on his knees, and hands covering his face. Himeko's hand hovered above his back, but not touching. It was a moment before he sat back up again, color returning to his cheeks. Well, as much color as Diluc ever had, anyway.

"All good…" he said, shakily.

"It takes some getting used to!" March said as she, and Stelle gathered around them.

"Alright. I'll be joining these two," Himeko said, "Stelle, and March, would you please see what you can find about Teyvat?"

Both women nodded, "Sure thing, boss!" Stelle added cheerfully.

"Excellent. You can go when you're ready, stay in touch. We'll be headed that way shortly."

"Well, I'll just be going then! Thanks for the ri-"

"You'll be coming with us, Mister Koski," Himeko smiled.

"What?! But… but I-I… Why?"

"You were recently on their world, and now they are here. I very seriously doubt that's any kind of coincidence."

Sampo's shoulders dropped, and Kaeya had to hold back a laugh at the pout, "But I was gonna go home! I'm sure Gepard is waiting for me!"

"I'm sure he is. Let's go."

Himeko walked away, Sampo dragging his feet behind her. He looked like a mischievous child who was about to face punishment. It would be more amusing, were it not for the situation. Diluc finally made his way to his feet, but Kaeya stopped him.

"It's fine if you wanted to stay here, Diluc. You don't have to push yourself to do this."

Kaeya hoped he would take the way out he was handed, but his brother was far too stubborn, of course. The redhead crossed his arms, and gave Kaeya his usual disapproving look.

"I'm going."

"…"

"I'll be fine."

Kaeya rolled his eye, then glared at the brick wall, "Just promise me that if anything happens, if you get overwhelmed… that you'll let someone know."

He didn't expect Diluc to respond as quickly as he did. In fact, being as stubborn as the man was, he expected him to growl, and stomp off. This was a testament to how nervous Diluc already was.

Kaeya would make sure to have his brother's back.

Chapter Six

The station was a busy place, much busier than Diluc had hoped it would be. Scientists everywhere. White coats seemed to be a favorite accessory, but they were just plain white coats, nothing extravagant. While he was still weary of the abundant amount of people, he was doing okay. While they tended to stare, none of them seemed keen on approaching them.

Himeko led them to what she called the bridge. If he and Kaeya had thought the windows on the Express were large, they were nothing compared to this. The room they had just entered was cavernous, and the people seemed to bustle about even more, not minding the closeness of others around them.

Closer to the center of the room was a woman with short pink hair, and a young man who looked to be about Bennett's age. A small dog sat on the floor next to him, it turned to look at Himeko's group, stopping at Diluc.

"Miss Himeko, always a pleasure to see you. We received your message, and we'll do our best to help, of course."

The woman's voice had a startling resemblance to Mona Megistus'. As Diluc glanced at Kaeya, his brother sent a look back saying he'd noticed it, too. She turned to Diluc, and Kaeya with a kind smile.

"My name is Asta, the lead astronomer here, and this is Arlan, our head of security. We're always happy to meet friends of the Astral Express."

Kaeya bowed, "My name is Kaeya Alberich, and this is Diluc Ragnvindr, pleased to meet you. We would like to thank you for taking the time to help us out."

"Of course! I hope we are able to solve the situation together."

Arlan nodded, and turned to Asta, "I'll be showing Stelle the item, and information she requested."

With that Arlan was gone, the little white dog happily trailed behind, but not before sparing Diluc a glance.

"Alright, Miss Himeko," Asta said as she waved for them to follow, "I've already looked through our database to find any information on the planet you requested."

She stopped at a desk that had several televisions on it, like the one from the hotel room on Earth. She did something with the typewriter sitting beneath the television, and a new display came up.

It was a planet, slowly spinning to show all the way around. Looking closely, Diluc recognized the land masses, it was Teyvat. Asta touched the display, and it moved to display the largest landmass. Around the edges were photographs of different areas, many he had been to.

The city of Mondstadt sat off to one side, a top-down view, along with a photo of Venti's statue, and the cathedral behind it. The tiny people in the picture reminded Diluc of very old paintings he had seen, their clothing outdated by centuries.

He pointed to the photo, "This picture is very old, but not a painting. Kameras didn't exist in the time period this photo was clearly taken."

Asta nodded, "Yes, it's quite old, but I'm afraid there hasn't been much of a reason to update them."

"Why is that?" Kaeya asked, leaning in to get a closer look at the picture.

A shadow passed over the astronomer's face, "Our most recent check showed that there are still no signs of life. Civilization on Teyvat was destroyed by war a few centuries ago."

She touched the picture of the globe, and the rest of the pictures changed with it. They were all from nearly the same perspective, but trees that were once green were instead charred husks, there was no grass, only vast stretches of dirt, and any buildings that remained standing were partially collapsed, nothing but uninhabited rubble. Not a single person, or animal present in any of the pictures.

Diluc's eyes stung, and he could hear Kaeya's small gasp as his hand came to rest on Diluc's arm. He realized this couldn't be their Teyvat, everything having long since turned to dust, but it was still a version of his world that didn't survive, nor thrive. It was gone, everything that the individual people of this Teyvat was ruined, or never even existed.

Himeko nearly put her hand on Diluc's other arm but stopped short, "I'm so sorry. There are still more answers we need to find, and we will find them."

"Wait a minute," Kaeya said, "Diluc is biologically related to you, and at least one other person. If you're here, but Teyvat was destroyed, doesn't that still mean that at least a few people must have made it off the planet?"

Asta looked surprised by that information, but nodded, "If that's the case, it would indicate as much, yes, but we don't have any information as to how that might have happened, since space exploration was never recorded here. Until right at this very moment, we didn't know that there were any descendants of this planet. The two of you came from Teyvat?"

Kaeya pointed to the picture of Mondstadt, "That's our home."

'I'm sorry you had to see this. If you are here, there is definitely another explanation. We will search, and find answers," Asta said.

"Actually, we may have something of an explanation," Himeko said, pulling Sampo forward, the man had been quieter than normal, "This is Sampo Koski, and he was recently on their world, only a few days ago, in fact. Would you please share your experience, Mister Koski?"

The warning glare Himeko gave the man could have melted most metals, Sampo swallowed hard, and recounted his experience. Diluc was surprised by the level of unnecessary detail the man gave. He knew both Kaeya, and himself were surprised to learn that not only had he met Cyno, and the Archon, but also Kaveh, and Alhaitham.

"So," Asta said, thinking, "An item that belonged to their universe sent you there, then. That's… amazing. And you came across the item on your home world?"

"Mhm, that's right. Good ole Belobog, home to multiverse items!"

Asta looked thoughtful, "If we had a sample of the item, we may be able to pinpoint which universe it originated from."

Sampo didn't say anything, but looked at Diluc, and Kaeya. At the thought of giving his Vision to someone to experiment on, panic rose from the pit of his stomach. How many times had Dottore used Diluc's own Vision on him when he'd been captured?

Still, they needed to get home, and this might be their best bet. Diluc swallowed, and reached for his Vision, trying to will his hands to stop shaking. Before he could remove it, his hand was stopped by Kaeya, and his brother handed over his Vision.

"I've got this, Luc. Don't worry."

Diluc could almost breathe again, but the idea of his brother's Vision being in someone else's hands wasn't much better.

"Thank you, I promise it won't be harmed. These scans can't be run from here, we'll have to go to a different section."

As they walked, Diluc noticed that Sampo's eyes were everywhere, it was like watching a child in a candy shop, for sure. They had made sure he stayed between the brothers, who were at the back, and Himeko, and Asta, who took the lead.

The man was hard to read. Much of the fear he displayed was fake, he was as smart as Kaeya, and a smooth talker. Diluc had no doubt Sampo could talk most people into whatever he wanted.

He was also more powerful that he led on, Diluc could feel it, even though he didn't know what exactly that power was. He hadn't had a chance to speak to Kaeya about it, but he was sure he could sense it, too. His brother was very in-tune with odd energies.

Diluc peeked into the lab before he went in. It was nothing more than screens, and some equipment. None of it looked like anything Dottore had ever used, still, Diluc stayed right next to the door. Again, Sampo's eyes wandered over the various equipment strewn across the tables.

"I don't think any of it is up for grabs," Kaeya said, leaning close to the other bluenette.

"Hm? Oh, I would never steal! Who do you think I am?!" Sampo explained with the worst fake offended face Diluc had ever seen.

"You can drop the act. As long as you don't take anything, no one will have a problem," Diluc growled, "And we will be watching."

"Fine," Sampo huffed, and crossed his arms, "Do you have any idea how many people just a handful of these things would help on Belobog?"

Kaeya walked to the closest table, and picked up a random item, "Can't say I do, but taking something that doesn't belong to you can ruin more lives than it helps. Would your people accept that?"

"… You sound just like Gepard," Sampo laughed, "Wouldn't happen to be a Silvermane Captain in disguise, would ya?"

"Cavalry Captain, actually."

It was entertaining watching Kaeya make Sampo squirm. This man was exactly the type of guy his brother would use as an informant, just smarter than the average treasure hoarder. Possibly even on Kaeya's level.

"Wait… Y-you're a captain, too? Huh! I can usually spot the authorities from miles away! You must be special…"

Diluc snorted, "He's special, alright."

"Hah, very funny, coming from you, Diluc-"

Sampo narrowed his eyes at them, "Siblings then?"

Before they could answer, Himeko, and Asta were back. Asta returned Kaeya's Vision, completely unscathed as promised, but she didn't look happy.

"I'll admit we got some pretty interesting results from scanning it. It's very cold to the touch, and I assume the snowflake indicates some sort of cryogenic abilities?" the woman asked.

Kaeya nodded, "Yes, my Vision allows me to draw on this element, where Diluc's allows him to draw on the element of fire. Each person's Vision works only for them."

Diluc knew of exactly one instance that a Vision that wasn't theirs worked for someone else. When Dottore had first started experimenting on him, he had forced Diluc to wield a pyro Vision that wasn't his own. It was painful, and made him feel like he was going to burn alive, but with whatever drugs he'd been given, and the electrocution of his muscles, the Vision had activated, and Diluc lost consciousness. He was later punished for that, having apparently become unresponsive for several days, no matter what the doctor had tried.

"Luc? Are you with us?"

He cleared his throat, "Yes."

Both Kaeya and Himeko gave him a skeptical look, but didn't say anything, thankfully.

"Alright. We'll move forward with that plan, then," Himeko said.

They left the station, and although there was no point Diluc had felt threatened, it was still a relief to be away from it. There was one problem, however. He had no idea what the plan was. It was unusual for him to let his mind wander so much in such a situation, and it disturbed him that it had happened. He had reached the point of far too tired.

Himeko stopped him just inside the Express, sending Sampo off with Stelle, and March. She looked at him, and sighed.

"You need to rest, Diluc. You've pushed yourself all day, and you are still recovering."

"I'm fine," he said, hoping the denial would work, and the conversation would end there.

It didn't.

Himeko shook her head, "I'm afraid I won't take no for an answer. We're taking care of this, and it will be some time yet before we head to Jarilo, so please, rest."

With that, and a soft smile, she left.

"She's your mom, so you have to do what she says," Kaeya laughed, grasping Diluc's shoulder to guide him.

Kaeya wasn't wrong. His mother had just told him to go to bed, and while he'd rather stay up, and help her, Adelinde's mother mode came to mind, and it was enough for him to do what he was told. Still, one tiny issue.

"Ky… why are we going to," what was the name of it?, "Jarilo?"

"Hah, I knew you weren't listening. We're going to try to retrieve the Vision Sampo had come across. He thinks it should still be in some spot called the snow plains."

Snow?

"Sounds… exciting," Diluc grumbled as he grimaced.

"I know, you don't like the snow, but Diluc, We're going to be visiting yet another planet that's not our own!"

The corners of Diluc's mouth slipped into a smile at his brother's excitement, and Kaeya wasn't wrong. There probably weren't too many people in Teyvat who had been to multiple planets. However, he was tired, and grumpy, and missed Jean.

"Look, I know you want to go home, I know you want to be with Jean. I miss Albedo, and Klee… a lot. This is the way we get back to them, and we might as well enjoy the experience while we're here."

Again, Kaeya wasn't wrong. This was an adventure, and adventures couldn't always involve your significant other. Diluc's adventures weren't usually terribly pleasant, starting from the moment he ran away from home.

Kaeya's expression softened, "Diluc, even if Himeko isn't your mother, she's still a version of your mother. You should get to know her while we're here."

Someone cleared their throat behind them. Welt had come into the room without being noticed, but he stayed a fair distance away.

"Mister Alberich is right, you should get to know Himeko some. She may not openly show it, but she is curious about you as well. It would be good for the two of you to have a conversation."

"Mister Yang, I apologize. We didn't hear you come in," Kaeya said.

"No worries, I simply needed to pass through, and was trying not to startle you."

Diluc straightened up, and nodded, "You didn't. Actually, do you have a moment?"

"Certainly. Is there something I can help you with?" the man replied, still keeping his distance.

"No, nothing like that. I… wanted to apologize for my initial reaction to your presence. Now that I'm clear-headed, I realize you meant no harm," Diluc took a few steps forward, "There's no need to distance yourself. It won't happen again."

Welt shook his head, and waved off Diluc's apology, "I was simply trying to ensure you were comfortable, and distance was the simple solution. If you even should feel uncomfortable by my presence, you should let me know."

Diluc nodded again, and with a small smile, Welt moved on.

"He's nearly as awkward with talking as you are," Kaeya laughed, "Come on, your mom said we have to go to bed."

Diluc rolled his eyes, but shuffled along. Kaeya definitely hadn't needed more ammunition to tease him with.

Chapter Seven

Himeko sat in her favorite lounge seat, sipping her coffee, and staring out the window. The wings Stelle had gone to ask about were an ancient artifact from their own Teyvat, having been taken from the planet long before its destruction, and preserved over hundreds of years. It wouldn't give them any information on the Teyvat they needed access to.

She couldn't get the photos of Teyvat out of her head. At some point in her ancestry, her family had lived there. It was odd to think that it was the same with Argenti.

Why he was a fairly open person, he preferred to speak of things like beauty, instead of his past. She doubted he had much to hide, but he was simply on a mission that he was adamant about fulfilling. It was always interesting to run into the Knight of Beauty, and her lounge plants surely missed the compliments.

In some ways, between knowing Argenti, and having met Diluc, she could see the relation through more than just looks. It seemed like Diluc could be hyper-focused on his goal, and righteous in his cause. However, he wasn't nearly as free as the Knight tended to be.

Himeko could see his past crushing him. Such a young man carrying a burden that refused to let go, and let him be. It was likely this would stay with him until the day he passed, which she hoped was many, many years from now.

She still hadn't had the chance to speak with him on a more personal level, thanks to Sampo, really. The selfish need to do so had nearly won out, over letting him rest, but he looked, and acted exhausted. Rest won.

She was relieved when Stelle, and March took Sampo off her hands. Somehow, the sneaky man had already figured out more than she would have liked for him to know. It certainly didn't help that Diluc looked so much like her.

Still, what a shock it had been to find out that he really was her son. What Himeko might not admit out loud, was that this made her happy, but also a little sad. To see what might have been, to talk to a child that you never knew, to be near them, and learn about them.

It was all amazing, but bittersweet. It wasn't forever. This person had a home, and family, and love. This person didn't belong to her, not even to her universe. Then there was Kaeya. As much as he tried to disguise it, hide it under layers of false smiles, and friendly banter, he was a lost child.

Kaeya had someone he very obviously cared about very much. He talked about Albedo, and Klee as if they were everything, and maybe they were, considering the smile that would cross Diluc's face at the mention of the apparently feisty little girl.

There was still so much she wanted to know, at least before they had to go. That brought her to another thought, though. What if they couldn't go home? Even after knowing them for such a short time, it was obvious that neither would accept that.

Himeko would do everything within her power to return them to their loved ones, who must be worried sick. Kaeya had brought up the name Jean several times. Apparently she was not only his leader, but also Diluc's girlfriend. To Himeko, he seemed shy around others. He would talk to people if he had to, but would otherwise happily stay silent. An exception seemed to be embarrassing his brother. Things like this were simply to be expected with siblings.

It was then that Diluc entered the room. He looked exhausted, even his hair was beginning to fluff, and curl in every which direction. Exactly like her own if she didn't put far too much mousse in it.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"I'll have time to sleep when I'm dead," he deadpanned, then sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face, "I'm sorry, I just…"

He trailed off, hesitant to talk to her.

Himeko set her cup aside, and leaned closer to him, "Diluc, it's alright. You can tell me anything. I realize… I'm not your born mother, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel the connection. It's an odd feeling. I've never had a child, yet here that exact person is, sitting in front of me, looking like a mirror of myself," she gently pulled at a loose curl, "Including these. Truly, you can tell me whatever you wish. I won't judge."

She sat quietly, patiently, for Diluc to make up his mind. Himeko understood that it wasn't terribly likely he would share, but she was willing to hear whatever he had to say. She was certainly surprised when he finally did speak up.

"I… have nightmares. Sleep isn't always easy to come by."

"I see. I'm sure we have something that could help you sleep easier," Himeko said, even as Diluc was quickly shaking his head, eyes wide, and fearful.

"No… I won't take anything that could dull my senses. Thank you, though."

There was something behind this, obviously. It wasn't a random thing that people just did, there was always a reason, always trauma. She wasn't certain if she should press the matter, so she set that part aside for the time being. She had a small idea, based on the bit of information Kaeya had given her.

"Do you mind if I ask what the nightmares are about? Maybe we could find a way to help you through them."

Again, Diluc thought for a long time, a haunted, and grieved look passing over his face.

"I'm not sure where I would start with that. The day my father died, the same day in which I hurt my brother, my only family, and abandoned him, or the day I was strapped to a lab table to begin paying for my sins… It's hard to say where one nightmare ends, and another begins."

What was there to say to so much loss? Himeko could never figure that out.

"Echoes," she said quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"Nightmares are echoes of our trauma, our past, and the horrific mutation from whom we used to be. An echo that bounces through the canyons of our minds as a harsh reminder of what has been lost. The past rarely leaves us be."

Diluc nodded, silent again.

"Again, you can share anything with me, Diluc. It will be okay."

Diluc opened up to her. A lifetime of things that he should have been able to share with his mother, and father, and couldn't. Pain, anger, fighting for answers, torture, assault, retribution for simply being human, and having human emotions. From child to adult in the blink of an eye, innocence gone.

He let the floodgates open, and Himeko listened to every word he said as tears streaked his face, and felt tears of her own burning in her eyes. Finally, Diluc let his weary thoughts rest for a time, and fell asleep in the seat. Himeko stayed nearby, watching over him.

Everything he'd had to say, it was a lot. The young man had been so lost, and was now trying to atone for everything, whether it was his fault or not. Situations that had been out of his control, that were forced upon him by a cruel, and unforgiving universe.

Diluc had been lost in grief for years, and though he'd found the path home, he hadn't truly found his way back yet. Carrying constant guilt was a crushing burden for anyone, and for those who were genuinely good, it was not a weight that would ever leave.

Himeko was happy to hear all about Jean. It sounded like she was good for him, and seemed like a wonderful person. Diluc worried about the stress he and her job put on her, but Himeko doubted it was even the smallest fraction of what he thought for his part.

According to the redhead, "Jean is the only capable member of the Knights of Favonius.". Which was funny, since he'd already said his brother was also a Knight of Favonius. Siblings were always entertaining.

After a while, Welt showed up, smiling at the scene.

"Wore him out, did you? You were always good with kids."

"Oh my, I even have Welt picking on me. It must be an interesting situation indeed," she whispered. "He's… hardly a kid, and he's simply exhausted. Life has a way of doing that."

"Well, I'm afraid we're going to have to wake him soon. We're nearly ready to head to Jarilo-VI."

Himeko nodded. It was a shame, being lost, and physically, as well as emotionally drained. Which of them hadn't walked into a fight a hundred times while being drained to the core. She now knew it was nothing Diluc hadn't done before himself. Yet she worried, perhaps more than she should, considering he was a stranger.

"Do you think they'll be alright if we let them go to Jarilo?"

Welt laughed quietly, and shook his head.

"Don't say it," Himeko warned with her own smile.

"Oh, I wouldn't dare. If the weapons they carry are any indication, I would say yes, they'll be fine."

"Alright, I'll stop worrying."

"I'm certain you won't," Welt laughed again, "I'll leave you to wake him."

Chapter Eight

Diluc, and Kaeya had been able to handle the jump better, and Himeko had given Diluc and ultimatum; Eat, or no mission. Diluc ate. Himeko was as scary as Adelinde, and he wasn't allowed to leave until she was happy with how much he'd managed.

Now, Diluc stood on a frozen wasteland, surrounded by bodies, and homes frozen right into the ice. It was a different kind of cold than Dragonspine. The large mountain next to his home was unnatural, and so was this. However, while this was extreme, it was tolerable enough to hopefully get more than three feet before you froze to death.

Sampo led them into a city, and took what Diluc thought might have been every back alley in existence before he asked them to wait. Stelle, and March didn't look pleased, but they did it anyway. If there was one thing Diluc learned just at that moment, it was that Kaeya, of all people, was the most patient person in the group.

It didn't take long before they were leaving the alleys, and coming into an extremely large courtyard-like area. Diluc, and Kaeya were distracted enough by the large statue that they took no notice of the fact they had wandered into a road.

What looked like some sort of tiny car made a loud, abrupt noise at them. Diluc grabbed Kaeya's arm, and yanked him backwards as he threw himself back. The car didn't even slow down as it made the noise again, and sped by.

"Are you guys okay?!" March gasped, kneeling next to them.

"I'm sorry, we should have warned you… the drivers here are a little crazy," Stelle said solemnly.

"Well, I'd say so. They put Lumine's speeding to shame." Kaeya laughed as he stood.

"Huh? I thought I told you guys to stay!"

They could only see Sampo's pouting face for a split second before he was tackled by a streak of white, blue, and blonde.

"That's enough, Koski! What did you do this time?" the man asked, pinning Sampo to the ground similarly to what Diluc had done the first time he'd met the man.

"Geppie! You left your… Sampo? Things have been awfully quiet lately, where have you been?"

"Oh, here, and there - augh! — Couldn't you let up just a little, Geppie?" Sampo whined.

"No."

So this was Gepard. Diluc approved, although he could have done with twisting Sampo's arm just a little further.

"Miss March, and Stelle? Long time no see! What brings you two here?"

The other woman ran over, and offered a hug to each. She looked a lot like Gepard. Same hair, same eyes, same smile.

"We were here to see Gepard!" March answered, "We could use some help."

Gepard dragged Sampo to his feet, "Alright. Serval, may we borrow your shop?"

"Any time, lil bro."

The woman's shop was a mess. There were mechanical parts in every corner, as well as strewn across the floor, and covering any tables and countertops. Diluc looked at the debris closely. In some ways it reminded him of the ruin guards that sometimes roamed the countryside, but not exactly the same. In one corner, Serval gave the now mopey Sampo a task to do, and watched over him.

"So, what can I help you with?"

"First of all," Stelle began, pointing at Kaeya, "This is Kaeya, and that is Diluc."

Gepard nodded to each of them, "It's always a pleasure to meet friends of the Trailblazer, and Miss March."

"Second of all," Stelle continued, "They are from a planet called Teyvat."

Gepard's eyes widened, "You're from Teyvat? Sampo and I had recently been sent to a place called Sumeru recently. A man named Alhaitham explained that it was only one of several nations. Are you from Sumeru?-"

"What? He did not say that!" Sampo snorted from the corner.

Gepard crossed his arms, "Yes he did."

"Really. When could he have possibly told you that without me hearing, hm? We were together the entire time!"

"You were busy laughing at the General Mahamatra's jokes."

"Wait, you actually laughed? Where he could hear?…" Kaeya asked, a tinge of fear in his voice.

"Of course I did! They were hilarious, if I do say so myself. And I did say so myself, so-"

"That's enough, Koski!" Gepard said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Diluc was confused. Were they a couple? He found it difficult to believe that was the case, but Alhaitham and Kaveh only seemed to stop arguing long enough to catch their breath before they were at it again. Diluc wasn't about to judge.

"We're from a city called Mondstadt, and through overly odd circumstances, we ended up aboard the Astral Express. We're trying to find a way home."

Gepard's brows knitted together, "Sampo, that item you went to get. Wasn't that how you'd gotten back the first time you were there? Couldn't you just use it to send them back?"

"Oh, now you want me to talk?" Sampo put his hands up when a club materialized in Stelle's hand, "Oh, alright, alright! There are a couple of problemos with that. You see, it's not nearly charged enough for doing something like that, and well, I would have to go with them, and I don't think I could do more than one at a time. I'd have to take one, and wait to come back before I take the other, then…"

"Wait to come back again…" Gepard mumbled, "Other than Sampo, what brought you to Belobog, then?"

"We heard you've come across one of these before," Kaeya said as he held up his Vision.

The brief grimace on Gepard's face told them what they needed to know.

"If we got dragged to Sumeru because of the Vision, and its owner that we found, doesn't that mean you ran into something from our universe that pulled you here?"

Sampo laughed, "Not something, but someone."

When the man didn't give any more information, Gepard rolled his eyes, "And by that you mean what, exactly?"

"He means nothing-"

"Our lovely Lady Himeko is Diluc's mommy."

"What?!" Serval and Gepard explained at the same time, now staring at Diluc."

Stelle nodded with a wide smile, "It's true. I think we should throw her a baby shower."

"Oh, that's a great idea! I wonder what size onesie he would wear…" March appeared to be putting serious thought into it.

"I'm going to kill you, Koski," Diluc grumbles, crossing his arms, while Kaeya snickered.

"Actually… now that you mention it, he really does look a lot like her," Serval said.

March nodded, "Right! Isn't it cute? I've actually come up with a nickname! Mini-Meko!"

"Oh, that's cute. Fitting," Gepard added.

Oh boy… this conversation may have just become number one on his list of embarrassment.

"Okay, that's enough! We're here for a mission!"

The embarrassed strain in his voice earned another snort from Kaeya. Archons, he was never going to hear the end of this, and Jean would undoubtedly find out. Probably Adelinde, too… and the rest of Mondstadt.

Diluc straightened up, "We need you to lead us to the spot the Vision was last seen. We may be able to find a way to use it to get home."

"I see. Well, I am willing to lead you there, however, it is very dangerous. We should speak with the Supreme Guardian first."

"March and I would also be joining you. I believe these two would be fine between you, us, and Sampo."

"What? Me?! I don't think this is necessary…"

Serval spoke up, "Geppie, you're not back on duty yet. I'm not sure that Lady Bonya would let you go out there after your little… accident."

"Geppie had an accident? What happened?" Sampo asked, standing up from the floor.

The concern was interesting, and weirdly genuine from what Diluc had seen from Sampo to this point.

"Nothing-"

"A couple of weeks ago, when he got back from wherever these two were, he came flying in, and crashed right into the wall… and through it. Messed up his shoulder, and had a whole slew of bruises. Really, Gepard, I'm not sure if you should go back out there."

"They require help, Serval. Would you rather I sent them off alone with Sampo?"

Serval sighed, "You're right. So, I'll be coming with you."

"Sis… you are a civilian now. You shouldn't be outside the wall."

Kaeya cleared his throat, "As touching as your concern for our safety is, both of us can fight. We wouldn't hinder you in any way."

Gepard was unconvinced, "Anyone can say they know how to fight, but most don't…"

"Ah, if I may? I'm only judging by one interaction, but I'll admit, Diluc can floor me faster than you, Geppie. Not only did he have me in a prone restraint faster than I could bat an eye, but I can tell ya, ole Sampo wasn't going anywhere. Couldn't move a muscle!" Sampo said with a wink at Diluc.

Serval looked excited, "Really? I'd like to see that."

"Serval, stop that," Gepard sighed, "I'll go speak with the Supreme guardian, but you'll have to come with me to present your case."

With that, everyone in the room began towards the door.

"W-wait… not everyone needs to go. Perhaps just one of the newcomers, and one from the Astral Express."

Kaeya raised his hand, "I'd love to meet your Supreme Guardian.

Stelle also volunteered to go, and they were gone. He'd trust Kaeya to use his charisma to talk their leader into helping, he hoped they were reasonable. Diluc wandered around the shop, looking at the different gadgets. He found it amusing that Serval had Sampo sitting in a corner, pulling parts off a machine, and sorting the various parts into buckets, while March watched over him with the eyes of a hawk.

"Do you like machines?" Serval asked him.

"Hm. I've never really thought about it. Some of these things remind me of some things I've seen on our planet. They're very large, and very dangerous ancient automated machines. We usually see Ruin Guards, though there are other types as well."

"Giant robots, eh? Interesting. Who knows, maybe I'll get to see them one day. So… what are you going to do if this doesn't work for getting you home?"

"… That's not acceptable. We have a saying in Mondstadt, "Home is where my love lies". Some people think it means their love of their nation, and perhaps it does for them, but that was not its original meaning."

Serval smiled softly, "It means the person you love, right?"

Diluc nodded. Home was where Jean was. Even though he had technically found something he'd always longed for, it wasn't actually his. He appreciated that Himeko had been patient with him, and even took an interest in who he was as a person. However, she didn't deserve to have the role of a mother forced upon her.

"Oh, that's right," March said, turning towards them, "You have someone back home, uh… Jean! Awe, it's okay, we're going to get you back to her, safe and sound, big guy!"

Diluc laughed quietly at the nickname. He was trying not to think about what would happen if they couldn't get home. He'd been in that position before, thinking he was going to die at the hands of his enemy before he was able to go home and apologize to his brother.

"If it comes down to it, I'll take you. It may take some time, but I'll get you both home," Sampo said.

Diluc hadn't heard him speak so plainly before, and by the surprise on Serval's face, she hadn't either.

"Really? You'd use all that energy for someone you hardly know? What's the catch, Koski?"

"Why would you so readily accuse poor little Sampo of putting a price on love?!"

Serval glared at him, and what Diluc had deemed "normal Sampo" was back, then. The guy could change so quickly. It was like watching an old play where one actor would use masks to represent different characters, switching faces in an instant.

"Fine. I'm a sucker for love, alright? I mean look at the guy! He's pining harder than a tree, and falling harder than a landslide. It's just sad. So, so sad."

Diluc facepalmed, his cheeks felt hot. How did this man manage to be so ridiculous? It seemed like a talent, rather than being on purpose.

"… I don't even know what to say to that," Serval said.

"Oh? What'd we miss?" Kaeya asked.

Chapter Nine

Being his little brother, it was always fun to watch Diluc squirm, and apparently Sampo had found yet another excellent way to do so. It seemed the conversation had turned to Jean, and while it was always fun to pick on his brother's love life, he'd never gotten Diluc quite that embarrassed about it.

In all fairness, when it came to this subject, all you had to do was mention kissing for Diluc to blush. When it came to Jean, his brother was a romantic, and mention of anything intimate usually had Diluc hiding his face.

"It was nothing. Don't worry about it," Diluc said quickly, "What did the Supreme Guardian say?"

"Kaeya got her to agree, but only as long as both Trailblazers and I accompany you."

Diluc nodded, "How far is it, and when can we go?"

"It's a few hours walk. Give me thirty minutes to get my gear, then we'll go," Gepard said, already out the door.

"Hey! He didn't even take me with him!" Sampo complained.

What an odd guy. As far as Kaeya knew, Sampo was a wanted criminal, and Gepard was the person tasked with bringing him in, yet the man was upset that the Captain didn't take him along just to get his gear. Even if he liked Gepard, which he obviously did, you'd think in this situation that someone would simply enjoy from afar. As smart as the man was, his logic could be quite scrambled.

Serval patted Sampo on the back, "Don't worry, he's just excited to be back on duty. I'm sure he'll chase you around later."

It only took Gepard fifteen minutes to get back, fully dressed in his armor, and trying not to cringe at how it sat uncomfortably on his shoulder. Across the man's back was a large black box, and Serval slung a guitar over her shoulder. Kaeya waited to see what strange object Sampo would bring, but the man simply brought himself. He supposed that counted as a strange object, too.

"Aren't any of you going to wear a coat or something?" Diluc asked, looking out the window at the light snow coming down.

Serval shook her head, "Why? It's warm today!"

Stelle, and March nodded in agreement, and the redhead looked at them like they were crazy. It didn't feel bad to Kaeya outside, but Diluc hated the cold. He knew Dragonspine wasn't the only reason. Besides his time in Snezhnaya, he had been inside one of the labs Dottore had kept his brother in. It felt like walking into a freezer. Also, every time Diluc did end up having to go to Dragonspine, some issue or another arose, and Diluc would end up hurt, sick, or both.

Once they got outside the city walls, the wind, and snow picked up, but it wasn't as bad as what one could encounter on Dragonspine, at least not yet. When they rounded a corner, Kaeya watched as something white waddled away to hide.

"What was that?" he asked Sampo.

The man waved a dismissive hand in that direction, "It was just a plains bear cub. Adorable little fellas. Don't mess with them though, not unless you want mama bear to show up."

"Noted…"

Behind them, he could hear Diluc shivering. He'd have to keep an eye on the stubborn redhead. He wouldn't say anything until he was falling over, and that was sure to be a silent event as well. Diluc was not good at asking for help, especially when he was focused on a mission. Kaeya understood that he wanted to get back to Jean, but Jean would kill them both if Diluc came back dead.

Just as Gepard had said, it was a few hours walk, and Diluc was still alive. With the snow having paused, the redhead had been able to use his Vision to keep himself slightly warmer. Now it was on to the next problem. The area was swarming with what Kaeya thought might be monsters.

"So… friends of yours?"

Gepard shook his head, "Fragmentum monsters. Unfortunately, if we're going to find your Vision, we'll have to fight. Serval, Sampo, you two stay here with them. Trailblazers, if you wouldn't mind?"

Diluc, Serval, and Sampo, who he was surprised by, were all ready to protest, but Kaeya would never really say he minded sitting back to let others do the dirty work. Observation was fun. Gepard, March, and Stelle were doing a fair job, too, until a whole slew of enemies seemed to materialize out of nowhere.

Diluc, Sampo, and Serval were done standing by, honestly, Kaeya was surprised it had taken that long. He might as well join, too.

Sampo made it to the field first, with two mean looking blades having been pulled from somewhere, and a bomb thrown at the group of enemies. Serval made it up next, and it was a bit of a shock when she strummed her guitar, electricity spread across several bat-like creatures, and they fell to the ground.

Kaeya was just behind Serval, and weaved through another group, making quick and precise cuts as he moved. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see where Diluc had circled around to the side, his claymore drawn. Anything that stood in his way didn't stand a chance. The universe natives took a moment to appreciate the way the redhead rampaged through the enemies with flames, wide swings, and the occasional flip to bring his sword into a vertical arc, slicing down the larger enemies.

Gepard ran, and jumped into a group, slamming his case into the ground, and the creatures went flying in every direction. The problem was, the things just kept coming. The bats, and humanoids everywhere, and beginning to surround them.

Diluc's annoyed growl was the only warning they had.

"Dawn, break forth!"

Kaeya always enjoyed watching the giant flaming bird wreak havoc, however, all of this universe's natives hit the deck. Anything that was resistant to the fire, and still standing was taken out with a few swings. Then it was quiet.

The look the others gave Diluc as they got up was priceless. Eyes wide, mouths open, the shock was magnificent, as was the embarrassment on Diluc's face.

"I apologize. There was no time to warn you that it wouldn't hurt you…"

Stelle jumped up and down, "Do it again!"

"I… can't right now. I have to store enough energy before I can do something like that," he turned to Gepard, and Sampo, "Do you know where about that Vision is?"

"I-it… may have moved in all the commotion, but it was around there," Gepard pointed off to his left, "We'll have to dig around, I'm afraid."

The redhead didn't look thrilled by this idea. Instead, he adjusted his gloves, and moved close to the area. Even Kaeya wasn't sure what he was doing. After a moment of focusing, and a short yell, Diluc brought his fist down on the ground, sending a flaming wave across it in one direction. The layer of snow covering the ground melted away, leaving behind vapor, and one shining Vision. Even he seemed surprised that it had worked.

"That was… easier than expected," Diluc said as he picked up the Vision, "Looks like it belonged to a Sumerian. I wonder how it got all the way here."

"We should get going, before it gets too late," Gepard interrupted the thought.

It was dark by the time they returned to Serval's shop, and Diluc looked downright frozen. Serval had immediately produced a blanket from somewhere, and draped it over the redhead's shoulders, and he plopped down onto the stool next to Kaeya's.

"I suppose I should have trusted that you guys really can fight, but out there, well, you can never be too careful. It's my job to take care of the people of Belobog, and as long as you're here, that includes you too."

"That bird was amazing!" Sampo said, "Say… there are some people giving ole Sampo some trouble. I don't suppose you could-"

"No, Sampo!" Gepard, Serval, Stelle, and March all said in unison.

Kaeya enjoyed watching the friends' interaction, but they needed to go.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but we're expected back aboard the Express. Many thanks for your help," Kaeya said, pulling the shivering redhead up.

"Yes, you all risked your lives for this. Thank you."

Diluc started to pull the blanket off, but Serval stopped him, "It's okay. Stelle can always return it later. Good luck getting home!"

Kaeya, Diluc, Stelle, and March headed for the door, but they were missing a person, "Aren't you coming, Sampo?" Stelle asked.

When there was no answer, they turned back around. Sampo was gone. Gepard groaned, and rolled his eyes. Sampo had snuck out while no one was looking. Very wise. With their last goodbyes to their new friends, they headed back to the Express.

Chapter Ten

Himeko was there to greet them the moment they returned to the ship. She looked over each of them, but the blanket Diluc was wearing caught her attention, and it was difficult to miss the concern that crossed her face.

"What happened? Are you alright?"

Diluc nodded, "I'm fine, just cold," he pulled the newly acquired Vision out of his pocket, "We got it."

Himeko held out her hand, "May I?"

When Diluc held it out for her, she took it, and gently ran her fingers across the smooth surface, and over the metal casing, "The outside looks different from yours."

Diluc nodded, "This one is from a different nation. We're from Mondstadt, the owner of this one was from Sumeru. The reason Sampo, and Gepard ended up there was because when they killed its owner, that's where the energy belonged, and dragged them with it, but not the Vision itself," he took the Vision back, "It concerns me that it won't have enough energy for Asta to do anything with, but I can feel energy within."

Himeko sighed, "Well, we won't know until we get there, which won't be until tomorrow. Everyone should get some rest while we can."

Really, Diluc didn't want to sleep. Nothing unusual for him, but his body was protesting. He hadn't thought their Visions would work, and was pleasantly surprised that they were still useful, but it drained him more than it normally would have. On a regular day, that much use would have been minor, but on a different planet, in a different universe, seemed that energy was stretched thin.

He hadn't realized he was dragging his feet until Kaeya spoke up.

"You'll have a little more time with her, but you really do need to get some actual sleep, Luc. You should eat, too, for that matter. You can't keep existing on air alone."

"Really? You or all people, lecturing me about eating?" Diluc huffed in response.

Kaeya raised an eyebrow his direction, "I've had several meals since we've been here. You've had, what… one? Your body is still going, but had nothing to keep it up. Sooner or later you're going to hit the floor. Himeko is worried about you, too. I can see it."

Diluc could too, and it annoyed him that the best thing he could do about that was what she had asked. He considered food briefly, but he didn't know where it actually came from. It had been brought to him previously, and he hadn't done much exploring.

Deciding food could wait until he woke. He flopped face-first onto the mattress in front of him, not even bothering to take off the blanket, or his coat. His feet were hanging off the end of the bed, but he didn't care. Diluc was asleep in moments.

~xxxxxxxxxx~

"You don't belong here, Diluc."

His mother hovered over the bed he was strapped to.

"She's not your mother."

A sharp pain in his arm dragged his attention away from his mother's face.

"Mm, you taste delicious. I shall have to taste all of you," Dottore said as he licked away the blood, then started licking all over.

Diluc couldn't move. Not this again. He didn't want this again, he couldn't let it happen. No matter how much he struggled he couldn't move.

"The doctor will fix what's wrong with you. Hold still, son."

Diluc's head whipped towards his father's voice. He tried to ask his father to help make it stop, but no words would come out, only cries as Dottore bit, sinking his sharpened teeth into Diluc's flesh, and licked. The noises the man made were as disgusting as the feel of him on Diluc's skin.

"You should have listened to your mother. You wouldn't be in this mess if you had."

That wasn't right, he'd never spoken to his mother until he'd spoken to Himeko. He didn't see the slap coming, but the sound echoed through the room, and it landed hard enough to make his ears ring.

"Don't you even think about her! Why, Diluc? Why have you abandoned me?! I can't believe you would choose her over your own mother!" his mother screeched sadly.

"What a disgrace. We're done, Diluc. You are no longer our child. Go to your new mother, and live the happy life you never gave us."

Diluc tried once more to speak, but nothing would come out. Tears slipped down the sides of his face as Dottore continued his disgusting onslaught, and Diluc's parents turned, and walked away.

He needed to scream.

He needed help.

He needed his family.

He needed them to stay.

He needed them to save him.

Mom, don't leave me!

Dad, please, help!

Mom, I need you!

~xxxxxxxxxx~

"Don't leave me!"

Diluc sat upright, sweating, and out of breath. Kaeya was sitting on the edge of the bed, worry in his eyes along with the glassy sleepiness from just having been woken.

"I won't leave, Luc…" Kaeya said groggily.

Diluc rubbed his shaky hands across his face, and tried to catch his equally shaky breath. As usual, he could still feel the touch on his skin, and it was taking everything he had not to vomit. Kaeya knew this far too well.

"Do you need me to get you something…?"

A deep breath, then another, and another, "I'm… I'll be fine."

Kaeya sighed, "We'll be home soon. You'll be able to sleep better."

Diluc wanted to agree with that. He wanted to go home, hold Jean, and sleep, but instead those words broke a dam. It was out of his control, Diluc pulled his knees to his chest, and cried. When he thought he might be able to stop, he cried more.

"I'm sorry! I-I…" Kaeya sounded panicked.

"… Not you… I… Don't want to leave, but I… I miss Jean, and home. I want my mom, Ky."

How pathetic was he? Crying for his mother, something he felt he had no right to do, especially around someone who had lost two families.

"S-sorry. I didn't mean to…" he whispered.

He felt Kaeya's hand on his shoulder, "Diluc, you shouldn't be sorry for wanting your family. I understand it. While I may have been abandoned… I know they are likely still alive somewhere, living their lives. I can't say I miss them, but it doesn't stop me from wondering about them. If I had the chance would I talk to them again? I don't know, but I do know that if I had the chance to talk to Dad again, whether it was really him, or not, I would take it in a heartbeat. Even if Himeko isn't exactly your mother, she is a chance to be as close as you'll ever get. You'll remember her, and you'll be able to tell your kids about her."

Diluc let out a small laugh, "Again with the kids…"

"Look, just hear me out. I need some nieces and nephews to teach some bad habits."

"You can create your own kids to teach bad habits," he tried his best to sound annoyed, and paused, "Would you… ever tell your kids about your birth parents?… Would you tell Klee?"

"… No, not my past family. I would tell them about Crepus, the stories of your mother, and Himeko. They might find out the rest, over time, but I would tell them what's important. Four out of five of these kids being children I'm not going to have, of course."

"That's an oddly specific number for someone who isn't having kids, Kaeya."

There was a knock at the door. Kaeya answered it while Diluc hurried to wipe his face. He could hear Stelle's voice.

"I'm sorry to wake you, but… Diluc has a visitor."

"A visitor? How… could he- You know what, never mind. I'm sure he'll be out soon."

Stelle left, and Kaeya sat on the bed again, "Are you up for this? You didn't sleep for very long…"

"I have no idea… But I am curious."

Diluc did his best to wash his face, and fix his hair, but there wasn't a lot he could do for it. It would just be what it was. They made their way to the lounge car. Stelle smiled as they came in, and Diluc could see Himeko talking to two men. One dressed in mostly black, and silver, a pistol strapped to his side, and a black wide brimmed hat. The other was wearing shining bright armor, and had bright red hair, just like theirs.

"Ah, Diluc," she smiled as he approached, "There is someone who would like to meet you."

The man with red hair turned. Diluc would have thought it was his father, if not for the green eyes. The man looked overjoyed to see him.

"Oh, you must be the nephew I have heard so much about! Isn't it truly beautiful to meet family?" he asked wistfully.

"I-I… I'm sorry, who are you?"

"I am Argenti, a Knight of Beauty, and your uncle. When I was told of your existence, I knew I must meet you!" He turned to Kaeya, "And you must be my adoptive nephew, how wonderful."

The man's smile was blinding, and Diluc could have sworn a spotlight was shining down on him, with sparkles surrounding the man. He remembered now, Himeko had mentioned that they found two relations in their database.

Kaeya laughed, and put out a hand to shake, "It's a pleasure. I'm always happy to meet new family."

Diluc could already see that Kaeya's teasing would never stop after this. Argenti was exactly what Kaeya always accused him of being, which he was not. He was trying to take in the fact that he was now meeting another family member, but this was one who did not exist in their own universe.

"It's… nice to meet you. I've never had an uncle before."

Argenti laughed lightly, "And I have never had a nephew. The idea of having siblings is a truly intriguing idea! Perhaps my path would have been a different one. Regardless, I am more than happy to be here now."

Stelle, and the other man had already disappeared, and Kaeya, and Himeko were attempting to bow out. That was not going to happen, and Diluc wasn't alone in this opinion.

"Miss Himeko, Sir Kaeya, please stay! We are all family, after all. Let us learn about one another. Boothill, I'd like you to meet my- Hm? Where did he go? No matter, come, sit! Diluc, tell me about yourself."

"Uh… There's not much to tell."

"Oh, Diluc, stop being so modest! When he was younger, he was a Knight with the Knights of Favonius. They're the protectors of our Nation. Most of the young women of Mondstadt pine over him, one of the most eligible bachelors, though he's no longer a bachelor. Jean is his beautiful significant other, and personally, I hope to call her my sister-in-law soon."

Kaeya went on, and on while Argenti took it all in with joy. By the time his brother was done, their uncle knew everything there was to know, complete with embarrassing childhood stories. Himeko also seemed to be enjoying some of the stories she hadn't yet heard.

With as red as his cheeks burned, he had to admit, it felt a lot like sitting around with family. His eyes were stinging again, but he watched Argenti, and Himeko intently as Kaeya spoke. Jean would love to have seen this, and he would make sure to tell her.

"Diluc," Himeko drew his attention, "Are you okay?"

He nodded, with a small smile, "I am. I don't think I could possibly tell my story better than Kaeya, but I believe it's time to share his own story."

"What? I don't think so, this is about you. I'm more than happy to sit on the sidelines-"

Diluc started talking, telling Kaeya's story, and embarrassing him, as any good brother would. Now, though, he had some clarity. He was going to be devastated when they had to go, but he did have to go, and he would grieve their loss.

Learning more about these people would give him something to always remember them by, and stories to pass down. Should he ever have children, he'd make sure they knew about all of their family. At least once he left here, he would know that they were out there, still existing somewhere.

That should be enough…

~xxxxxxxxxx~

"I'm afraid I must go. Diluc, Kaeya, my dear nephews, what a pleasure it was to meet you both. I will always hold you in my heart, and it shall bring me strength in my search for beauty," Argenti handed them each a rose, "Please, have a safe journey home, and may this symbol of Idrila, The Beauty, be your guiding light in your return to love."

"Well, mudder fudger, it's about time. You lot are adorable and all, and it was nice meetin' you folks, but we got a mission to take care of," the man with the hat said.

Diluc recalled Argenti calling him Boothill. He reminded Diluc of the television show he'd seen briefly while on Earth. Lumine had called the character a cowboy, and the show a "western". With a final wave, the men were gone, and Diluc felt the inevitable sense of loss.

He realized it must have shown on his face when both Kaeya, and Himeko were trying to comfort him.

"I'm so sorry to have sprung this on you. I didn't know he was coming," Himeko said, hovering close by.

"It's fine. I'm fine. I just want to lay down," he turned to Himeko, but found himself having trouble meeting her eyes, "You don't have to hover. I'm comfortable with you."

It had been driving him crazy, but he could understand it after their first meeting. He'd probably made it pretty clear that he didn't like being touched. They were nice people, and they didn't deserve his problems.

Himeko smiled gently, "Thank you for your trust."

She put her hand out for Diluc to take, and he did. This… this would have been what it was like to hold his mother's hand. Himeko enclosed his hand with hers, and gently squeezed.

"Diluc. I know I'm not her, but if there's ever a way I could help you, I would traverse universes if I had to. If you ever need me, I will find a way to be there."

She pulled out one of the rectangular devices he'd seen the crew using, and handed it to him. She gave a second to Kaeya, both had patterns to match their coats.

"These are cellular phones. I realize they won't work for calling when you return home, but… March and Stelle helped take many pictures for you to keep, and they are printing some, too."

Kaeya made a noise, "This cell phone looks nothing like the one Lumine had. It folded in half, and made terribly annoying noises each morning."

Himeko seemed shocked at the comment, but didn't say anything about it. Instead, she began to usher them to their room.

"You really should sleep some more before we go back to Herta Space Station. You'll need your strength to return home."

A look at Kaeya told him the bluenette was thinking the same thing, "Actually, possibly having so little time left, I'd rather be around you," Diluc said, "I'm hungry, anyway."

He didn't want to take the time they had left for granted. This would more than likely be the last time he would see his mother, an opportunity he never had imagined he'd have to begin with. Sleep could wait.

"Oh, so the people from Teyvat do eat," Himeko said sarcastically, "The dining cabin is this way."

Chapter Eleven

Walking onto Herta Station came far too soon, but Himeko could see how incredibly torn Diluc was, and Kaeya's concern, as much as he tried to hide it. Unfortunately, they needed to go home. They didn't belong in this universe, and had loved ones at home waiting for them, as well as other people who depended on them.

Asta was waiting for them in the room she had taken them to before. When she ran the scans on this one, her eyes lit up with excitement.

"I… I'm getting some of the same energy readings as yours off this one, but something different… amazing."

"I think it's because of the owner's death. Visions are bestowed upon someone as a gift from Celestia as recognition for their dedication. Usually, when a Vision holder dies, the energy drains from it, returning to Celestia. This energy hasn't been able to," Diluc said warily, "It's believed that those blessed with a Vision will have a home in Celestia when they pass. If that's true, it may be that if the energy can't return to its home, the person it once belonged to may be lost completely."

Kaeya nodded in agreement. Based off the information she had, this theory made some sense to her. It was a very powerful energy that needed to return to its place of origin. The Aeons give, the Aeons take away. It was a powerful cycle beyond their mere mortal abilities.

"Asta, do you think you'll be able to find a way to send them home?"

"Actually, yes. We have a device that is meant to channel different types of energy, and focus them. I believe we may be able to use it on this, and I think we'll be able to send it home with you, so that energy can return to where it belongs."

"Really?" Kaeya asked, "That sounds like something you would read about the Akademiya doing."

"Interesting! It really would be wonderful to visit your world. There must be some very fascinating differences between them, and us," Asta sighed, then straightened back up, "Alright, give me about an hour to set things up, and run some tests. I think if we can break through, that the two of you should be able to piggyback a ride home with the energy"

Again, too soon for Himeko's liking. Now having a timeframe for their imminent departure, Himeko called for her crew to come. They would be upset if they didn't have the chance to say goodbye to Kaeya, and Diluc.

It seemed like the span of an hour came and went in the blink of an eye, and Himeko was just trying to hold it together until she could be alone. She never did like brooding in front of others, and this was definitely an occasion for brooding.

Stelle, and March gave them a teary farewell, while Dan Heng kept it simple. Welt had come to wish them the best of luck, but Himeko knew a large reason he came was to be her rock. He always was when the tough situations came through.

Now, it was Himeko's turn.

"I meant what I said, if you need me, I'll be there. I'm very happy to have met you both. Regardless of what has happened in the past, I can say with certainty that your mother would have been proud of the young men you have become. Please, do your best to live good lives."

Her heart broke at the tears shining in Diluc's eyes. He lunged forward unexpectedly, and wrapped his arms around her. She held him tightly, until he was ready to let go.

"Alright," Asta said to the young men, sympathy in her voice, "Let me use this to focus the device, then you can take it with you."

A moment later, blue, and purple swirled before them. A kind of portal made up of energy between two universes. It was beautiful. Asta handed Kaeya the Vision.

"You'll need to go together, it would probably be best if you held hands. The ride may be bumpy, and I don't know how smooth your exit will be, I apologize. Gentlemen, I wish you the best of luck in your journey home," Asta said as she backed to a safer distance.

Kaeya smiled, and waved, then took Diluc's hand. The redhead, her son, looked back one more time, a smile crossing his lips. That was the last image he gave Himeko to remember him before they disappeared.

Chapter Twelve

The ride home was not smooth. Too much, too fast. Diluc's hand was closed tight around Kaeya's, but it was slipping, being pulled apart by force. He used everything in his power not to let go. What was probably only a few seconds seemed like hours of swirling, and flying through blue brightness, until they suddenly weren't.

The force with which they hit the ground was bone breaking. He felt a snap in his left arm, and let out a short, pained yell, but even over that he could hear Kaeya scream, once, then again. Then, everything was silent as they came to a skidding halt.

Diluc could feel the darkness closing in, the canopy above him losing color. He turned his head as best he could to search for his brother. He could see Kaeya's shirt, not far away, and reached out for it, grabbing onto something solid.

Diluc lost his battle with consciousness.

~xxxxxxxxxx~

When Diluc woke, he was looking at the same trees he had before. Kaeya. He started to sit up, every muscle, and bone in his body screamed at him, he let out a noise, and stopped. Taking a few deep breaths, he tried again.

He could feel the material clenched in his hand as he rolled over. Kaeya wasn't moving at all. Diluc pushed on his arm, and received no response. Diluc moved to push himself up, and yelled out again at the reminder that his left arm was broken.

A low groan came from Kaeya at the noise.

"Kaeya…" his voice was barely audible, and gravelly.

Diluc pushed himself to his knees, and scooted closer to his brother. Kaeya had definitely endoured a rougher landing. There were many cuts across his face, where his eye patch was missing, and arm, likely from skidding across the ground. His right arm was not sitting right, definitely broken, and Kaeya's bustier had been sliced through, along with his side.

Diluc pressed a hand over it. Kaeya had already lost a fair amount of blood, and it was still bleeding. He grabbed the end of his own vest, and gripped it with his teeth, found his knife, and did his best to cut a strip of material. The next problem was that he couldn't get the cloth to stay, not without using both hands. He feebly tried to pull the on the torn edge of Kaeya's bustier with his left hand, it wasn't going to work.

Kaeya groaned again.

"Kaeya, wake up."

"... Hsmphst."

"I know… Can you open your eyes, Kaeya?"

No response.

"Come on, try."

"Nuh…"

"I need your help, try again." Diluc said.

He tried to pull the material, and push the bandage at the same time, it refused to stay. He took Kaeya's left hand, and set it on the edge of the ruined cloth.

"Feel that? All I need is for you to pull back right here so I can get a bandage in."

Slowly, Kaeya wrapped his fingers around the edge of the material, and pulled. Diluc was able to pull on the other side, and push the makeshift bandage in this time. It stayed, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"H-hurts."

"That's… not surprising. We need to get you to a doctor."

As Kaeya worked on getting his eyes open, Diluc struggled to his feet, and leaned against the closest tree. When Kaeya finally worked himself into a half sitting position, Diluc took his hand to pull him up. He held his brother up as he wheezed, and stumbled into the tree. He let his shoulder take his weight as he wrapped an arm around his center, and nearly doubled over.

"R… ribs- t-this is too t-tight…"

Kaeya pointed to his bustier. If they took that off, it wouldn't hold the bandage on anymore. If they left it on, it had the potential to cause other issues.

"Do you think you could stand it until we get you some help?"

The bluenette paused, and put his hand to the cut on his side, and nodded, "I'll try…" he looked around, "W-where are we?"

"I think… we're in Sumeru. Vision sent us here," Diluc said.

"Ride… sucked. No stars."

"Funny… We've got to go."

Diluc wrapped his good arm around Kaeya, under his arm, but trying to avoid his ribs, Kaeya still yelped. He had no idea where they were, but there was a road nearby. It would lead somewhere eventually. Diluc was surprised by the lack of comment from Kaeya. His brother knew that neither of them could navigate the wilds of Sumeru, and he really hoped it actually was Sumeru.

On the road, Diluc picked a direction, and walked. Even with the slow pace, and support, Kaeya was struggling to keep up, his broken arm hugged close to his side, and with each step came a grunt of pain, and increasingly labored breathing.

He had no idea how long they'd been walking, trying to put one foot in front of the other, when they reached a clearing. Not too far off stood Sumeru city, and Diluc could cry. Ahead, he could see people walking.

"Help!"

His rough voice was too quiet, no one could hear him, and no one was looking their direction. All Diluc could do was keep walking. Finally, someone looked their way, and came running. Diluc fell to his knees, trying not to hurt Kaeya more, but he couldn't go on. His brother didn't make a noise when they went down.

As his own eyes closed, he felt Kaeya being pulled away, and himself falling forward.

~xxxxxxxxxx~

While it hadn't been as long as the previous time they were in Sumeru, Kaeya was still in the hospital for over a week before they let him go. Diluc's stay had only been a couple of days less, but that didn't stop him from picking on Kaeya about it.

Apparently their sudden appearance had reached the General Mahamatra's ears quickly, and in turn Tighnari, Kaveh, and Alhaitham. They all stopped in frequently, although Alhaitham was probably dragged along more than anything.

The Scribe was kind enough to send messages off to Jean, and Albedo for them. The latter showed up surprisingly quickly, carrying a long letter from Jean. When no one was looking, Diluc would take in the scent of the paper. It smelled like her, and he needed that.

When Diluc told them the ridiculous story of what had happened, everyone groaned at the mention of Sampo, it was only a matter of one short hour before their Archon showed up to apologize.

As he and Kaeya had suspected, it was no coincidence, but she wasn't able to explain how or why it happened. Diluc was the reason they had ended up there, but he had nothing to do with the previous situation. It remained a mystery.

Now, they stepped into the winery, Jean, Klee, and Adelinde waiting for them. Jean, dropping all professional appearances, hugged him tightly, unwilling to let go for as long as possible. Diluc didn't mind, he dug his fingers into her shirt, and buried his face in her neck.

Kaeya, and Albedo took Klee home, and Jean stayed at the winery for the night. Diluc stood looking at his mother's picture for a long, long time. He wasn't surprised by how much he already missed Himeko, but it wasn't easy.

Jean came to stand by him, wrapping her arms around him from the side while he gazed at the painting.

"Are you ready to talk about what happened in the other universe? You do not have to if you are not ready, but Diluc, we were all so worried."

Diluc wrapped an arm over her back, "I'm sorry."

"It was not something you decided, there is no need to apologize. I just want you to know, when you are ready, I am listening."

He took a deep breath, and his chest stuttered as he did, "I met my mother."

"What?! How?…"

"It… wasn't really her, but an alternate version of her. That Himeko had different choices to make in life, and my father he… he was never born in that universe, but an uncle instead. He was nice," he said.

He thought he was done crying about it, but it just kept sneaking up on him. Jean, of source, noticed, and wiped them away.

"Would you… like to tell me about them?"

Diluc turned away from the painting, and pulled Jean into his arms, hugging her tightly. He wanted to tell her everything, even if it hurt right now.

"Yes."

Jean nodded, and they went to their room. Diluc talked to her for hours, about Himeko, Argenti, and the rest of the Astral Express crew. He kept talking until his throat hurt, and he fell asleep in his love's arms. For the first time in weeks Diluc didn't have any nightmares.