WhIP

by footfungus

nederlands verhalen over mijn otp

83. Chapter 83

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And They Were Roommates

joonie_beanie

Summary:

You and Diluc rent a three bedroom apartment together. A month into the semester, the rental company assigns you a third roommate, since you're not paying rent for the room. Neither of you are happy about gaining a roommate, but hey, what are the chances that whoever walks through the door will be-

"Hey bro," Kaeya greets, glee shining in his eyes. Diluc feels his blood start to boil.

"Looks like we're roommates."

Notes:

I'm a sucker for college AU's, and I adore both Diluc, and Kaeya, and their relationship. So, why not shove them in an apartment together with the reader and see what happens :)

Rating will be changed to explicit later on. I'm always hesitant to start a chapter fic, so please bear with me if updates aren't quick. My motivation to write plays hard to get sometimes.

Sorry if this seems all over the place, I'm just trying to establish their relationships with one another before we can start getting to the sinful/dumb/etc parts :')

Chapter 1: Humble Beginnings

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

You: a college junior, majoring in…something (you are, uh…still trying to figure out your major while still taking classes that count towards your degree). You're a full-time student, with a part-time job at a nearby café.

Diluc Ragnvindr: a college senior, majoring in business management. Despite being the next in line to take over his father's winery, he'd opted to attend college and get a degree. He also is the manager of a bar just outside of campus—because despite the wealth of his family, he hates having to rely on them for all of his funding.

The two of you had met some time ago, coincidentally sitting next to each other in an Intro to Psych class, and later becoming partners on a half-semester long project. At first, you hadn't expected your relationship to bridge beyond simply being classmates, but when the class ended, and you still found yourself texting him, and him asking to meet up for coffee to catch up, you'd realized that you were actually friends.

He's reserved, and perhaps a little…blunt, at times, but overall Diluc is one of the nicest people you know. Your conversations are pleasant, and he always helps you out if you ask. So, when he approaches you about rooming together in the fall—his current roommate, Conner, graduating at the end of the semester—you find yourself easily agreeing.

After a bit of digging, you manage to nail down a moderately nice apartment for an acceptable amount of rent. The only issue is…it's a three bedroom.

"Oh, don't worry about it! We won't charge you for the third room, but in return, if a single looking for a place to stay shows up, we're gonna move them in with you."

You'd both agreed to the terms, doubting someone like that would actually show up.

But…here you are. A month after settling into the apartment and getting used to each other's company and routines, the apartment management has sent you an email.

Subject: NOTICE OF NEW ROOMMATE – 10/1 Move-In Date

"Let's not get mad immediately," you say as Diluc scowls at his phone screen. The two of you are in the kitchen—you eating a bowl of cereal at the small wooden table, while Diluc stands near the counter, brewing coffee.

"It's totally possible that we'll like them."

"I really doubt that," he mumbles in response, reaching into the cupboard to get a portable mug. You sigh, silently a bit upset as well. You shouldn't have gotten your hopes up that a third roommate wouldn't come along. Of course the rental company would jump at the chance to get more money in rent every month, and, unfortunately, you had agreed to their terms.

"Listen, we're all college students, and we have stuff to do," you remind him. Finishing the cereal in your bowl, you stand and brush past him—moving to set the bowl in the sink. "I doubt they'll be a nuisance. And if they are, we can always talk to them, okay? Don't assume that the person who's walking through that door is your arch nemesis."

While still looking a bit disgruntled, Diluc finally sighs—his shoulders relaxing.

"Fine. I'll try not to be so negative."

You flash him a smile and reach up to pat his fluffy red hair.

"Good boy."

He sends you a look. You laugh quietly, and quickly excuse yourself from the room before he can think about melting you with those crimson eyes of his.

Three days later, you're away at work and Diluc is in the bathroom brushing his teeth when he hears the lock on the front door clicking open from the outside. Knowing that you won't be home for a few hours, Diluc can only assume it's your new roommate.

So, he finishes up and then steps out into the living room. The front door is just around the corner where he can't see, but Diluc can hear the sound of boxes being set down.

Taking a deep breath, he mentally steels himself—attempting to manifest a pleasant attitude. Best to welcoming and give a good first impression, right?

Forcing the smallest of smiles, he finally steps into the living room and faces the front door.

"Hey, you must be—"

The words die on his lips, the sight of familiar blue eyes and hair making him freeze. The male turns to look at him, surprise written on his face, but then he grins.

Diluc feels his blood start to boil.

Kaeya.

"Hey, bro," the newcomer greets, glee shining in his eyes. "Looks like we're roommates."

Diluc wants to scream.

You're just finishing up your break when you feel your phone begin to buzz in your pocket. The only reason you answer is because the caller ID tells you it's Diluc.

"Hey, I'm at work and my break is ending, what's—"

"Homicide has never seemed so tempting."

You pause, staring at your phone with a great amount of concern. Pulling it away from your ear, you check the time.

"Um…my shift will be over in an hour. Can you…wait to commit manslaughter until I get home? Does this have to do with our new roommate?"

Diluc scoffs, and you can hear him pacing around his room.

"Yeah, the bastard is moving his stuff in right now."

You wince. "Bad first impression?"

"Far from the first," Diluc responds, making you even more confused. "But the impression is still bad."

You sigh, ducking farther into the kitchen where your manager won't be able to see you. The last thing you want is to get caught taking a phone call at work, but dropping the call seems like a bad idea. You're not sure you've ever heard Diluc this upset before.

"Do you…wanna explain what's going on? Why are you so mad?"

There's a long, frustrated exhale. Diluc remains quiet for a moment, then—

"A while ago I mentioned that I had a best friend in childhood, but we had a falling out, yes?"

"Yeah. I think his name was…Kaeya, right?"

"Well…," Diluc moves to his closed bedroom door and opens it a sliver. He can see across the living room and down the short hall at the other end of the apartment. Boxes litter the hallway, and he can hear Kaeya moving things around the previously vacant room. The one directly across from yours.

"He's our new roommate?" you guess, noting his silence. There's an affirmative grunt. You feel your heart drop—sympathetic for Diluc.

"I mean…if you can't stand the guy, we could always talk to the apartment management. Obviously I don't want you to have to live with someone who will only bring you stress…"

Diluc makes a sound, like he doesn't know what to say. He doesn't want to let this whole thing get to him as badly as it is, but…it's Kaeya. And he's their new roommate. Diluc has to live with him. And the school year doesn't end…FOR 8 MONTHS.

"Diluc?" you ask, worried at his lack of response. A moment later you hear the jingle of his keys, and the sound of a door being opened.

"I need a drink," he says, and if you weren't worried before, then you certainly are now.

Despite being the manager at a bar, Diluc rarely ever drinks alcohol. He hates how easily it alters his mood, and subsequently his actions. He doesn't like not feeling 100% in control of himself, so typically he opts for nonalcoholic drinks.

"Diluc…," you say, forgetting all about the work you should be doing as you listen to him leave the apartment. "Aren't you supposed to work tonight? Maybe a drink isn't such a good idea."

"It'll be fine. I'm the manager," he responds, no room for argument.

Honestly, you know Diluc isn't big on physical contact, but you wish you could give him a hug.

"Okay, fine. I'll be home in an hour, and I'll talk to Kaeya, alright? Let me know if you need anything."

"Will do," he says, and before you can think to say anything else, he has already ended the call.

Kaeya Alberich: A college senior, majoring in Marketing. He previously intended to room with an acquaintance named Fischl, but hadn't found out until last minute that the rental company doesn't allow co-ed renting. Prudes.

After 3 weeks of looking, and sleeping on Lisa's couch, he'd finally found a place to rent. Or, a free bedroom, rather. It seems like the place was already being rented by two other people, but so long as he had a room with a door that closed, he figured he could get along with them fine for a few months.

He honestly has no idea who the current inhabitants of the apartment are until he walks in, and is greeted by his dear ol' pal, Diluc.

Clearly, the redhead is furious. Which makes Kaeya quite amused.

After their brief greeting, Diluc had returned to his room to brood (or so Kaeya assumes), so he decides to focus on unpacking his belongings instead. He locates the vacant room which is now his, and starts setting his things up. Sometime later, he hears the front door open and close, but he doesn't bother straying from his task.

It's not until the door opens again, and he hears a tentative "hello?" that his interest is finally piqued.

Setting the pile of clothes in his arms aside, Kaeya peeks his head out into the hall, and spots you standing near the front door. His first thought is that he's surprised to find Diluc cohabiting with a female. Is that even possible?

His second thought is that you're much more cute and charming than the resident redhead.

"Hi," you say at spotting him. You smile, moving forward and reaching a hand out. Kaeya steps out of the short hallway and into the living room to meet you. "I'm Y/N. I'm guessing you're Kaeya."

"It's a pleasure," he says, grasping your hand with his own. However, he doesn't shake it. Instead, he lifts your hand to his face and presses his lips against your knuckles. There's a strange feeling in your stomach in response, and you realize that—holy shit, no wonder Diluc and Kaeya don't get along. They're complete opposites.

"So, um…," you start lamely, retracting your hand once he releases it. You feel a bit warm, and you hope it doesn't reflect on your face. "What's up with the late rental? Did your last roommate kick you out?"

You assume not, considering your first impression of Kaeya isn't one of deal-breaking proportions. He seems a bit…flirty, and maybe a little full of himself, but you doubt he's a big enough douche-bag to warrant being kicked out of an apartment less than a month into the semester.

"Ah, no, I just transferred in late," he says with a quiet laugh. When you raise your eyebrows, curious to hear his story, he continues.

"I was growing tired of my old university, and decided to transfer. I have…acquaintances here, so it feels more comfortable, I suppose."

"Acquaintances like Diluc?" you ask, the peeved redhead coming to mind. You can imagine him over at Angels Share mortifying his employees by actually drinking alcohol for once. It must seem like the world is ending.

Kaeya rolls his eyes at the mention of his ex-friend's name. He waves a hand in the air.

"I was aware he attended school here, but I had no idea he was an occupant of this apartment, if that's what you're wondering."

You hum, and silence stretches for a moment. You want to give Kaeya the benefit of the doubt—trust that he'll respect Diluc's boundaries, and the two of them will be able to cohabitate. But…

"You seem nice enough, Kaeya, but please know I'm not afraid to speak up if your lifestyle clashes with mine or Diluc's."

His eyes widen a fraction, surprised at your bold comment, but you only smile pleasantly.

"I'm willing to compromise on certain things, and obviously we're our own people with our own personalities, but—"

You're interrupted by Kaeya stifling his own laughter—the blue haired male raising a hand to cover his grinning mouth. You pause, flashing him a curious look. He can see you internally debating whether to be offended by his response, so he quickly composes himself.

"Listen, I've lived with others before. I know that it all revolves around give and take. Living with Diluc may not have been what I was anticipating," he sighs, and you can see the sincerity laid out on his face. He really had no idea who he'd be moving in with, and while Diluc is clearly upset with the arrangement, you doubt Kaeya's thrilled about it either.

"But I don't have anywhere else to go. So! I promise that I will do my best to be in both of your good graces."

He smiles, and you can't help but note how charming he looks. This entire time you've been focused on greeting him and laying out the rules, so you hadn't actually noticed the way his hair frames his face—a long ponytail draping off his shoulder and resting against his chest. Or the way his black t-shirt and jeans hug his body perfectly, accentuating his toned figured.

Living with Diluc is already hard enough (what, with his good looks and your weak heart), but now you have to live with Kaeya too?

Ah shit, you think, returning his smile as you swallow the lump forming in your throat.

I'm fucked.

(And likely not in a literal sense.)

Diluc asks you to room with him because he enjoys your company. Because of this, he assumes that living with you won't be difficult.

And…to his pleasant surprise, it isn't.

He has never been very good at making friends, let alone keeping them, but for some reason things don't feel so challenging with you. For a while, he'd wondered why that was, but had never really come up with an answer.

He settles for assuming you're secretly half angel.

Not full angel, because of course the two of you still have your moments. Diluc has gotten on your case more than once about using up all the hot water, and you've nagged him a few too many times about leaving his dirty dishes on the coffee table, but…in the end, living together is comfortable.

Diluc is very grateful for that.

He assumes that it will be just the two of you, and that things will continue going smoothly.

Alas, he's pretty sure he pissed off a god in his previous life.

"Sir…maybe that's not such a good idea," Charles speaks up, watching helplessly as Diluc takes his third shot of the night.

Typically, Diluc mans the bar—silently surveying the establishment and making sure no shady business is happening while he's on duty.

(Angel's Share is popular because everyone knows Diluc is vigilant in stopping perverts and people that can't take no for an answer.)

However, tonight…tonight Diluc is holed away in his office, glossed over eyes staring at the recent accounting reports. Charles wants to tell him that if he keeps frowning like that, his face will get stuck.

"That was my last one," Diluc mumbles in response, his fingers gripping the papers so tightly that the edges begin to crinkle. "Now leave me alone. If you need me for anything, just let me know."

The staff at Angel's Share is tight-knit, and well-behaved. Diluc knows that they can handle running the place without him, and luckily, the employees know Diluc isn't a deadbeat alcoholic. He's obviously just having a bad night, and is handling it in a…poor manner.

Charles sighs, stepping backwards and tugging the door shut along with him.

"Yes sir."

When the door clicks, Diluc releases a long sigh—sagging backwards in the chair. His eyes drift over to the wall, and he notes that it's already 8pm. You should be home by now.

The thought of you even speaking to Kaeya makes him scowl, and suddenly he debates if he should have just called off tonight. Leaving you to deal with your new roommate doesn't exactly sit well with him, but it's too late to be having regrets now.

It's better you than him, at the very least…

Sighing yet again, Diluc pulls himself up and reaches for the glass of water Charles had not-so-slyly left on his desk. He takes a long swig, and attempts to digest the numbers on the report in front of him, but it all seems to blur together.

He'll have to ask Diona to take care of it tomorrow.

"What am I doing…," he says to no one in particular, leaning his head back. He stares at the ceiling, mulling over the negative thoughts clouding up his head.

Obviously, there are a million and one things he could think to say about Kaeya, and the fact that they'll now be living together again for the first time in many, many years, but…for now, he just needs to keep it together. He's not a kid anymore—he can handle himself.

His gaze shifts to the empty shot glass beside the cup of water.

Well…he can handle himself most of the time.

Diluc breathes a laugh as he imagines you scolding him for being a dumbass and drinking before his shift. He can also hear you telling him that things will work out, despite his poor attitude, and he wants to believe that everything will.

It's just…hard to see anything positive in a situation where Kaeya is involved.

Nonetheless, Diluc decides there's no point in pitying himself. If Kaeya is his new roommate—as much as he wants to pull his hair out—he'll just have to try and deal with it.

On the days that Diluc works, he typically gets home around midnight. Angel's Share is open until 2AM, but the customers start to thin out around 11, and out of the all employees, he needs the money the least. So, he leaves it up to Charles and the other staff to take care of things.

(Of course, if there's ever a super busy night, Diluc will stay until all of the patrons have left, but it's a Sunday, and no one with a shred of intelligence stays out until 2AM on a Sunday. At least, in his humble opinion.)

Grabbing his wallet and keys, Diluc slips out the backdoor and starts the few block long trek back home. The bar is close enough that he can walk, and when the weather permits it, that's what he tends to do. It's a little frigid out tonight, but he hadn't bothered to check the temperature when he'd stormed out of the apartment a few hours prior.

At the time, all he'd been thinking about was getting the hell away from Kaeya.

Speaking of…

Diluc glances up as your apartment building comes into sight. A pang of dread constricts his chest, but he ignores it and treads on.

Your apartment is housed in moderately sized complex. Apparently, it had been intended to be new campus housing, but the University had stopped the project, and a different company had finished it up last year.

It'd been sheer luck that you and Diluc had managed to snag an apartment there.

"Welcome home," Diluc hears before he can even get his keycard out of his pocket.

Pausing—one foot on the small step-up to the main entrance—Diluc turns and spots Kaeya leaning against the wall nearby. There's a cigarette held between his lips.

"You shouldn't smoke," Diluc says in return.

Kaeya purses his lips—a stream of smoke filling the air in front of him. He smiles a little, his one good eye focusing on the still burning cigarette. Then, he drops it onto the pavement and squishes it beneath shoe.

"I've quit," he says, moving towards the door. Diluc shoots him an unimpressed look.

Kaeya shrugs.

"Mostly."

Diluc resists the urge to roll his eyes and finally swipes into the building. Kaeya tags along with him—following him into the stairwell. For a moment, the only sound is that of the metal stairs as they climb their way to the third floor. But of course, Kaeya can't let the moment pass in near-silence.

"What? You're not going to try to beat me up for moving in, or threaten to kick me out?"

Diluc frowns, not bothering to look back at his ex-friend.

"I'm too tired."

Kaeya breathes a laugh.

"Is that so…?"

Finally reaching their floor, Diluc reaches out to grip the door handle, but doesn't twist it. Instead, he turns to face Kaeya. His face is stern, but Kaeya can see that the flame in his crimson eyes is nothing more than embers.

"You already know how I feel," he says, holding Kaeya's gaze. "And you already know what I'll say."

Kaeya can't help but smirk a little at that. Despite their separation these last few years, it seems they're still quite in tune with each other. Kaeya understands the underlying meaning of his words—let's just try not to kill each other, alright?

"But," Diluc continues, catching Kaeya's attention. His eyes narrow, a fake smile tugging at his lips.

"If you cause problems for Y/N, that's a different story."

Kaeya thinks it's a little out of character—for Diluc to concern himself with the happiness of another.

Sure, Diluc has strong morals. He's righteous, and always stands up for what he believes is right. And perhaps maintaining the peace in an apartment with two other roommates can be considered "righteous" of him, but…Kaeya thinks the reason behind Diluc's threat in the stairwell last night bridges beyond his (somewhat) decent personality.

"So," Kaeya speaks, making you jump. It's just past 9am when walks out of his room to find you standing at the stove—a pan on the burner, and a carton of eggs open beside you.

"How long have you and Diluc been dating?"

Thank god you're not in the middle of cracking an egg, or you're sure the shell would be everywhere.

"What?" you respond, almost scoffing at the absurdity of the notion. You turn to face Kaeya, still a little unused to his presence in the apartment, and immediately your eyes fall upon his state of dress.

He's standing a few feet to the side of you—a navy blue robe tied loosely around his form. Clearly, he's not shy, because the robe is barely closed. You can see the toned curves of his chest and abdomen—the open V of his robe ending just above his navel.

His legs are naked from the knee down too. You pray he's wearing underwear.

"Diluc and I are not together."

Kaeya decides to overlook the second-long lapse in the continuation of your response—not clueless to the way your eyes had just raked his form.

"Really? Then I'm surprised that Diluc has made such a good friend that he's willing to live in the same space as them."

You can hear Kaeya's footfalls against the hardwood floor, and a second later, he's standing beside you at the stove. His eyes are locked on the still-warm pot of coffee.

"Mugs are in the cupboard right above you," you tell him, finally picking up an egg and cracking it into the pre-heated pan. "You want a fried egg? I can put on some toast too."

Kaeya blinks at you, surprised by the kind offering, but smiles after a moment.

"That would be lovely."

You hum your affirmation and grab a second egg. Kaeya reaches into the cupboard and grabs one of the many mugs, pouring himself some of the dark coffee. You note that he doesn't bother looking for sugar, of milk.

"Black?"

"The best way to have it," he responds, taking a sip. Apparently, it's to his taste, because he moves to sit down at the small kitchen table. You can sense his eyes training on your back as you work, so you decide to continue the conversation.

"Is it so strange for Diluc to have a friend he's willing to room with?"

"I suppose I never considered it as a possibility," Kaeya responds. He grins against the rim of the coffee mug, watching as you move to place a few pieces of bread into the toaster. "What spell did you cast on him, little lady?"

You roll your eyes at the pet name, but can't help the smile that comes to your face.

"I'd like to accredit it to my natural charm, and flawless personality."

Kaeya laughs.

"I think we're going to get along alright, Y/N."

You hum in response, reaching into the cupboard and grabbing two plates. You quickly pile the fried egg and toast on top and then walk over to set one of the plates in front of Kaeya. You place the other atop the table across from him, and then move to grab the butter, and some forks.

"What service," he says. "Does this happen often?"

"Only when I'm feeling especially nice," you respond, finally taking your seat on the other side of the table. He chuckles, and silence descends—the two of you opting to eat instead of talk. As you sit there, you realize that you have a lot of things you want to ask him.

You want to know more about his college experience, and his major. You want to know about him, and his likes and habits (especially considering that you'll be living together for a while). And, of course, you want to know about his and Diluc's relationship.

The latter had never bothered to tell you what exactly happened to make them stop talking, and while you're oh-so curious, you doubt asking Kaeya about it one day after he's moved in is the right thing to do.

So, instead you ask about something more practical.

"Do you mind giving me your number? And class schedule?"

Kaeya's showing eye flits to you, and an eyebrow raises on his forehead.

"I just like knowing where my roommates are," you explain a bit sheepishly. "I get worried easily."

"Ah," Kaeya says, picking up his phone from where it rests near his plate. "Give me your number, I'll text you my class schedule."

You smile at him and give him your information. A few moments later, you receive a text from an unknown number—it's a picture of a class schedule, and a winky face emoji.

"I see you've grouped your classes in the late morning and afternoon. Late to rise, but early to bed, huh?"

Your tone is sarcastic. Judging from Kaeya's personality—or, the vibes you've gotten from him so far, at least—you really doubt he has opted out of signing up for night classes for innocent reasons.

"I'm an extrovert, what can I say," he responds simply. You nod your head, breathing out a laugh as you save his contact information in your phone. As you do so, you note the time, and realize that you need to get ready for class.

In order to balance your classes, homework, and work, you'd managed to group your classes mostly on Monday and Wednesday. You've got an evening class on Tuesday too, and while sometimes Monday's and Wednesday's can be exhausting, it's worth if for all the free time you have at the end of the week.

"Um, I gotta get going, but let me know if you need anything." You stand from your seat and move to drop your plate into the sink. "I can give you an official walkthrough of the apartment later if you think you need one."

"I'll let you know."

His eyes trail on his phone as he scrolls through twitter—the half empty mug of coffee in his other hand. His plate is already clean, but he appears to be content at the table. So, you make to leave the kitchen and return to your room. However, Kaeya speaks up before you can get too far.

"Oh, also," he catches your gaze.

"Can you give me Diluc's number?"

The redhead is walking out of his 9am lecture when he feels his phone vibrate.

Why must god test him so early in the day?

Notes:

F in the chat for Kaeya 😢

Chapter 2: Baby Steps

Notes:

Thank you to those who commented and left kudos on the first chapter. This entire fic is just me loving Kaeya and Diluc, and college AU's (and growing relationships, and realization of feelings, and smut eventually *coughs*), so I hope others can enjoy reading it just like my brain is enjoying coming up with way too many ideas to cohesively put into 1 fic.

Also dragonspine has given me PTSD and now I run to seelies and fires no matter where I am on the map.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Kaeya, despite his narcissistic tendencies, is very observant. That's why, by the end of his first week living with the both of you, he already has a rough idea of both your and Diluc's habits and schedules.

On the days that you have the bulk of your classes, you wake up around 8, and are out the door by 8:45—just in time to make the trek to campus and to your 9AM lecture. You tend to have something light before you leave—an egg and toast, or some cereal. Anything that will hold you over until lunch.

You don't get home until dinner time, and Kaeya notices that you tend to drag your feet as you walk in the door. But…he supposes that having 4 classes in a day will do that to a person.

On the days where you're not piling academic knowledge into your head, you've got shifts at work. Judging by the skinny jeans and black t-shirt that you wear when you walk out the door, Kaeya assumes you work as a waitress. Your shifts seem to be all over—lunch on Tuesday, breakfast on Thursday, closing on Friday—but it seems that you have Saturdays off.

Aside from your work and class schedule, Kaeya has picked up on some of your at-home tendencies as well. Like—you always shower at night, typically right before bed. When you're not holed up in your room doing homework, you're usually sitting cross-legged on the living room couch, watching Netflix.

Diluc, while also having 9am lectures, always wakes up at 7. By ten after, he's exiting his bedroom wearing joggers and a hoodie—red hair tied high on his head. He's always back by 8, and as soon as he steps into the apartment, he b-lines for his bathroom.

(Before Kaeya had moved in, you and Diluc had each claimed one of the bathrooms as your own. But since the bathroom you'd claimed was right outside Kaeya's bedroom door as well, he'd moved his things in without thinking about the arrangement. You hadn't raised issue when he'd done so, so Kaeya assumes it's alright).

Anyway, Diluc always takes a steaming shower—one so hot that when he opens the bathroom door, Kaeya can see the steam billowing towards the ceiling.

More than once, Kaeya debates asking Diluc if he's aware that there's a ceiling fan, but decides against it—not wanting to start shit before the sun has fully risen. However, he does make a comment about how he hopes Diluc remembers to moisturize, which earns him an annoyed stare.

Diluc has the same class schedule Monday through Thursday—lectures 9 to 2 every day—and before leaving, he always grabs a protein bar, and a portable mug full of coffee. When he returns home, he stays in his room, with the door closed. (Kaeya assumes this isn't a new occurrence, since you don't bat an eye on the days that you're home at the same time.)

Around dinner time, he appears in the kitchen. He usually whips up something to eat—something homemade and simple. If there are enough ingredients, he makes an extra portion and sets it aside—covering it with a plate to keep it warm.

The first time Kaeya had witnessed him do so—the blue haired male silently lounging on the couch—he'd gotten up to investigate as soon as Diluc had left the room. However, Diluc had returned only a few beats later, and Kaeya had been like a deer caught in the headlights—his fingers prying the plate off the bowl to peek at the contents inside.

The redhead hadn't bothered saying anything, but the fiery glare sent Kaeya's way had told him easily enough that whatever food Diluc had set aside was not meant for him.

God, this is gonna drive me insane, Kaeya thinks, wondering why you and Diluc aren't together—especially when you walk in the door and stare at the bowl with a grateful sigh and a smile.

After making dinner, if he has work, Diluc heads out the door, and doesn't return until much later in the night. From conversation with you, Kaeya knows he works at a bar, so the late shift makes sense. And when he gets home, he heads straight towards his room, and tends not to reemerge until his alarm goes off the next morning.

Although, like you, Diluc seems to have Saturdays off. Kaeya decides to give you both the benefit of the doubt and assume that it's just a coincidence.

Nonetheless, Saturday seems to be the day that you and Diluc spend a prolonged amount of time together. Usually, during the week, you just see each other in passing. A brief conversation over breakfast, a short catch-up when one of you walks in the door.

But on Saturday, Kaeya walks out of his room to find you and Diluc sat at opposite ends of the couch—eyes trained on the TV as you bond over some sort of…documentary on natural disasters?

"God, the government should be preparing for something like this…," you say, both awe and horror in your eyes as the narrator mentions something about super volcanoes erupting.

Diluc scoffs. "Please tell me you're not getting anxious over a disaster that will likely never occur during our lifetime."

"But how do you know!" you hiss back. You look like you want to say more, but then your eyes catch Kaeya where he's standing at the end of the hall. He smiles innocently.

"Diluc's right," he finally speaks, noticing the way Diluc prickles at the sound of his voice—like a cat raising its haunches. So far, the two have managed to keep their distance and stay out of each other's hair, for the most part.

"There's no point in worrying about something like that."

"I knowwww," you whine, attention turning back to the TV. Kaeya breathes a laugh through his nose.

"Why not watch something else, then? Did Diluc force you to watch this?"

"She's the one who picked this documentary," Diluc cuts in, sounding annoyed and exasperated all at once. Kaeya cocks an eyebrow at you, wondering if his ex-friends' words are true. You give him an innocent look.

"Okay, I did—but it's all so interesting, alright? So what if I'm a masochist?"

Now that catches Kaeya's attention.

The look he flashes you is teasing, and far from innocent, so you're glad Diluc can't see it over his shoulder. However, the implications in his look also makes you feel a little warm, so you pick up one of the pillows beside you and toss it at him.

Kaeya catches it, but not before it hits him square in the face.

Diluc laughs.

Kaeya glares.

You flash him the sweetest smile you can muster.

"Want to join us?"

Now that wipes the grin off Diluc's face. In fact, he turns to you with a look of horror. You only give him a look that reads "you really can't suck it up for an hour? Not very pog of you, Diluc" to which he scowls, but doesn't say anything.

Kaeya, honestly, is surprised by the offer. While he's mingled with you a few times in the last week, it's not the same as being invited to sit down in close quarters. With Diluc.

So, of course, he has to say yes.

Scooting around the coffee table, he seats himself in the armchair next to you. Rather than flash Diluc a cheeky smile—which he is very tempted to do—he decides to not egg the redhead on. Instead, he crosses his legs and directs his attention to the television.

While the documentary isn't necessarily his thing, it's interesting enough, and it's not like he has anything better to do. Well, he could be doing homework, but this is college, so it's pretty much optional…right?

"So, basically if the ice caps completely melt, we're fucked," you comment. On screen, there's a simulation of what would happen to the coastal cities should the earth continue to heat up.

"All the more reason to invest in clean energy—ah."
"All the more reason to go fuckin' hog wild—ah."

Your gaze shifts between the two men who had somehow managed to talk at the exact same moment—Diluc looking a little annoyed, while Kaeya simply looks amused. You snort.

"Well, I think you're both right. Live life to the fullest, while also taking steps to make the world better."

"Aren't you the perfect little optimist," Kaeya responds, which makes you roll your eyes. Diluc wishes you would hit him in the face with the pillow again.

Thus far, Diluc has managed to largely avoid Kaeya. Aside from brief moments in the kitchen, or passing each other in the living room, the two haven't seen much of each other in the last week—and he prefers it that way. And you know he prefers it that way.

So why are you inviting Kaeya to sit down?

Diluc tries to act like he's not perturbed by Kaeya's presence, but you can see the way his fingers are itching against his thighs. You have high hopes that the two men will be able to get along despite whatever happened in their past, but…maybe you're trying to force their reconciliation a bit too fast.

"Hey," you say, reaching over and tapping your knuckles against Diluc's knee. His attention snaps to you. "I think I left my work water bottle in your car. I need to wash it, so can we grab it real quick?"

Diluc presses to his feet before ever responding.

"Sure, let's go."

He makes his way to the front door and you quickly follow after him, flashing a smile at Kaeya, who seems less than bothered at the two of you leaving him on his own. Slipping on your shoes, you trail after the redhead as he makes his way down the stairwell, his car keys jingling in his grasp.

You don't have a car, and when the weather is bad, Diluc gives you a ride to/from work if he's available. You'd been meaning to grab your water bottle for a few days now, but hadn't wanted to bother Diluc about it.

"Thanks," you say when you step outside the building—spotting Diluc's car nearby. He drives a nice car—one that seems a bit out of place amongst the hand-me-down vehicles most kids inherit from their parents, but not so nice that it's pompous. It's just…new. And that's a pretty rare sight at a college.

Popping open the back door, you snatch your water bottle from where it'd been discarded on his back seat. You can tell that it's been baking in the sun, because the water inside is quite hot. Good thing you need to wash it.

With your water bottle now obtained, you push the car door shut and turn to face Diluc. He's staring at you with a look of confusion and…slight disgust? Well, that's new.

You blink, a little scared.

"Yes?"

"Why are you being so nice to him?" he finally asks, like Kaeya is a war criminal who doesn't deserve to be treated like a real person. You resist rolling your eyes.

"Like it or not, he's our roommate, Diluc." You step past him and start towards the front doors. Diluc grunts from behind you.

"And? Just because he's our roommate doesn't mean you need to…I don't know, invite him to watch documentaries with us, or start a conversation, or offer to make him an egg."

You turn to stare at him with a deadpan. He's still looking at you like you're the crazy one, and as much as you want to knock some sense into him, you know it won't be that easy. Whatever happened in their relationship…it's not one you can mend just by trying to put them in the same room.

You sigh.

"Listen, I'm sorry for asking him to join. I didn't realize it would make you so uncomfortable—"

"I'm not—"

"You are," you continue, sending him a look that leaves room for no arguments. Diluc scowls a little, but doesn't bother trying to say otherwise. "I just…want all three of us to have a good relationship, you know? I don't know what exactly happened between you both, and I won't ask you to tell me, but…just…try to be open minded, please."

He wants to ask what exactly you mean by that, but he doesn't, because he doesn't want to hear you explain it when he has already mentally connected the dots.

"It's been years," is what you want to say. "He may have changed, so don't shut him out so easily."

Diluc debates telling you that Kaeya will never change. However…the look on your face is so hopeful, so sincere. You truly want the two of them to be able to get along, and while Diluc thinks such a thing is impossible, he supposes that he can try a little harder than…simply trying to avoid Kaeya's very existence.

"Fine," he huffs, crossing his arms. There's the slightest pout to his lips, and you can't help but feel fond. You really do care about this dumb man so much.

"C'mon," you say, nodding your head towards the building behind you. "Let's get back then."

A minute later, you and Diluc step into the apartment—your water bottle successfully in your grasp. As you move towards the kitchen to set it in the sink, Kaeya's voice reaches your ears.

"Welcome back, you two." He's grinning from where he has lounged himself across the armchair. "Did you know that there's actually a huge caldera only 100 miles from here, and that should it erupt, we would all—"

A pillow hits him in the face again, this time courtesy of Diluc, just as you start to screech at him to shut up from the other end of the room. Kaeya descends into laughter as the pillow tumbles into his lap, and despite himself, Diluc feels the corner of his lips twitch into a smile.

You're both idiots.

"By the way," you ask a few days later, Kaeya appearing out of his room and dragging himself to the pre-brewed pot of coffee. You're sitting at the table, munching on a bowl of cereal.

"Do you, like, work?"

It's been a question on your mind for a while now. You have Kaeya's class schedule, but aside for leaving to attend lectures, he's either at home, or away at bars (or, at least, you assume that's where he is, since he always comes home cloaked in the scent of cologne, perfume, and alcohol). And if he doesn't have a job…how the hell is he paying his rent?

"I grade papers," he mumbles, clearly still half asleep. His robe is barely tied and slipping off his shoulders. You wonder how long it will take you to get used to seeing a nearly-naked man most mornings.

"Oh?"

"I graded papers for a professor at my old university. He gave a recommendation to a professor in the marketing department here, and now I still grade papers," he yawns, taking a sip of the caffeinated drink and sighing pleasantly. You nod, eating another spoonful of cereal.

"Is it fun?"

Kaeya scoffs. "Not very. It's meticulous if anything, and time consuming, but…it gives me free reign of my schedule, which is nice."

You cock a knowing eyebrow at him. "Uh-huh."

He turns to look at you, feigning hurt. He can see the implications in your sparkling eyes.

"What do you take me for exactly?"

"Man-whore," you mumble, lifting the bowl to your lips as you take a sip of the cereal flavored milk. Kaeya, for once, is speechless. He looks dumbfounded by your blunt response, but he finally snaps out of it when he sees your chest shaking with laughter.

"Oh, you are just…," he trails off, a smile breaking out in his face as he watches you lose your shit over your own smartass comment. You can barely even breathe by the time you set the bowl back down on the table.

"What?" you snort, meeting his narrowed glare. He's far from angry, but is a little peeved that you think so little of him.

"Hey, I've been home every night since I moved in," Kaeya points out. He steps over to the fruit bowl to snatch up an apple. You hum, unable to deny his statement. One way or another, you always wake up to find his bedroom door closed, and his shoes abandoned at the front door.

"True, but that doesn't mean you aren't getting any action before you make your way home."

Kaeya opens his mouth to respond, but a cough from behind the two of you pointedly interrupts. Blinking, the both of you turn to find Diluc standing in the doorway of his bedroom. He looks less than impressed at the conversation you're currently having.

You feel your cheeks flush hotly.

"Isn't it too early to be talking about Kaeya's sexual ventures?"

"You're home?" you respond instead. Usually, Diluc would be at his 9am lecture, considering it's Tuesday…

"My 9am was cancelled. Apparently, the professor has the flu," he explains, stepping towards the foyer. You watch him as he slips on his shoes—his car keys hanging from his pocket. "I'm running to the store to get more milk since I have the time. Is there anything else that we need?"

"Coffee," Kaeya says, cerulean eyes shifting to the nearly empty bag on the counter. Diluc cocks an eyebrow at him.

"You're paying for it."

"I'll pay for whatever you buy." You and Diluc both fix him with a look of surprise, to which he waves his hand in the air.

"What? I've been mooching off your food since I moved in. I'm not poor. I can afford to pitch in for some groceries too."

Diluc, happy to know he temporarily holds Kaeya's wallet in his possession, turns his attention to you.

"Anything else you want? A pair of sterling silver earrings? A new mattress?"

"Actually," you say, faking a contemplative look. "My laptop fan has been kind of annoying lately…"

"Oh haha," Kaeya deadpans, pushing away from where he'd been leaning against the counter. He starts toward his room, but pauses after a moment, lips twitching upwards.

"While some people do call me daddy, I'm not of the sugar variety. Please don't spend all my money."

With that, he returns to his humble abode. You immediately turn to Diluc—unable to hold in your laughter when you see the absolutely disgusted look on his face. He also seems offended that you're not as equally disgusted.

"What?" you say. Diluc sighs, shaking his head. He wants to forget about what Kaeya just said as quickly as possible.

"Text me if there's anything you need," he grumbles. You flash him a smile, humming your affirmation as he makes his way out the door.

For once, the atmosphere in the room hadn't felt charged with tension between the two men.

Progress, you think happily.

"So let me get this straight," the young man says, his braided hair draped over his shoulders, and covered by a beanie. He's staring at you amusedly. "You're now living with not only Diluc, but his ex-childhood best friend, and between juggling work and classes, you're also now playing therapist on the side?"

"Well, when you put it like that…," you mumble, taking a sip of your drink.

Around you, the café continues running without issue. You're currently on shift, but you'd taken your break at spotting the male in the corner. Venti—whose name you had learned over the past year—was a frequenter of your place of employment, and over time, the two of you had turned into friends.

Now, Venti stops in at least once a week so the two of you can catch up about life. You have each other's numbers, but it seems Venti can't go more than a week without showing up at the café for a meal, so you typically talk face to face in lieu of texting.

"And?" Venti asks, mumbling around the sandwich shoved into his mouth as his emerald eyes fix you with a curious stare. "How's it going? Are you gonna take it up as a career path?"

You roll your eyes at that. "You know I'm not, like…sitting them down and telling them to talk about their feelings, right? I'm just…trying to…get them to be able to comfortably be in the same room with each other."

You end in a sigh, and Venti winces on your behalf.

"It's that bad?"

"I don't know what happened to ruin their relationship, but Diluc radiates tension whenever Kaeya gets too close."

"And Kaeya?" Venti says, taking a long sip of his drink—air shooting up the straw as the glass is reduced to nothing but ice. He has always been one for gossip, despite the free spirit that he is. He catches drama in the wind and tucks It away in his mind for later.

"Kaeya…," you ponder, resting your chin in your hand. You know that the new addition likes to tease Diluc on occasion, but he never seems bothered by Diluc's presence, like Diluc is his. But then again, Kaeya seems like he's quite good at keeping parts of himself hidden from others…

"Kaeya is a bit of a mystery I'm still trying to unravel," you settle on saying. Venti hums, curiosity shining in his eyes. You breathe a laugh.

"Why are you so interested by this?"

"My friend is currently rooming with two mysterious, apparently handsome men, and using herself as a bridge to try and mend their relationship. I'd say you've created a pretty interesting telenovela out of your own life."

"I think it's probably a k-drama, if anything," you muse, mirroring his smile. Venti giggles. Then, his eyes shift down to look at the time showing on his phone screen. He hurriedly begins shoving his belongings back into his bag.

"Well, my darling girl," he presses to his feet and reaches across the table, patting your shoulders. "I wish you the best of luck. If you ever need me to stop over with a bottle of wine, you know my number."

"I'll keep that in mind," you tell him, standing as well. The two of you share an awkward hug across the table, and then Venti is slapping money down and exiting through the front doors. Judging by the way he immediately starts jogging up the street, you assume that he's late for class.

Sometimes, you think, picking up his dishes and carrying them back into the kitchen, he's a little too carefree.

And maybe, you realize that night when you're laying in bed, and there's a knock at your door—Kaeya standing there with your lace bra hanging from one of his fingers, you're a little too carefree too.

"Um…," is what you manage to say, heat rising to your face as Kaeya cocks a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at you.

"Forget something in the bathroom after your shower?"

"I suppose I did," you mumble, reaching out to take it from him. You feel slightly scandalized, even though you know someone seeing your bra isn't the end of the world. Maybe it's just that it's Kaeya…but at least Kaeya finding it is better than Diluc.

God, you can't even imagine what you'd do if Diluc accidentally discovered your intimates. Die, probably.

"There's no need to be so embarrassed," Kaeya says, dragging you from your thoughts. He's looking at you sympathetically now, and you assume it's because he's noticed your blush.

"Why couldn't you have stumbled upon a nude bra, not…"

"Not the sheer, black, lace one?" he guesses, chuckling quietly when your face morphs into a disgruntled pout. "At least now I know you have good taste."

"A small consolation," you agree, sighing. Kaeya regards you for a moment.

"You know…things like this happen, when you live with others. One day, you may walk in to find me passed out naked on the couch—"

"Oh god no."

"—Or maybe," he continues, now grinning. "Diluc will walk out of his room one morning having forgotten to put a shirt on."

The mental imagery definitely doesn't cause your heart to skip a beat.

"Just take it in stride, love. Don't worry yourself over a roommate finding a piece of clothing. I'm not a pervert."

That snaps you out of your crafted image of shirtless, bedhead Diluc, and you fix Kaeya with a doubtful stare. He sighs, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm an acceptable type of pervert."

"Better," you laugh. Kaeya rolls his eyes, and you flinch when he gently knocks one of his knuckles against your forehead.

"Good night, Y/N."

You flash him a smile, and realize that with each passing day, Kaeya feels less like a strange roommate, and more like…a friend.

"Goodnight."

Notes:

Comments are always a nice surprise to receive.

Also, I have a tumblr which is joonie-beanie if anyone wants to obsess over genshin with me~

Chapter 3: Budding Relationships

Notes:

Thank you to everyone who left comments :') I'm happy people are enjoying this as much as I'm enjoying writing it. It's actually nice to write plot and establish character relationships for once, considering the last major writing project I took on was...all smut.

This chapter (and the one I'm currently working on), were actually meant to be a single chapter, but then I breeched 5k, and decided it'd be better off split.

Anyway, Diluc please come home

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Despite Kaeya's kindness the other night—you know, comforting you when you'd gotten embarrassed about accidentally leaving your bra in the bathroom—it had been a pretty dick move of him to mention that Diluc sleeps without a shirt.

Now, anytime you happen to see Diluc in the morning, or evening, your gaze flits to his t-shirt covered torso as you wonder what exactly his porcelain flesh looks like underneath.

Ya know, just because you're roommates and all—no other particular reason. (Or, at least, that's what you tell yourself, as you attempt to keep the small crush you've had on him since your first meeting locked away in the back of your mind. It's not like anything will ever come of it—it will eventually just fizzle away like most crushes do, so you've been pointedly trying to ignore it for…the last year…)

Unfortunately, as unaware as Diluc can be about certain things, you staring at him whenever he enters the room is not one of them. Even though he never meets your stare, he can feel your eyes on him, and he starts to worry that he's done something wrong. He can't think of anything that would warrant your eyes following him everywhere, but it's better that he asks you, than continue to make things worse.

Saddling up beside you in the kitchen a few days after Kaeya's fateful comment, his voice reaches your ears.

"You've been looking at me."

It's a statement, not a question, and oh god—you've been that obvious about it? You hadn't even realized…

Hoping he doesn't notice the way you jolt at his words, you pause with a freshly washed plate in your hand, and turn to face him. There's the slightest crinkle in his brow. He doesn't look mad. Just…curious? Perhaps a little worried too, but you suppose those emotions are better than anger.

"Um," you say, trying to buy yourself some time to come up with a good excuse. It's nighttime, the sun having set a few hours prior. You're already clad in your pajamas, and you note that Diluc is as well—the male wearing a black t-shirt, and a pair of sweats. His hair is down—cascading down his back, nearly to his waist, and sometimes you forgot how long his hair actually is…

Oh!

"Sorry," you finally continue, moving to set the damp dish into the dishwasher. "I was just wondering if you do anything with your hair when you sleep."

Diluc blinks, befuddled.

"What?"

"How do you sleep? With all that hair," you clarify. You wipe your hands on a towel, and finally give him your full attention.

His hair is so abundant, you can't imagine taking care of it is easy. And you doubt Diluc is the type of person who wants to spend time brushing out the inevitable rat's nest knotted in his red locks after a good night's sleep.

Diluc is silent for a moment.

"I…braid it."

Now it's your turn to be surprised.

"What?"

"I braid it," he repeats, looking a bit bashful. He knows it's nothing to be embarrassed over, but you're the first person he's admitted it to since he started a few years back. And when he sees a smile stretch across your lips—awe sparkling in your eyes—his embarrassment heightens.

He's not used to this fluttery feeling in his chest.

"Oh my god," you say, not sure what to do with yourself. You had not expected that answer from him, and now, even more so than a shirtless Diluc—

"I want to try."

Diluc frowns. "Try what?"

"Try braiding it. Please," you add on quickly when he immediately opens his mouth to refuse. You place your hands on his shoulders, mustering the best pout you can manage, and he looks away with a scowl.

You've learned throughout your friendship with Diluc that he seems to be weak when faced with a good pout. You don't like using yours against him, but god you really want to braid his hair, and you will absolutely be heartbroken if he says no.

"Why?" he finally mumbles. You blink.

"Why what?"

"Why would you want to?"

His crimson gaze finds yours, and you suddenly realize how close you're standing—his body just inches from yours as you continue gripping onto his shoulder.

"I…," you lift your hands slowly, hoping the prolonged contact hasn't made him uncomfortable in any way. "I just think it would be nice. Haven't you ever let someone else play with your hair? I find it relaxing."

Diluc regards you thoughtfully—his eyes dimming as he seems to recall something that had been buried deep within his memories. You know from talking to Diluc about family that he currently has none (except the staff at the main winery, who he has known since childhood), and you haven't pressed him for more details beyond what he's been willing to divulge freely, but…he looks so sad, just for a split second.

Before you can think of questioning him, however, he finally gives you his response.

"Fine. You can braid my hair."

You almost can't believe your ears.

Your smile returns full force, and Diluc is reminded of a kid on Christmas. He almost snorts a laugh.

"Okay, yes," you glance around, holding your hands in front of you, looking lost. Where is the best place to do this? It's nearing midnight, so you assume he'll be sleeping soon—which means the best time to fix his hair would be now. But Diluc is taller than you, so simply standing in front of the bathroom mirror won't exactly work…

Apparently reading your mind, Diluc steps away and grabs a chair from the kitchen table. He seats himself in it, his back turned to you, and when you don't move, he glances over his shoulder—lips pursed into the slightest of pouts.

"Are you going to braid it, or not?"

What the hell is going on, you think, heart thumping unsteadily against your ribs. You're beyond happy that Diluc is letting you get close to him like this—a clear sign that your friendship is continuing to grow—but the butterflies in your stomach are less than welcome.

It reminds you of middle school—when you first realized you were crushing on a classmate. That anxious, hopeful feeling…

But this is Diluc. Your roommate. Your friend. And having a crush is not something you want to deal with right now. It would just make things so much more complicated, and you really enjoy having Diluc in your life. You don't want to mess that up.

So, tossing any and all of your worries aside for the time being, you step up and focus on the task at hand.

Reaching forward, you're just about to pet your fingers through his red locks when you pause.

"Do you have a brush? The knots—"

"I already brushed my hair," he interrupts you, staring straight ahead. "Before I came out to talk to you."

"Oh," you nod in acknowledgement, even though he can't see it. Then, you work your fingers through his hair—your nails gently skimming against his scalp as you work to create equal sections to begin with.

You wouldn't say you're the best at braiding hair, but you know the basics. You'd play a bit of hairstylist with your friends in childhood, and while you're perhaps a bit rusty, muscle memory leads you in the right direction.

Diluc is silent as you gently tug on his locks—crossing strand over strand as you thread his hair into the start of a loose braid. It's been a long, long time since he's let anyone touch his hair like this, and while the vulnerability makes him feel a bit tense, he can't deny the pleasure in your actions.

Sighing, he finally allows himself to relax. His shoulders drop, his eyelids fluttering shut, and you'd have smiled at the sight, had you not been completely immersed in your task.

Diluc's hair is impossibly soft, and smells like lavender. You're not sure if he's blessed, or if he secretly has invested a lot of time in finding amazing products to keep his hair so luscious. Likely a bit of both.

"Hmm," you hum absentmindedly, fingers moving away from his scalp as you begin twisting the braid down across his shoulder. Diluc mimics your sound, and you lean forward to look at his face just in time to see him crack an eye open.

You can't help but giggle.

"Tired?"

"Yes," he admits. He debates making a comment on how it's your ministrations that are lulling him to sleep, but decides against it. Instead, he says, "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Yes," you respond without hesitation. Your fingers continue to mindlessly thread his hair together, the braid growing thinner. "This is almost therapeutic, I think."

You hear Diluc chuckle.

"You know, I—"

At that moment, the lock on the front door clicks open. You and Diluc both stiffen, in clear view of the entryway as Kaeya steps inside—his jacket thrown over his shoulder. At first, he doesn't notice the pair of you. He simply kicks off his shoes and pulls his phone out of his pocket, his eyes locked on the screen as he pads a few steps farther into the apartment.

Diluc silently prays that Kaeya will just walk past without noticing. Until now, he'd completely forgotten about Kaeya. He remembers now that the blue haired male had left shortly after dinner time, but Diluc hadn't considered when he would return home.

You, for one, don't mind being seen braiding Diluc's hair, but…judging by the way Diluc has once against tensed up, you suppose you should just play along. So far, it seems like Diluc's idea of "if we don't move, he won't see us" is working.

Well, at least until Kaeya is halfway across the living room. Then, he seems to notice something is amiss, and his gaze strays from his phone. Immediately his cerulean eyes land on the two of you, and in order to make it look like you hadn't been purposefully (and awkwardly) trying to not exist, you simply continue on with your task.

You finish the braid and are reaching for a hairband before Kaeya manages to think of something to say. (After all, you want to make sure the braid won't fall apart in the event that Diluc gets up and goes to strangle Kaeya for his inopportune arrival).

You expect Kaeya to say something snarky—a comment that will tease Diluc, and get under his skin, but what comes out of his mouth is not that.

"You're…letting someone touch your hair?"

He sounds amazed more than anything, and the look on his face is one of awe, with a hint of skepticism. Is it really Diluc who is sitting there in front of him?

Diluc huffs, narrowing his eyes.

"What? Is it such a big deal?"

You can tell he's trying to downplay the fact that it is a big deal, and apparently Kaeya is aware of that as well. Despite their long separation, it's clear the two had once been the best of friends.

"Yes. You've never let anyone touch your hair except Adeline and Cr—"

Diluc's hand moves to grip the kitchen table, preparing to stand at the first syllable of his father's name, and you hurry to dispel the tension that is beginning to thickly fill the room.

In the time you've known Diluc, you've only heard him speak his father's name once, and that was when you'd asked him about his family. He'd informed you that his father's name was "Crepus", and that he had passed away when Diluc was a teenager.

Family has always been a touchy subject around Diluc, so you purposely avoid steering any conversations in that direction, but obviously Kaeya is either oblivious to Diluc's unresolved familial issues, or simply doesn't care.

Diluc is just inching his butt off the chair when you press your hand against his shoulder and shove him back down, simultaneously saying, "Kaeya, do you want me to braid your hair too?"

The question catches them both off guard. The tension in the room dispels ever so slightly.

Kaeya blinks at you. Then, he breathes a laugh—his gaze darting away. There's a shimmer of realization in his eyes.

He'd just been about to open padora's box, and you had saved him from making that mistake. His smile has a hint of sadness when he looks at you once more.

"No, thank you, though. My hair isn't as thick as Diluc's. I should be fine."

He quickly departs after that—disappearing into his bedroom. You sigh, glad to have avoided any conflict, and yet…you don't like that Kaeya had looked upset. You hadn't expected it, considering it seems like nothing ever phases the man.

The unending curiosity to know about their past together surfaces once more, and perhaps you would have loosed your lips and asked, had Diluc not stood and started towards his room. He's probably mad, you think, assuming he's going to enter his room, shut the door, and not emerge until morning.

Instead, he steps into the bathroom, and flicks on the light. You watch him as he observes himself in the mirror, his fingers gently skimming against the braid that drapes over his shoulder. In your personal opinion, it's one of the best braids you've done.

"You know," he finally says, voice quiet. The light flicks off as he steps back into the room. His eyes meet yours, and when he smiles, you breathe a relieved sigh. More than him being pleased with your handiwork, you're glad Kaeya's appearance hadn't caused his mood to completely spiral.

You feel like the two have been making progress—slowly but surely—and you really hope things continue moving in a positive direction.

"It's kind of a waste to give me such a nice braid, considering I'm about to sleep on it."

"Well, at least you think it's nice," you respond, happy. "Thank you for trusting me with your precious hair."

Diluc rolls his eyes at that, but his smile doesn't waver. He regards you silently for a moment.

"Thank you for offering. It was…pleasant."

Your heart thumps a bit harder within your chest—the bashful look on Diluc's face tugging at your hidden affections once more. You rock on your feet.

"Anytime you want help, you know where to find me~"

"Do you think," Kaeya starts a few days later, settling down on the couch beside you. "Diluc would be alright if I stopped by Angel's Share on Halloween? I hear that they have quite the reputation for their holiday festivities, and I know a few people who are going to be there."

You silently consider his question, watching as he steals the other half of your blanket, and throws it over his lap. You debate shoving your cold toes beneath his butt, but decide against it.

"As long as you're a paying customer, I doubt he will care," you say honestly. "He takes his job seriously, and on a busy night like Halloween, I don't think he'll pay you much mind. You know, so long as you don't cause any trouble."

Kaeya hums, posing a hand beneath his chin.

"What counts as "trouble"?"

You flash him an unimpressed stare. He smiles innocently.

"Trouble like…flirting with people and making them uncomfortable, starting a fight, or breaking glasses, plates, yourself, or others."

Kaeya is silent for a moment.

"…I think I can manage that. After all, most people only crave more once I start flirting with them."

You roll your eyes at his comment, gently kicking against his thigh. Kaeya laughs, grinning at you.

"What? I'm not lying."

"You are such an egotist," you huff. You grip onto the blanket, preparing to pull it off of him as punishment, but he stops you from doing so. His hand finds your ankle though the soft fabric of the blanket, and he holds you tightly, stopping you, or the blanket, from going anywhere.

"I like to think I'm simply confident," he says, holding your gaze. His cerulean eyes are unwavering, and he gives your ankle a squeeze. Your cheeks warm in response to the action, as you realize that this is the first time you and Kaeya have been so close.

It doesn't feel strange, and you don't dislike it either, but…you're certainly caught off guard.

"Would you run if I approached, Y/N?"

He grins, expectant of your response. He's trying to tease you, you realize, and you refuse to let him get away with it so easily.

"Maybe if I didn't know you, I'd stay," you say, tugging your foot from his grasp with a pleased smile. His hand had gone slack at your comment—your words taking a second to fully soak into his brain. A sound of disbelief bubbles from his throat.

"Wait, so you're saying you'd run because you know me?"

The shit eating grin you attempt to hide behind the blanket is telling enough. He grabs the pillow beside him and tosses it at you. It smacks you between the eyes before tumbling over your head, and the sound of distress you make causes him to laugh.

"You're such a little brat."

"Totally worth the pillow in the face, since I got to see your dumbstruck face," you giggle, rubbing your forehead. You laugh heartily, and the sound spurs another round of laughter from Kaeya as well. It takes the two of you a minute to catch your breath.

"So," you finally say. You hug your knees to your chest, smiling at him. "What are you going to dress up as?"

Kaeya hums, looking thoughtful.

"I haven't quite figured that out yet. But you're more than welcome to come to Angel's Share with me and mingle with the people I'm meeting."

And you likely would have…had you not decided to pick up a shift at work.

Apparently, the shift manager, Sara, had let too many of your coworkers request the day off, so now they're a little short-staffed. And since it's not like you have solid plans, you decide out of the kindness of your heart to work the evening shift when she calls you, pleading.

You head out shortly after her call, letting Kaeya know you won't be able to tag along, and waving to Diluc as you breeze past his room. He yells after you to take a heavier coat, since it will be cold later, but you're already pressed for time, so you don't turn back to grab one (much to his dismay).

You expect that the dinnertime rush won't be as bad as normal. It is Halloween, and you assume most people will be at bars, or house parties. Even as you take the 10-minute walk up the road to the café, you pass many frat houses and apartment builds that are already filled with costume-adorned students.

Logically, the café shouldn't be busy. And yet, when you step through the front door, nearly every table is full.

You stand in the entryway, shocked, until Sara spots you and hurries over—grabbing you by the arm.

"Oh, thank you for coming, it really helps. We didn't think we'd be so busy…"

"Why are we so busy?" you ask, finally getting ahold of yourself. You turn to look at her, and immediately your eyes flit to the cat ears on her head.

"What the—"

"It was the owner's idea," she cuts you off with a sigh, dragging you into the kitchen. She steers you to the breakroom, and you blink down at the pile of costumes scattered across the table.

"Apparently, last year, Wanmin Restaurants' Chef, um…Mao? His daughter got the idea that everyone should dress up to be more festive, and their profits skyrocketed on Halloween."

"Ah." Of course if more money was involved, the café owner would blatantly steal their tactic. "Does that mean I-?"

"Yes. I'm sorry for not telling you on the phone, but I was afraid if I told you about the costume thing, you wouldn't come."

You lean back, eyes looking past the kitchen and out into the dining area. Two of your coworkers—Ellin, and Timaeus—are currently servicing tables. Ellin is dressed as a maid, and not a traditional one. The only thing currently saving her from an accidental HR violation is the solid black leggings she's wearing beneath the mid-thigh length skirt, and you wonder how she looks so carefree in such a revealing outfit.

Probably the tips, you realize as you watch one of her tables place a solid 20 dollar bill down once she drops off their check.

You begin to feel bad for Timaeus, assuming he's not fairing nearly as well considering he's not clad in anything overtly sexy—like maid Ellin, and black cat Sara—but apparently his Iron Man costume is doing it for the Marvel fans in the café, because he's looking just as pleased with the money wadded into the front of his apron.

"Where's your costume?" you ask the resident chef, Brook, when she catches your gaze. There's sweat beaded on her brow, and a line of plates on the counter in front of her.

"Too busy," she responds, and after a moment cracks a small smile despite the stress knit between her brow. "Besides, the customers don't really interact with me, so I'll watch the rest of you suffer instead."

You frown at her words, pouting at the pile of costumes in front of you. It's clear you won't be able to get away without wearing one…

"They're actually good quality costumes. We only need you to help us finish the dinner rush, since most people will be heading out to other events once night falls. So, just pick one, please. You'll be fine."

She pats you on the shoulders, flashing you a smile, and then hurries back through the kitchen and towards the dining room. You watch her fake cat tail swish behind her as she goes.

Sighing, knowing that you must accept your fate, you grab the costume that looks like it covers the most skin, and then hurry into the bathroom to change. A few minutes later, you emerge wearing what you can only think to describe as a cross between a renaissance maiden, and a fortune teller.

At the very least, your legs are safe from prying eyes behind the ruffled, floor-length golden skirt. The white off-the-shoulder top, partnered with the somehow outfit-necessary corset, leaves you feeling a bit…exposed. But, you're not showing cleavage, and the top isn't as see-through as you'd been expecting so. Overall…it's not that bad. (In fact, a part of you even takes to the lace black choker around your neck).

You forget all about any embarrassment at the outfit when the first table you serve leaves you a 30% tip. After that, all you can focus on is giving the café patrons that best experience possible so that, in turn, your wallet will also be happy.

It's a little impossible to simply forget that you're not in your regular work outfit—what, with the way your boots keep accidentally catching on the hem of the skirt—but time still manages to fly by. Soon enough, the sun dips down below the horizon, and along with it, the tables in the café begin to clear out.

"Gosh, thank you," Ellin says, her head knocking against your shoulder as she leans on you. "You saved us."

"I wouldn't go that far," you laugh, following her into the kitchen for a much-needed glass of water.

"Well, either way, having you here made things go a lot smoother," Brook adds in. She hands a few used pans to Sara, who takes them over to the sink, and begins rinsing them off. "You actually didn't have any plans tonight, though?"

You respond after taking a sip of water.

"Well, my roommate invited me to go to Angel's Share and hang out with some people he's meeting, but—"

"Agh!" Sara suddenly exclaims, startling you all. You watch her as she hurriedly flicks soapy water off her hands and bustles back into the small breakroom.

"I forgot!"

"Forgot what?" Ellin inquires, placing a hand over her racing heart.

"I bought some apple cider from Angel's Share to use as part of our specials this week, but I forgot my money, and told Diona I'd pay her back before Halloween!"

You hear her rustling through her belongs, and a moment later, she appears in front of you, shoving a stack of bills into your hand. She curls your fingers around it, looking at you with pleading eyes.

"You're going to meet your roommate, right? Please, please give this to Diona for me while you're there."

"Actually-," you attempt to interrupt her. You know that Diluc is the manager on shift tonight since he'd also sacrificed his day off for the holiday, and honestly, you hadn't planned to meet up with Kaeya after your shift, but—

"Pleaseeeeeeeeeee-!"

"Okay, okay! I will drop this off at Angel's Share for you," you agree with a sigh. She gives you her thanks, hugging you tightly around your shoulders, and tells you that you're free to go, since it seems like they won't be busy for the remainder of the evening.

You move to grab your normal clothes, and mumble something about needing to change before you leave. However, Timaeus's voice stops you.

"Did I hear you're going to Angel's Share? I would recommend not changing then. Apparently, there's a rule this year that anyone who wants to enter needs to be wearing a costume."

You blink. "What? Why?"

"Something about random people coming into the bar last year and just looking at the girls in costumes. In an effort to keep things festive, and less…stalker-y, everyone who wants to go in needs to be in costume."

Now that you think about it, you do remember Diluc being particularly frustrated after Halloween last year…

You sigh in defeat, and move towards the back door.

Looks like your waist will continue being cinched by this god-awful corset for a little while longer.

Notes:

Next time, Angel's Share 👀

Until then, please feel free to leave a comment! And/Or visit me on tumblr joonie-beanie

Chapter 4: Golden Influence

Notes:

Hello! I know I say it every time but I'm so glad to see that people are enjoying this fic! I had a bit of a slump for a few days, but finally got over it and managed to finish this chapter. Thank you so much to everyone who has left a kudos and/or comment. I'm bad at responding to comments, but I promise I read them, and they make me smile.

ANYWAY, let's get back to our Halloween in January.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Kaeya is three drinks in when Childe slings an arm across his shoulder—nearly knocking the pirates' hat from his head. He'd patched together the costume only hours before, making a trip to the local Halloween store to grab a pirate's hat to pair with his black jeans, silken white shirt and dark cardigan.

The V of the shirt is open wide—revealing his clavicle, and a generous swath of his chest. And the red scarf tied around his waist he'd been lent by the man currently hanging off of him.

Speaking of, Childe's eyes are currently locked onto something across the room.

"Look at that," he says, motioning towards the entrance of the tavern. He takes a sip of his beer as Kaeya follows his line of sight, and it's not hard for Kaeya to spot what, or rather, who, had caught his attention.

"That is quite the costume," Kaeya comments, his eyes roaming across the females back as she heads towards the bar. His eyes pause on the curve of her hips—accentuated by the bodice tied tightly around her waist—and he finds himself wishing she'd turn around, so he could see the front view as well.

Clearly, Childe is thinking the same thing, because his eyes are narrowed hungrily as he gazes past the rim of his glass.

"What are you two looking at?" a voice chimes in, and Kaeya's gaze shifts to Lisa as the resident librarian steps up beside him. Today, however, she's dressed as a witch—pointy hat and all.

Kaeya motions towards the bar, where the newcomer is currently trying to push her way through the crowd. Lisa smiles at the sight, swirling the ice in her drink.

"Oh, she's quite the cutie."

"Her costume is very pleasant, compared to some of the others here."

Childe cocks an eyebrow at the sound of the composed, yet uninterested voice behind him.

"You're actually interested in someone, Sensei?"

Zhongli takes a long sip of his alcoholic tea, his golden eyes turning to Childe.

"My interest differs from your interest, I believe. I'm simply appreciating the costume. It's more tasteful than most here, yet still catches one's eye."

Childe laughs. "Out of everyone here, somehow I think that you've got the most eye-catching costume."

Unperturbed in his dragon onesie, Zhongli continues to sip on his drink. Childe turns, intending to set his sights on the attractive newcomer once more, but at that moment, Kaeya makes a sound of distress.

While the rest had been focused on Zhongli, Kaeya had kept his attention firmly on the female who had finally made it to the bar. Diluc is standing nearby, and when she waves a hand at him, he immediately drops whatever he's doing, and walks over to her with surprise written on his face.

The two briefly converse, and when she turns to retrieve something from her purse, Kaeya finally gets a good look at her.

Immediately, he chokes on his drink.

When you enter Angel's Share, the first thing you look for is Diluc. On a busy night like this, you're sure to spot his red hair behind the bar, so you do your best to gently weave through the crowd and make your way over—oblivious to the many pairs of eyes on you all the while.

The tavern is completely packed, much to your dismay, and you end up bumping into a few people on your journey to the bar. Luckily, your hunch was right, and you spot Diluc as soon as your torso meets the wooden countertop.

"Diluc!" you call, hoping to grab his attention over all the chatter. His ears manage to catch the sound of his name being said by a voice familiar to him, and he turns—attempting to find the source.

When his gaze lands on you—his eyes widen. Why are you here? Didn't you pick up a shift? And what are you wearing?

He desperately tries to keep his attention on your face, despite the way his brain is telling him to get a better look at your outfit. Especially the corset. What the fuck.

"I thought you had work," he says, foregoing any pleasant greeting. You sigh and reach back to grab your purse, attempting to fish out the money Sara had given you.

"I did. They cut me loose once the dinner rush was done, though, and Sara asked me if I could deliver this money to Diona." You hold out the wad of cash, which Diluc eyes curiously.

"Apparently we owe you guys for some Apple Cider?"

"Ah." He plucks the cash from your fingers and moves to put it in the register. He then grabs a sticky note on the wall beside him, and tosses it into a nearby waste bin.

A note about Sara's IOU, you assume.

Once that's taken care of, Diluc returns to your side. His crimson orbs flit downward, to your outfit, despite his best efforts. You suddenly remember you're still in costume, and feel your cheeks heat up.

"Ah—um. I didn't know when I accepted to work tonight that they'd dress me up like this. I guess it worked out, though, since I bring the money inside anyway."

"You could have texted me. I would have come out to get it from you," he says, his hands busying themselves with refilling a drink, even as he continues to talk with you. He doesn't notice the way you frown at his words. "Or, you could have explained to Patton at the door, and he would've brought the money to me."

Diluc finishes the drink and hands it to the waiting patron. He turns his attention back to you, but pauses when he sees the upset look on your face.

"What?"

"Did you not want to see me? It wasn't a big deal for me to bring it to you directly, you know."

"I-," Diluc suddenly realizes how harsh he had sounded, and he tries to backpedal. "No, that's not it. I just…I assumed that you were annoyed about being forced to wear a costume. I'm sorry for doing so, if I'm wrong."

"Well…," you smooth your hands down your waist, across the faux leather of the corset. He's not exactly wrong. You can feel your ribs starting to ache…

As if he can read your thoughts, Diluc speaks up once more.

"Do you want me to loosen it?"

His offer brings a smile to your face, accompanied with a quiet giggle, and he sighs with relief. Out of anyone, you're the last person he wants upset with him.

"Actually, it's just v—

"Oh, I can get that for you. No need to take the bartender from his post."

Two hands settle on your waist from behind, and you stiffen. It takes your brain a moment to recognize the familiar voice.

"Kaeya," you say, relaxing a little as you turn to look at him. He's in a full pirate costume, flanked by a witch, a baseball player, and…a dragon?

"It's a pleasure to meet you," the dragon says, noticing that your attention has settled on him. "I'm Zhongli."

"Childe," the baseball player supplies.

"And I'm Lisa," the witch finishes. You wave at them over your shoulder, Kaeya's hands still firmly on your waist.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Y/N."

Diluc's eyes narrow at the group, and if looks could kill, Kaeya would be long dead. Or, at least, his hands would have rotted off from where they're holding you.

"Y/N-," he says, hoping to reign in your attention once more, but at that moment, someone down the bar calls for him. Another tipsy patron in need of a refill. Kaeya's eyes sparkle.

"Go on then, mister bartender. Duty calls."

Diluc scowls, but begrudgingly walks away. Even if he doesn't exactly trust Kaeya and his group of pals, he can't really shirk his duties to keep an eye on you. He is on shift, after all.

Once the red head is gone, Kaeya's voice reaches your ears once more.

"Now then, you said you needed help loosening this?"

Heat rises on your face as you feel his finger skim against your waist. You're friendly with Kaeya, but the contact is more intimate than you're used to, and you can't stop the butterflies that tickle your stomach.

However, before Kaeya is able to reach the center of your back, you wriggle out of his hold.

"As I was saying before you and your band of miscreants snuck up on me," you huff at him, reaching behind you and gripping the corset. "It's Velcro."

The group watches as you gently tug at the folds of the corset, and sure enough, it's Velcro.

"That's disappointing," Childe sighs, sipping his drink. You roll your eyes, not exactly caring what a stranger thinks, and stick the Velcro back together—a little looser this time. Honestly, do they know how much a real corset costs? As if a café owner would buy a real one for some silly Halloween event.

"Miscreants?" Zhongli asks, finally having digested your little quip. He raises a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at you, and you realize that despite the somewhat childish costume, Zhongli is quite well put together.

"I mean, a quartet that sneaks up on an unsuspecting girl at the bar…would you not consider yourself miscreants?"

"We haven't broken the law," Childe points out. Your gaze falls on him, and you begin to wonder if everyone Kaeya hangs out with is attractive—Lisa included.

"That's not the definition of the word," you respond, flashing him a fake smile. He mimics it, a playful sparkle in his ocean-blue eyes, and you swear you hear Zhongli chuckle against the rim of his glass.

As far as first impressions go, you're not too hot on Childe.

However, before you or the baseball jersey-clad male can think of another snarky comeback to keep the tension building, Kaeya is placing a drink into your hands. You blink, staring at the liquid dumbly.

"Start with that," he says. You flash him an innocent look. Where did he get this? Did he order it when you weren't paying attention?

Kaeya only smiles, not giving anything away.

You end up taking a sip, because you doubt Kaeya has any ill intentions. At least, not when the two of you have to return to the same place, where you could easily stab him in his sleep.

"So, Y/N," Lisa saddles up beside you, leaning against the bar. She bats her eyelashes, smiling at you pleasantly. "I hear that you're Kaeya's roommate. Is he treating you well?"

Without looking at Kaeya, you sigh dramatically and take a sip of your drink.

"He's a real handful…"

Kaeya narrows his eyes at you and lets loose a sigh when he sees you grin.

"Must you be so intent on teasing me at every opportunity?"

"Well, it seems like you like to tease everyone else. I figure it's only right for you to get a taste of your own medicine."

Lisa laughs, bumping her shoulder against your own gently. "Oh, I like her. Finally, a woman who can keep Kaeya in check."

"Now if only we could find someone to keep Childe in check as well," Zhongli comments, flashing Childe a smile. The ginger actually looks offended for a second, then, he smirks and drapes an arm across Zhongli's shoulder.

"Aw, don't be like that, Sensei! After all, I think you keep me in check well enough already~"

As Childe and Zhongli begin to playfully banter back and forth—amusement entering the Zhongli's eyes despite his calm demeanor—you lean over to Kaeya.

"Sensei?"

He grunts, inching closer to whisper in your ear.

"Apparently Zhongli was Childe's TA over the summer. They ended up turning into friends, but Childe's kind of got a thing for him." He laughs at your obvious surprise. However, he assumes your reaction is warranted, considering Childe's "disappointing" comment about your fake corset.

"He still flirts with other people though, considering they're not actually together," Kaeya continues, winking at you. "So be careful, Y/N."

You roll your eyes and take another sip of your drink. Whatever Kaeya had given you, the taste of liquor is strong. You'd best be careful, considering the sweetness of the drink, and how easy it would be to down it in one go.

"Oh! This is a really good song," Lisa speaks up, drawing you from your private conversation with Kaeya. She grins and grabs your wrist, giggling at your wide eyes as she drags you towards the dance floor. "C'mon cutie! Keep me company, won't you~"

Kaeya laughs when you look back at him for help, so you react the only way you can think. You reach out and fist your hand into his shirt—tugging him along after you. Then, when Childe laughs at Kaeya's dumbstruck face, the eye-patch wearing male reaches out and snags Childe as well. Soon, all four of you find yourself in the middle of the dance floor.

Wisely, Zhongli stays behind—content to remain at the bar, and simply watch. He chuckles as the group begins to move around, your face hot with embarrassment, and Zhongli can tell that you're not used to being in the middle of a crowd. He feels slightly bad, but with Lisa holding your hands and twirling you around, you seem to open up a little.

"Can I get you something?" a voice asks from behind him, and Zhongli turns to find the red head you had been talking to upon your arrival at the tavern. Zhongli offers him a polite smile.

"No, thank you. Not at the moment."

Diluc nods, taking a second to clean off the bar beside Zhongli. As he does so, Zhongli can't help but notice that his crimson eyes keep flitting to the area of the tavern where his companions are dancing. Or, perhaps, it'd be more accurate of him to say that Diluc keeps looking for you, who just happens to be with his companions.

"Are you concerned?" Zhongli asks, catching Diluc's attention. The redhead blinks dumbly, waiting for him to continue.

"For Y/N, I mean."

Ah. Diluc's gaze darts back to the group, where the four of you are now appropriately freestyle grooving to "She Blinded Me With Science". Not exactly a popular song amongst college students, but well known, and appropriate for the holiday, he supposes.

You have to lean on Kaeya for support when you break into a fit of laughter while watching Childe attempt to whip and nae nae to the 80's song. The Diluc of a few weeks ago, perhaps, would have stormed forth and berated Kaeya for the way he wraps an arm around you, his palm resting against your hip, but now, he only spouts a small frown—his eyes searching Kaeya's face for any ill intent. When he finds none—Kaeya simply enjoying the companionship of his friends, and the atmosphere of the bar—Diluc breathes a quiet sigh.

"…she can handle herself," he finally responds. Zhongli nods, tilling his glass back against his lips, but he realizes his cup is empty. Diluc notices too, and wordless holds out his hand. Zhongli chuckles, and passes him the glass.

"Thank you."

Diluc wasn't lying when he told Zhongli that you can handle yourself. Despite his relationship with Kaeya, and his initial impression of Childe and Lisa, the group doesn't seem all that bad. So, Diluc fully trusts that should an issue arise, you'll know what to do.

What Diluc doesn't expect when he puts his faith in you, however, is that you'll be easily influenced by the atmosphere created in the tavern. You're not a partier, like Kaeya, so perhaps Diluc should have seen this coming but…here you are, bracing yourself against the bar with a wide grin, and red face—asking him for another glass of your drink of choice.

He knows for a fact that he's only served you two drinks since Kaeya sneakily handed you your first, but judging by your current state of inebriation, he assumes some of the other bartenders had given you more when he hadn't been paying attention.

Diluc's frustration about the entire chain of events is redirected at Kaeya, who holds his hands up innocently as he steps up beside you.

"I was unaware that she's this much of a lightweight," he says honestly, and Diluc's eyes narrow.

"I hardly think 3+ mixed drinks constitute someone as a lightweight, you drunkard."

Kaeya laughs. "Are you trying to defend her drunkenness? Because that's what it seems like."

Diluc huffs and sets a tall glass of water down in front of you. You stare at it with a cute pout which soon is turned upon Diluc, and perhaps in normal circumstances, your wide doe eyes would make his resolution crumble, but not tonight. He will not be serving you another drink.

"Bartenders discretion," he tells you sternly. "I'm cutting you off."

You actually whine, and Diluc's heart does something strange inside his chest at the sound. Even Kaeya appears surprised.

"I'm really not drunk…," you tell him, cradling the cold glass of water between your palms. "Just…buzzed."

Diluc deadpans.

"You're drunk."

"Am not!"

"How about we agree on tipsy," Kaeya cuts in pleasantly. He places a hand against your back, flashing you a smile. "And besides, it's already getting late, Y/N. A little water will do you good. You don't want to wake up in the morning with a headache, right?"

You sigh, knowing he's right, and take a few long sips from the glass. As you do so, you note that Angel's Share has gotten…quieter.

Turning, you survey the tavern and realize that the crowd has thinned out considerably. There's no longer a sea of people dancing and drinking, just…scattered groups of students hanging out at high-top tables, and talking the night away.

You reach in your purse for your phone. The screen lights up, alerting you that it's already 1:30AM.

Holy shit.

"I've been here for 5 hours?" you ask in disbelief, wondering if you've gone insane. You'd left Good Hunter a little after 8pm, and there's no way you've been at Angel's Share that long. It's literally not possible—somewhere, a trickster god is having fun with you.

Diluc sends another scathing glare Kaeya's way. Kaeya forces a small smile, realizing for the first time that perhaps he should have paid more attention to the number of drinks you had consumed…

"Wait! Where did Childe and Zhongli go? And Lisa?" you ask, wide-eyed gaze turning on Kaeya. He stares at you, and nudges the glass of water in your hands back towards your lips.

"They left a little while ago. You gave them all a hug before they left."

"I did?" you ask dumbly. You think about it for a second, and suddenly remember that yes—hugs had been given out upon their farewell. Lisa had even given you a kiss on the cheek, and Childe had whined to Zhongli about the well-spoken man giving you a hug, but not him, despite the fact that they've known each other longer.

"Oh, I did," you nod. Kaeya laughs quietly. Behind the bar, Diluc sighs.

"Did you drive here?"

The question is directed at Kaeya, but you answer as well.

"I walked," the two of you chorus. Diluc resists the urge to massage his temples.

With the nightly crowd having dispersed for the most part, it shouldn't be an issue for him to take a break to drive both you and Kaeya back to the apartment.

"Wait here, I'll drive you both home. I just need to let Charles know."

"It's okay!" you quickly speak up, a look of guilt suddenly passing over your face. You don't want to be a burden to Diluc while he's on the job. "I can walk home with Kaeya!"

Diluc stares at you.

"You remember how I told you to take a heavier coat when you ran out the door earlier? And that you didn't take one?"

You nod.

"It's 30 degrees out."

Your mouth forms an "o" shape, your eyes dropping down to take in your state of dress. If you go out like this—even with the alcohol in your system helping to keep you warm—you'll probably freeze. Diluc's lips twitch at the corners as he watches you.

Even if he's a little frustrated at your inebriation, you are somewhat endearing like this.

"Wait here," he says again, leaving you and Kaeya at the bar. The blue haired male chuckles, and you turn to him curiously. He cocks an eyebrow, a soft look in his eyes.

"I'm jealous. Diluc has never let me off so easily before—you're seriously special, Y/N, to avoid his wrath."

Kaeya expects you to laugh, or perhaps blush and comment about how you're nothing special to Diluc (which at this point Kaeya knows is a blatant lie). However, you do neither. Instead, you frown—your hands reaching up to mindlessly straighten out the collar of his shirt.

"I hope you two can make up soon," you mumble. Kaeya freezes. "I don't know what happened but…I really want you guys to be friends again."

You don't notice the way Kaeya's showing eye has gone wide, or how he looks genuinely startled at your words. The buzzed part of his brain wants to tell you that he'd like that too—that he would love nothing more than to go back to the way things were between him and Diluc, all those years ago, but…it's not possible. Kaeya cannot take back the past, and the things that have happened.

Also, he doesn't enjoy showing emotional vulnerability, and doesn't want to bring this up to you when you're clearly in an altered state of mind, so, instead, he simply whispers, "you're precious", and pats your hair.

Diluc returns a beat later.

"Ready?"

"Ready!" you respond happily, as if you hadn't been sad just moments before. Kaeya shakes his head, wondering how you're able to bounce around from emotion to emotion with no issue at all, and wordlessly follows behind you and Diluc as the three of you exit through the back door.

When you arrive at Diluc's car, you immediately scurry around to the front passenger door—claiming shotgun before Kaeya has a chance. He rolls his eyes, a small, amused smile on his face as he wordlessly climbs into the backseat.

Diluc starts the engine a moment later, and soon enough, you're on your way home. Since the drive is short, you don't bother complaining about the chill of the car—knowing that there won't be enough time for the air coming from the car's vents to turn warm. However, that doesn't stop you from shivering.

You regret not listening to Diluc. Although, it probably doesn't help that you're still in that golden skirt, and off the shoulder top…

"Here."

A warm coat is tossed atop your lap, and you immediately note that it smells of Kaeya's cologne. You glance at him through the rearview mirror as you mindlessly wrap the fabric around yourself.

"Won't you be cold?"

"The cold doesn't bother me," he responds, turquoise eye glancing out the window at the buildings passing by. You snort.

"Okay, Elsa."

Diluc breathes a laugh through his nose, unable to help the amused smirk that tugs at his lips. Kaeya sighs.

"I lend you my cardigan like a true gentleman, and you repay me with teasing words? I'm hurt, Y/N."

He waits for your inevitably snarky response, but it doesn't come. Your attention has been snagged by two golden arches in the distance, and your hand moves to grip Diluc's thigh. The redhead immediately startles at the contact, his foot hitting the break a bit too hard as he rolls to a stop at the red light.

"Diluc…"

"Yes?" he asks, wondering if you realize how tightly you're gripping him. You turn to him with stars in your eyes.

"McDonalds, Diluc."

The dumbfounded look on Diluc's face is enough to crack Kaeya—the blue haired male hiding his laughter behind his hand from the backseat. Luckily, Diluc is too busy dealing with your drunken antics to notice. Otherwise, he may have reached back to beat his ex-friend.

"…we have food at home," Diluc ends up saying when he realizes that this is your way of asking him to stop for food. The light turns green, and Diluc inches the car forward. You make a sound of distress, realizing your window of opportunity to acquire some nugs and fries is quickly slipping away.

"Diluc!"

The quality of your whine is second to none—pleading and desperate. It would be powerful enough to have even Kaeya giving into your wishes, and Kaeya knows Diluc is weaker for you than he is.

"Just give the girl what she wants," Kaeya finally pipes up from the back seat, a cheeky smile on his face as he manages to get his laughter under control. Diluc glares at him through the mirror, and Kaeya waves his hand in the air, adding in, "I'll pay, since I know I have some responsibility in this."

Diluc heaves a long sigh, but inevitably flicks on his blinker and pulls into the drive-thru. You're all smiles, and despite his annoyance, Diluc can't find it in himself to tell you that you've still got a handful of his thigh when you lean over him to talk into the speaker.

"Hi! Can I get, uhhh…a 20-piece nugget—"

"Holy shit," Diluc mumbles, having expected you to get a light snack, not a fucking meal, and Kaeya wheezes from the back seat.

"—and a large fry?" You pause, turning to look at the two males also in the car. "Do you guys want anything?"

"I could eat," Kaeya says, and meets Diluc's crimson eyes in the mirror. "You?"

"…I guess I could eat."

"You still like their cheeseburgers?" Kaeya asks, not missing the way Diluc's face goes slack in surprise. In that moment, they both recall their midnight runs to McDonalds in high school, where they'd spent too much money on burgers and fries. More often than not, they'd both end up stuffing their guts, and would sit in the parking lot groaning and throwing the blame on each other.

In the end, Kaeya tells you to "get two cheeseburgers" without Diluc ever responding.

The car remains relatively quiet as Diluc pulls around to the pick-up window, and Kaeya goes back to staring at the nighttime scenery, wondering if he'd accidentally touched a nerve.

"…do you still hate the pickles?"

It takes a moment for Kaeya to register the question. His eyes slide towards the driver's seat.

"What?"

"You used to ask for no pickles," Diluc clarifies, mumbling. "You didn't this time."

"Ah," Kaeya says, smiling slightly. He crosses his arms over his chest, exaggerating a sigh. "No, I still don't like them. I'll have to pick them off, unfortunately."

Diluc's lips twitch at the corners.

"Here you go, sir."

The bar master's attention diverts to the drive-thru window as a worker pulls it open and hands him a few bags worth of food. He makes sure to double check the contents of the bags before pulling away, only half hearing when you make a comment to Kaeya about how you support his dislike of pickles.

Kaeya says something about giving them all to Diluc instead, and the redhead hurriedly hands the two of you your individual orders before you can scheme any further. A minute later, the three of you finally arrive back at your complex.

You hop out of the car with Kaeya's cardigan slung over your shoulders—a handful of fries shoved into your mouth as you march towards the front doors. Diluc strides after you, concern clearly etched onto his face. He's not used to seeing you so…carefree, and at this point, he just wants to make sure that you make it to bed alright. He'll go back to Angel's Share afterwards, and help the rest of the staff clean up.

After successfully managing to get you up the three flights of stairs, Diluc unlocks the apartment and watches as you waddle over to the couch and curl yourself into the corner—holding your nuggets and fries in your lap as if they're your most prized possession.

"I actually think she's quite the fun drunk," Kaeya comments from behind him. He moves into the kitchen to throw out the wrapper from his burger—the fast-food delicacy already digesting in his stomach. Diluc eyes him.

"…it could be worse," he agrees. Kaeya quietly laughs.

"Well, Master Diluc, thank you for all the yummy drinks tonight. I shall retire, and leave our dearest roommate in your care."

Kaeya makes a toasting motion with his hand before slipping into his bedroom. Leave her to me? Diluc thinks, turning to look at where you're curled on the couch, and-…you're asleep.

…HOW.

Diluc steps up beside you, wondering if you're just playing a trick on him, but the slow rise and fall of your chest assures him that yep—you are definitely asleep. Half-eaten fries and nuggets resting in your lap.

He sighs, and gingerly removes the items, setting them on the coffee table.

"Y/N," he shakes your shoulder, attempting to wake you, and you grumble.

"I'm sleeping."

Clearly not anymore, Diluc wants to argue.

"You shouldn't sleep out here, and you need to change. You're still in your costume."

Your response causes Diluc's face to mirror his hair.

"Undress me then," you say, voice quiet, yet serious. You crack your eyes open, staring at him, and lift your arms up while leaning forward. It's a clear invitation for him to remove the corset for you, and potentially more than that.

Diluc does the only thing he can think.

Taking advantage of your position, he loops his arms around you and lifts you off the couch. At that, you wake up a little more, one of your hands moving to grasp at his shirt as your eyes shine with surprise.

"Do you know how hot it is? To be carried?" you ask him. Your gaze is locked on to his face, which remains carefully blank. The only indication that he hears you is the darkening of his already pink cheeks, and you smile.

A beat later, he sets you down on your bed. Before he can pull away, you use your grip on his shirt to tug him forward.

"Sorry," you whisper, peppering a kiss against the warmed skin of his cheek. Even your current state, you manage to realize that perhaps your comments had been a little too much. But, even more so than apologies, what you really want to say is, "Thank you, Diluc. I really appreciate you; you know that?"

The redhead pulls back as you finally relinquish your grip on his shirt, and the sweet smile stretched across your lips makes his chest tighten. You shouldn't be allowed to make such a remark—not this late in the night, when Diluc is tired, and weak, and can't think of any words to say.

However, not returning your sentiments doesn't seem like an option—especially when he, himself, feels the same way. So, he lowers his guard, and allows himself to feel vulnerable for once—his arms wrapping around you as he pulls you into a hug.

You sigh pleasantly at the contact, your own arms looping around him tightly. Diluc gives you a squeeze, holding you close, and you can feel his hot breath where his face is nestled near your neck.

Gosh I love you, you think, and debate voicing those words to him.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), Diluc leans back, untangles himself from you, and vacates your room before you ever get the chance.

Notes:

Childe plz drop your buttplug so I can level up Zhongli's burst thanks :))

Chapter 5: Pandora's Box

Notes:

Helloooooo, I am back with another chapter, and unfortunately, this one isn't as happy as the previous ones, fair warning :')

As always, thank you to everyone who leaves a kudos and/or a comment. They really do make my day, and I always love getting yelled at about my writing.

Also! I recently banished all my irls from my twitter, and changed my username to joonie_beanie, so that I can actually retweet a bunch of genshin shit without feeling bad, so please feel free to come interact with me on tumblr, or on twitter :') I need more genshin friends

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

After successfully getting you into your room, Diluc ends up rushing back to Angel's Share to help with the clean-up, and subsequently leaves you on your own to get undressed and ready for bed. He assumes it's a task you'll be able to handle by yourself before passing out once more, and, apparently, his trust was not misplaced.

The next morning, you emerge from your room in your pajamas. Diluc and Kaeya are gathered at the breakfast table, nursing cups of coffee, when your tired gaze finds them.

Judging by the mess of your hair, the squint of your eyes, and the quiet groan that gets stuck in your throat, they're guessing that you're a little hungover. (Also, you're a slightly peeved that Kaeya looks perfectly fine despite knowing that he'd downed more drinks than you the previous night.)

"Where are my nuggets?" is the first thing you ask, surprising them both.

Diluc freezes.

"I…they were cold, so I threw them out."

You frown, and with no ounce of humor, declare—

"You have betrayed me."

Kaeya narrowly avoids snorting coffee up his nose.

Following Halloween, things are more or less uneventful. You, of course, forgive Diluc for throwing out your leftover nuggets (he'd confronted you later that day, wondering if you were actually mad at him, and you'd assured him you were just fucking around).

All three of you resume your normal routines—class, work, sleep, repeat. You spend your mornings idly chatting with Kaeya over breakfast. At night, when Kaeya is off socializing, you and Diluc end up in the common area—chatting about your jobs, classes, or anything that you think the other will find interesting.

The atmosphere of the apartment settles into something…content. There's no longer tension in the air whenever Diluc and Kaeya are in the same space. Kaeya begins joining in on your Saturday hangouts in the living room (at least, so long as whatever you're watching tickles his fancy). You still sit in the middle spot—silently creating a small barrier between the two men, but Diluc stops shooting Kaeya looks whenever he makes a smartass comment, and Kaeya stops directing said smartass comments at Diluc every time the opportunity arises.

You begin to surmise that perhaps…the two want to reconcile. And not because you've been desperately trying to keep the peace.

However, neither men take that first step. They fall comfortably into the amicable atmosphere of the apartment—tiptoeing around the past, and never truly trying to talk to each other. For a while, you decide not to push them. It's not your place to try and force them to become friends again, after all, but…you keep remembering the way Diluc had reacted to Kaeya's words on Halloween night, when the three of you were ordering your late-night snacks. (Yes, as much alcohol as you had consumed, you hadn't had enough to black-out, and therefore you still remember most of what happened that night).

Diluc hadn't been mad at Kaeya bringing up the past, like he normally would be. Instead, he looked surprised and almost…sad.

And when Diluc had commented on Kaeya's preferences, Kaeya too had been caught off-guard, but like Diluc, there seemed to be something else reflected in his gaze. You dared to call it regret.

Since then, you've spent too much time pondering their relationship, and what had made it gone so wrong. Could it have been something as simple as a fight? Perhaps there'd been a misunderstanding, and everything had just spiraled out of control. Or maybe, considering they'd been in their youth, it'd been an argument about a girl…

You sigh loudly, resting your hands against the counter top where you're standing near the kitchen sink. The cupboards above you are open—air breezing into the nearly empty space. You'd been trying to figure out something to make for dinner, but had once again gotten lost in your thoughts.

"Not to be rude," a voice startles you, two hands finding your waist from behind and making you jump. Kaeya's quiet chuckle reaches your ear. "But I've noticed you've been sighing a lot recently. Paired with all the glassed-over looks, I can't help thinking you've got something on your mind."

He releases you then, stepping to the side and propping himself against the counter beside you. He smiles, eye crinkling closed.

"Care to share?"

Your face heats up, much to your dismay. You're a bit embarrassed to not have heard him sneak up on you, and beyond that, the reason you hadn't noticed him sooner was because you'd been lost in thought regarding him, and Diluc, and a past that isn't yours to pry into.

…but you're really curious.

You open your mouth, but aren't sure what to say. Kaeya regards you thoughtfully, and he sighs after a moment.

"Tell you what—," he flashes you another smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "If you take me out to dinner, and buy me a few drinks, I will put to rest those many scenarios running around in your pretty little head about my and Diluc's relationship."

Oh, you think, feeling your face flush even deeper. Are you really so easy to read? Or is Kaeya really just that intuitive?

A frown tugs at your lips, apologies working their way onto your tongue, but Kaeya doesn't give you the chance to say them. He turns and starts towards the door, waving a hand over his shoulder.

"C'mon, I know you're hungry. I know a good place we can eat."

Feeling bad enough as it is, and knowing you're in no position to argue, you quickly follow after him.

Kaeya ends up taking you to Wanmin Restaurant, which you can't complain about. Even if they are a rival establishment in town, you have nothing against them as an underpaid waitress, and their food is good. So, you quietly follow Kaeya to the back of the building, where he locates a booth in the corner, away from a majority of the other customers.

Your waitress smiles and makes her way over once she realizes someone has seated themselves in her section, and Kaeya requests two waters to start with while both of you look over the menu.

"I've heard their skewers are good," Kaeya comments, not looking up at you. "Their crystal shrimp too. Want to order both and share?"

"Sounds good to me," you respond, managing a nervous smile. You know there's no reason for your heart to be beating like it is—anxiety knotting in your chest—but you can't help it. For the longest time, Diluc's past has been taboo. You've avoided it like the plague in order to preserve your good relationship with the red-haired man, but now, you sit across from Kaeya, who just so happens to hold the spare key to Diluc's pandora's box.

The key is likely rusted from disuse, and perhaps the mechanisms within the lock are stiff, and coated in dust, but at the very least, the key will allow you to peek into Diluc's life, even if just a little. Even if it's through Kaeya recounting his own history. (And you'd be lying if you said you weren't curious to learn more about Kaeya as well).

"Why are you overthinking when I haven't said anything yet?" Kaeya's voice catches your ear, and you blink back into reality, the restaurant coming into focus around you. Two glasses of ice water sit at the edge of the table, your menus gone from the wooden surface, and you can't help the blush that rises on your face when you realize your waitress had returned and taken your order without you even noticing.

"Why are you so good at reading people?" you respond in a mumble, reaching for your water. You hope that the cool drink will help calm your nerves.

Kaeya offers you a neutral smile, leaning back in his seat.

"You get good at reading others when you have nothing better to do," he says with a sigh. "That's something I learned early in life."

Your interest piques at the mention of Kaeya's childhood.

"And why is that?"

Kaeya can't help but chuckle as you set your glass down, giving him your full attention. However, rather than tease you, he decides to answer your question. If he's going to be telling you about his and Diluc's falling out, he might as well break the ice, and tell you about his own past while he's at it.

"I grew up without a real family," he begins, purposely avoiding looking into your eyes. He opts to stare at a scratch on the tabletop instead.

"I have no memories of my mother, or any siblings, if I had them. My father I remember, but thinking of him brings me no joy. When I was young, he handed me off to a distant relative, and I never saw him again.

"Dansleif—my relative, to what degree I'm still not sure—sent me away to school almost immediately after I stepped into the threshold of his life. So, I grew up at school, surrounded by boys who knew something about me was…off."

He smiles wryly, breathing out a laugh, but you don't do the same—finding no humor in his story.

After all, Kaeya thinks, what child acts normal when they haven't known love, and have rarely had the chance to interact with others?

By all counts, Kaeya was a strange child, and as an adult, he can't blame the other children for being weary of him. He'd spent most of his time alone, observing rather than partaking. Being different meant being unwelcome, and so he'd made it a point to watch everything carefully—to see what it meant to have friends, and to learn what families were really like—mothers and fathers coming to pick up their kids at the end of the day with smiles on their faces, all while Kaeya shuffled back to the boarding dorms to do his homework.

"Therefore, I was pretty much alone until I was transferred somewhere else for middle school. It was then that I met Diluc."

You can see Kaeya's eyes soften at the mention of the redhead, and your heart aches knowing that this story doesn't have a happy ending.

"On the first day, we ended up sitting next to each other in class. He kept glancing at me during the lecture, but whenever I tried to meet his stare, he'd turn away and get all stiff, hoping that I hadn't realized he'd been looking.

"I just kind of figured he was like everyone else—thinking I was strange. But then one day, when Crepus came to pick him up after school, his old man shuffled him over to where I was watching and made him introduce himself."

"This is my son, Diluc," Crepus says, the palm of his hand resting between Diluc's shoulder blades as he nudges the boy a bit closer. Kaeya blinks, gaze shifting from the goateed man to his obviously embarrassed son. "We just moved nearby, and he doesn't really know anyone—"

"Dad—," Diluc cuts in, practically whining, but Crepus continues on unperturbed.

"—he wants to be your friend, but he's too shy to ask."

Again, Kaeya can only blink, his head cocking to the side as he stares at the man dumbly. Friends? The word is foreign to Kaeya, and for half a second, he debates calling the man on his bluff. This is obviously just a gesture of pity—forcing Diluc to become his friend. Adults are always acting for their own gains. Clearly Crepus feels some sort of responsibility seeing Kaeya all alone, and is begrudgingly making his own son befriend Kaeya to sate his own feelings of guilt.

"I—"

Diluc cuts him off before Kaeya gets the chance to turn them both away. For years to come, Kaeya will be glad that Diluc had chosen then to speak up.

"I want to be friends," he says, puffing his chest. He puts on a brave face, one that is contradicted by the pink on his cheeks, and holds out his hand. Kaeya eyes it, but doesn't move.

"We have class together, in case you didn't notice," Diluc continues, his words coming off more pompous than intended.

"I know, you've been looking at me," Kaeya responds. Diluc's crimson eyes widen, and embarrassment burns hot on his cheeks. Behind him, Crepus quietly chuckles.

"Sorry, I just…," Diluc sighs, and lets his hand drop. He hugs one of his arms awkwardly. "I'm not good at this. I've been homeschooled until recently."

I guess he's a bit like me, Kaeya can't help but think. Even if Diluc is backed by a supporting father like Crepus, the feeling of not fitting in and having no one by your side is one Kaeya knows well. And while Kaeya is used to being alone, and has convinced himself that he'll be perfectly alright staying alone forever, he can't deny the way his heart starts beating faster at the possibility of having a friend.

"Well…," a bit of color rises on Kaeya's face, his carefully constructed mask of indifference shifting out of place as he regards the red-haired boy in front of him. "I suppose if you want to, we can be friends."

"After that, we became best friends quicker than I could have imagined," Kaeya muses, too lost in his reminiscing to realize that your waitress has already dropped off the food—the steaming dishes sitting in the center of the table. You manage to thank her before she slips away, and Kaeya finally drifts out of his daze when you place a plate full of food in front of him.

"Eat before it gets cold," you tell him. Your voice is quiet—tentative. You don't want to draw Kaeya from his storytelling, but you don't want to waste good food either.

Breathing a laugh through his nose at your obvious conflict, Kaeya takes a few bites of the meal before continuing.

"After a while, I realized that Diluc came from wealth. When he first invited me over, I nearly died at the sight of his house—huge, and regal, with the vineyards stretching out for acres behind it. Obviously, I—or Dansleif, rather—was well off enough to enroll me in a boarding school far away, but that was the first time I'd seen true luxury.

"Everything was just…warm. Diluc, Crepus, Adeline, and the rest of the staff. I was welcomed in like family."

They were my family, he thinks.

He'd spent summers at the winery with Diluc, running through the vineyards, and causing trouble for the workers. With no blood-related family caring about his whereabouts in the downtime between semesters, Kaeya always ended up going home with Diluc. At some point, a bedroom had been prepared for him, and never once was it used again as a guest room. Even when Kaeya stayed in the dorm at school, even if he wasn't able to visit for days, or weeks, the room was always available to him whenever he returned.

"Diluc and I were practically joined at the hip. At least, up until high school."

He pauses to take another bite of food, but part of you wonders if he's doing it for dramatic effect. If so, it's working.

"As I'm sure you're aware, high school is a bit more challenging than other levels of schooling. There's more homework, the subjects are harder, and you start to be less of a kid with the freedom to play around, and more of a young adult preparing for the rest of your life. In my opinion, it's unfortunate, but that's just how it is.

"For me, it wasn't all that bad. More homework was something I could handle. But Diluc? He's always been a pleaser, especially when it comes to his father, and meeting his expectations. He got involved with the track team, and a few other clubs—knowing that it would please Crepus. Beyond school, his old man also started asking him to get more involved in the family business. After all, Diluc was always expected to take over running the winery one day, so Crepus decided to begin breaking him in.

"Then, between the school work, extracurriculars, and familial duties, Diluc and I obviously started seeing less of each other. I suppose I…," Kaeya frowns, the tips of his chopsticks clinking against his empty plate.

"I was selfish, and got upset."

"Well, that's understandable, considering Diluc was basically your life for years," you mumble, brows pinched together. Kaeya breathes a laugh.

"You do know there's no point in you trying to justify my past actions, right?"

"There is if it helps you feel better," you respond, completely serious. You too would be upset if your best friend suddenly stopped spending time with you, and yeah, maybe it would be selfish of you to feel that way, but there's no helping it! Especially when you're a teenager!

Seeing the excuses that are being conjured in your head, Kaeya resists sighing.

"Eat," he says, placing two more skewers in front of you before you can think too hard. He has already accepted the past. There's no changing what has happened, and there's no point in you defending him without knowing the whole story.

You huff, knowing he's just trying to keep you quiet, but take a bite of the skewer anyway. Satisfied, Kaeya continues.

"Despite being upset, Diluc and I still managed to make things work. We found time to hangout on occasion, and the winery still welcomed me for holiday's and other events when I had no home to return to, but…it wasn't the same.

"Diluc was my only friend, and without him, I started, well…," he snorts a laugh, bitter amusement painted across his face.

"I turned into one of those kids that no one likes. The ones who cause trouble because they're lost, and have nothing better to do."

The teenage years are the worst, you think, your chest feeling tight as you recall your own experiences. There are times you don't wish to remember during high school—times when you were anxious, and desperate, and had made some mistakes. But…over the years you had realized that the past was all just an experience to learn from. You have no doubt Kaeya sees it the same way, but unfortunately, unlike you, Kaeya clearly doesn't think that past wrongs can be righted.

"The summer before our senior year, Crepus decided to take Diluc off on an adventure to tour other subsidiaries of Dawn Winery. The old man offered to bring me along as well, but…," Kaeya pauses, an ache settling in his chest. "I turned him down."

"My selfishness had turned into resentment. I'd convinced myself that being happy with Diluc, and Crepus—feeling like a brother, and a son—was just some fairytale I'd concocted when I was younger. The reality of the situation was that I'd eventually be left behind, just like my father left me behind with Dansleif."

Oh, you could cry for this man, honestly. You know he's not looking for sympathy, but you can't help the way your chest knots with sadness—your hands folded anxiously in your lap as the plates of hot food turn cold amidst Kaeya's story telling.

"That summer, for the first time in years, I stayed at school. And, in case you don't know, the only kids who stay at school over the summer are the ones who cause their parents problems. Their parents make them stay, so the school staff can deal with them instead, and since I was there, I became a part of their lot.

"At first, the things we did weren't too bad. A prank here, some minor vandalism there. When the school term resumed, and Diluc returned, I kept my newfound "friends" a secret—knowing he wouldn't approve. With him being so busy, it was hardly a challenge to keep the wool pulled over his eyes. I figured I could just go on like that—allowing myself to have a little pocket of happiness when Diluc was around, and pretending my other "friends" could help ease the dark feelings in my heart when he wasn't.

"Unfortunately, before the school year could end, he found out. He'd stayed after to talk to a teacher, and ended up happening upon the group I was with. Throughout the year, we'd realized that our little displays of anger—acting out against the school and its staff—really didn't help us feel any better. So, on that day, one of the boys happened to bring…drugs."

Kaeya hesitates at the word, as if it gets stuck in his throat.

"Weed?" you guess, your voice reaching your own ears before you realize you're speaking. Kaeya's showing eye flickers up to meet your gaze, and after a moment, he shakes his head.

"If it was weed, I wouldn't be so ashamed to admit it," he says with a quiet laugh, although the sound is strained. "I…honestly don't know what it was. And I never found out."

"What the hell are you thinking?!" he acutely remembers Diluc hissing in the air between them, the redhead's hands fisted in his shirt, and Kaeya's back pressed roughly against the brick wall out in the school yard. "I know you're not dumb, Kaeya. Why are you messing around with a bunch of troublemakers like that? Do you realize what you were about to do?!"

"I can make my own decisions!" Kaeya grits in response, his own hands wrapping around Diluc's wrists—trying to get him to relinquish his grip. "Why do you care, anyway?!"

"Why do I-," Diluc looks shocked for half a second, before he slams Kaeya against the wall—the back of Kaeya's skull knocking into the brick and creating a bruise that he'll feel for days to come.

"You're my best friend, idiot!"

"Are you sure about that?" The venom in Kaeya's voice surprises even himself, but he doesn't relent. Taking advantage of Diluc's shock, and his loosened grip, Kaeya shoves Diluc away. The redhead stumbles back a few steps, the spark in his fiery eyes missing—replaced with a look of hurt.

Kaeya, if he was in his right mind, would have apologized. But right now, after years of suppressing his true emotions—his anger at the world—the floodgates have opened, and he's taking it all out on Diluc.

"You don't even know me anymore, 'Luc."

"Of course I do!" Diluc argues. "I know you better than anyone—"

"Do you know I got suspended this summer for vandalizing the school?"

Diluc shuts up at that, and Kaeya's mirthless laugh makes his blood run cold.

"Do you know that I've been hanging out with those "troublemakers" for months now? That while you're off building your reputation for your future college applications, I'm sitting in detention watching the clouds blow past? Oh, wait, of course you wouldn't know, you're too busy to remember your so-called best friend."

"Kaeya, that's not true—"

"Like everyone else, you're just going to leave me beh—"

"Will you shut up and let me talk?!"

It's seldom that Diluc ever yells, and the warble of emotion in his raised voice succeeds in silencing Kaeya.

Diluc takes a deep breath, his hands fisted at his sides.

"I know that I haven't been a good friend lately," he admits. "I miss spending time with you, and I regret taking on so many responsibilities in an effort to please my father. I promise, next semester, I'll make more time for us."

Next semester, Kaeya thinks bitterly. He'll have to wait months before Diluc will be able to pencil him into his schedule again. The realization leaves a bad taste in his mouth, and further darkens the resentment in his heart.

Kaeya knows that it's wrong of him to be saying these things. He could have joined a club with Diluc, could have told him sooner that he was feeling lonely. He has no doubt Diluc would have lessened his responsibilities if Kaeya had simply been honest with him. But to Kaeya—the loneliness, and isolation is his burden to bear, just like it's always been.

Finding happiness in Diluc—in Crepus, in the staff of Dawn Winery…he's just been fooling himself.

"Don't bother," Kaeya breathes, his cerulean eye glazing over as he shifts an apathetic mask into place. Diluc clenches his jaw, reaching forward to grab Kaeya by his shoulders. There's no way Kaeya can cut him out, just like that.

"We're still friends, Kaeya."

Diluc speaks those words without a hint of hesitation—his heart aching at the idea of losing the only best friend he's ever had. And all because they're dumb teenagers—unable to be honest, or think the situation over rationally.

Perhaps, if tragedy hadn't struck that night, things would have turned out differently.

"Diluc and I fought about it," Kaeya tells you. The two of you exist in your own little world—the bustle of the restaurant around you forgotten. Two carry-out containers have been left at the tables edge along with your check, but either of you have yet to notice.

"The fight ended somewhat pitifully. The two of us ran out of things to say, and he left for home assuring me that we would talk more tomorrow, when both of us had cleared our heads. I went back to the dorms and locked myself away. I didn't feel like talking to anyone—content with being discontent—so when Diluc called me that night, I didn't pick up."

You see Kaeya's throat bob, his mouth feeling dry all of the sudden, and he reaches for his water. His knuckles turn white against the glass.

"Kaeya, please, I'm sorry," he can distinctly remember the sound of Diluc sobbing in his ear, his voice reaching Kaeya via one of the many voicemails he'd left, which Kaeya hadn't bothered opening until the next morning.

"I know we fought, but please…father has been in an accident and-," there's a warble in Diluc's broken tone. He's never sounded so scared before. "It's not looking well. The doctors say he won't make it through the night. Please, Kaeya…call me back. Elzer will come get you. Father would want to see you. Please…Please."

"Crepus died that night, having gotten in a bad collision," Kaeya tells you, tone somber. He doesn't notice the way you shakily exhale—your head tilting backwards as you try to stop the tears that have welled against your bottom lashes. No, Kaeya is too busy reliving the moment when he stepped into the Ragnivndr manor the next day—the house dark, and the sky pouring rain.

"I'm sorry I didn't get your messages," he says when he makes it to Diluc's bedroom, the redhead sitting on the edge of his mattress. His eyes are puffy, exhaustion clouding over his crimson irises. Kaeya assumes he's likely been up all night, crying.

Guilt stings in his chest at the sight, knowing that his words are only a half-truth. He had gotten Diluc's messages, but hadn't chosen to pay them any mind until morning.

"Are you okay?"

"How can I be?" Diluc responds, voice hoarse when he laughs. His gaze finally turns up to Kaeya. Kaeya desperately attempts to shove his emotions back into their cage.

"Are you okay?" Diluc asks when Kaeya doesn't say anything. The looks Kaeya offers him is carefully blank—void of the grief gnawing away at his heart.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

It's neither a yes, or a no, but either way, the off-putting answer is not what Diluc was expecting to hear.

The two have been like brothers for as long as he can remember. Kaeya should be falling apart, just like Diluc is, and the realization that he's not upsets Diluc further.

"What does that mean?"

There's an edge to his tone, a warning that Kaeya had best watch his words around the emotionally distraught young master, but Kaeya ignores it.

"I…was trying to convince myself that I didn't care about Crepus, so I wouldn't have to face the reality that I'd seen him as my own father, and that he was now dead," Kaeya drones on mindlessly, the glass in his hand crying from the strength of his grip. "So, I said—"

"He's your father, not mine."

The glass gives way beneath Kaeya's fingertips. Shattering just as Diluc and Kaeya's friendship had at his words that day.

Ice, water, and shards of the cup splatter across the table, knocking you and Kaeya back into reality.

"Shit—!" you hiss the words as you move to clean up the mess he had made. Your waitress hurries over as well, offering her help, and assuring you broken glasses happen all the time when you offer your apologies.

All the while, Kaeya's gaze shifts to his palm, where blood seeps out from a shallow cut. He's reminded of the blood that had splattered onto the floor of Diluc's bedroom, when the two young boys had exchanged blow after blow.

Diluc had been grieving, angry, and, more than anything, betrayed by Kaeya's uncaring attitude towards his father's death. And Kaeya—frustrated at himself, at life, at everything—was lying through his teeth with every word he spoke.

Looking back, Kaeya should have allowed his walls to come down at Diluc's first punch. He should have cried, and told Diluc how sorry he was. They could have reconciled—could have been there for each other in Crepus' haunting absence. But he hadn't.

He'd returned Diluc's blow.

The two tussled until the winery staff rushed in to separate them. Kaeya returned to the dorms with his one good eye blackened, and Diluc attended his father's funeral with a broken nose.

"Kaeya…"

In the end, Kaeya never did get to say goodbye to Crepus.

"Kaeya."

And after their fight, Diluc never returned to school.

"Kaeya, c'mon."

A napkin is placed against the cut on his hand, fingers wrapping around his wrist, and Kaeya looks up to see you standing there. The sounds of the restaurant reach his ears, everything coming back into focus. Kaeya sighs.

He'd suggested a public setting hoping he wouldn't get so dragged into his memories, but clearly, his plan hadn't worked.

"I already paid the bill. Let's get some fresh air."

You flash him a smile, and without protest, Kaeya allows you to tug him outside. You lead him to a small alley between the restaurant, and the book shop that's next door. Cigarette butts litter the ground at your feet, and Kaeya idly wishes he had thought to bring his own.

Although, with you around, he doubts he'd have ever gotten one to his lips.

"Are you okay?" you ask. Your fingers gingerly grip his injured hand, the white fabric napkin you'd accidentally stolen from Wanmin stained with blood where it rests against his palm.

"I don't like that question," Kaeya responds honestly, his words accompanied by a quiet laugh. You don't comment on his non-answer, instead working to tie two of the napkins ends together—creating a temporary bandage against his cut until the two of you can get home and properly clean it.

"Fine, then answer me this: why did you tell me about your past?"

"Because you were curious," he says without missing a beat. Your eyes regard him with scrutiny.

"I highly doubt that you go around telling your story to anyone who is curious."

Well, you've got him there.

Kaeya's lips part, but no words come out. He's not himself at the moment—still scrambling to rebuild the walls that he had torn down in order to tell you his tale. By now, he should have thought of another lie to feed you—because he likes making pretty girls cry, because he's a sadist who likes reliving his greatest life traumas—but he's stuck.

Before you, he's laid bare.

"Kaeya," without thinking, you reach your hands up and cup his face. His gaze flickers to you, and you smile sadly.

There's grief swirling in his showing eye, and regret knotted between his furrowed brows. You know you can't relieve him of the past—of the mistakes that he's made—but you can at least try to comfort him. And comfort is something that he is scarcely granted.

"I know you don't want me making excuses for you," you say. "And I won't. But I will give you my opinion—"

"Y/N."

"—which is that you shouldn't blame yourself for everything that has happened."

Kaeya sighs heavily, attempting to glance away from you, but you guide him right back.

"I'm serious. The two of you fighting, Crepus dying…the timing was, quite honestly, shit. You were hurting, he was hurting, and you both could have acted differently—but the past is the past."

Your smile brightens.

"Now, I think you should focus more on what you want to do about said past…which is to make amends with Diluc."

Kaeya opens his mouth, perhaps to refute your claim, but you squish his cheeks together—effectively shutting him up.

"Don't try to deny it, because I know it's true. I'm no fool, I can read people too~"

He openly pouts at that, his hands reaching up to grab your wrists.

"I bare my soul to you and you're still teasing me? How do you think that makes a man feel, Y/N?"

Your cheeks warm at his comment, apologies worming their way into your throat as you realize that perhaps now isn't the best time to act playful, but your worries are washed away when Kaeya chuckles.

"I'm just teasing you back, silly."

Before you can think of any choice words to scold him with, he uses his grip on you to tug you forward. Your cheek bumps against his chest, and you feel Kaeya settle his chin on your shoulder—his arms wrapping around your middle and holding you close.

It takes you a second to realize he's hugging you.

"…you smell like shrimp," he says after a moment, completely ruining the intimacy of his gesture. You breathe a laugh, rolling your eyes, but nonetheless loop your arms around him as well.

"I have the posture of one too."

Now it's Kaeya's turn to laugh—his hot breath tickling against the column of your throat. He's quiet for a moment, before he hums, and you feel his fingers dip lower against your back.

"For a shrimp, you've got a pretty nice ass though~"

You suck in a breath the moment Kaeya's palms cup your rear. His fingers manage to give the soft flesh the barest of squeezes before you're shoving him away—your face the color of a tomato as you smack your hand against his chest.

The handsome grin on his face makes your heart stutter.

"Remind me to never feel bad for you ever again," you say, huffing as you stride out of the alley, and in the direction of the apartment. Kaeya jogs after you, chuckling quietly.

"Should I offer up an apology before you think about changing the locks?"

You shoot a glare his way, but it softens as you speak.

"No, promise me instead that you'll make an effort to talk to Diluc."

Kaeya looks surprised for a fraction of a second. Then, he sighs, shoves his hands into his pockets, and looks up at the stary sky.

"I'll try," he says, and you nod.

You can't ask for more than that.

When you and Kaeya finally make it home, the sight that greets you is both worrying and hilarious.

"Um, what happened to you?" you ask Diluc, who is on the living room floor, pain etched onto his face as he tries and fails to touch his toes.

Kaeya cocks an eyebrow.

"I don't recall you ever being this stiff."

"I'm not," Diluc hisses, clearly frustrated. He sits back with a pained grunt, hand moving to brace against his lower back.

"I was moving a keg with Charles and he lost his grip. Taking on all the weight threw my back out."

Diluc grimaces as he presses to his feet, and you frown, never having seen him in such pain before. Kaeya pats your back.

"Well! Looks like this is something for you to handle. I have some papers I need to grade."

Flashing you a shit-eating grin, Kaeya meanders his way into his bedroom and shuts the door tight. Diluc's stare trails after him.

"Were you out together?"

"We got dinner," you tell him, and take a step forward—carefully placing your hand on his shoulder. "Now go lay down. I'll get my heating pad, and some meds, and meet you in your room."

Diluc has half a mind to ask you why you have a heating pad just laying around when he remembers—ah, right, you're a female. If anyone knows how to treat back pain, it's the people who have to deal with the pain on a frequent basis.

So, he follows your instructions and limps his way into his bedroom. You meet him there a few minutes later—heating pad, ibuprofen, and glass of water in hand.

Diluc is lying face down on his mattress, arms folded beneath his head when you walk in.

"Here," you say, handing him the water, and medicine. He lifts his head and takes them from you, managing to roll onto his side to swallow them down as you locate a nearby outlet. You leave the heating pad to warm up, and return to his side, eying him pitifully.

"What?" he mumbles.

"It's just strange seeing you like this. I guess I was wrong in thinking you're infallible," you tell him with a little laugh, your hands moving to rub against his back. He jolts at the sensation, and you quickly pull away, uttering apologies.

He interrupts your worrying.

"It didn't hurt. I just didn't know you were going to touch me."

"Should I stop?"

"…no, it's fine."

Cautiously, with permission, your hands find him once more. Your fingers knead into his muscles through his shirt, and you can feel the tension begin to melt out of him. By the time the heating pad is ready to use, Diluc is like putty beneath you—his chest rising and falling slowly.

You smile.

"Do you want to roll onto your back? Or does laying like this feel better?"

"This," he grunts, voice muffled by his arms, and you nod. Grabbing the heating pad, you drape it across his back. A laugh escapes your lips at his sigh of bliss.

Any other night, he would send a half-hearted glare your way, but tonight, he can't bring himself to do so.

He's tired from a long day filled with classes, and work, and the fact that his back pain is gone for the first time in hours is just oh-so-satisfying. For a minute, he even forgets you're in the room with him. At least, until he feels a slight dip in his mattress.

When he peeks an eye open, he finds your face a short way from his—your chin resting on your folded arms as you squat down beside his bed. There's a bittersweet smile on your face, and the sight of it makes Diluc frown.

"What's wrong?"

It takes you a moment to respond.

"…do you really hate Kaeya?"

To Diluc, the question comes straight out of left field.

In normal circumstances, he'd turn around and ask you why you're asking. There's no reason for you to bring up his and Kaeya's relationship out of the blue like this—even if you are keeping the peace between the apartment walls.

But…in his current state, Diluc is a bit more open than usual. Blame it on the heating pad, or the pain meds, or perhaps all of them working in tandem, but he finds himself answering honestly.

"No," he says, the word so quiet that you almost miss it.

"I see," you respond, reaching forward to tuck a stray piece of hair behind Diluc's ear.

His eyes flutter shut at the feeling, and he subsequently fails to notice the way your bittersweet smile melts into something more genuine.

Apparently, there's some hope for them yet.

Notes:

*hugs kaeya and diluc as tightly as I can* im lov u idiots

Chapter 6: Giving Thanks

Notes:

Helloooooooo

Sorry for the wait. My brain did not feel like writing at all for a little while after the last update OTL Luckily, I woke up today feeling ~ inspired~

It's late in the day at this point so I'm tired, and I'm starting to doubt if this chapter sounds at all good, but I worked hard on it so I'm gonna post it, and hopefully y'all enjoy :')

May Xiao's banner bless you.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

True to his word, Diluc arrives home around noon with two cardboard boxes in his arms. They smell heavenly, and honestly, you could kiss him.

"You got breadsticks too? Ugh, you're the best," you sigh gratefully, drool pooling in your mouth as you scuttle into the kitchen, your hands immediately reaching for the boxes that Diluc sets on the counter.

Having caught wind of the noise coming from the main room, Kaeya shuffles out of his room as well. Diluc silently hands him a plate when he approaches, having taken it upon himself to retrieve dishes from the cupboard above your head.

Kaeya nods his thanks.

"So… why are we eating pizza for lunch, exactly? Not that I'm complaining, but I'm curious."

Kaeya takes a seat at the table beside you, his cerulean gaze shifting your way. Even if he hadn't heard you crying (which he had), the signs are all there—your eyes red and puffy.

He's not quite sure why you'd be crying in the early morning like this, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't a tad concerned.

You feel your face warm with embarrassment under his stare.

"I…was watching Coco."

"Coco?" Kaeya repeats, dumbfounded. Across from the two of you, Diluc finally slides into an unoccupied seat at the table.

You nod. Your gaze turns away from him, instead focusing on the slice of pizza balanced in your hand. You pout at it.

"It's a good movie, okay?"

It takes a second, the reality of the situation catching up with him, before Kaeya snorts a laugh. He doesn't comment, instead moving to pick up the glass of water in front of him. He brings it to his mouth, but doesn't take a sip. Rather, his lips stretch into a grin against the edge of the glass, his amused eye sliding your way.

" Remember me~ Although I have to—"

Your reaction is instantaneous.

"Kaeya!"

Your head whips towards him, absolute betrayal written across your face as you whine his name. He somehow manages to look even more cheeky, turning away to keep you from slapping a hand over his mouth as you desperately try to shut him up before your emotions get the better of you once more.

The two of you struggle for a short while—you, gripping his shoulder and begging him to stop teasing, while Kaeya continues to sing, leaning just out of your reach. You only pause when the sound of laughter reaches your ears.

Immediately, you still, and Kaeya quiets down. Both of your gazes shift to the redhead sitting across the table.

Diluc's hands are shielding his mouth from view, but with his shoulders shaking, and his eyes pinched at the corners, it's undeniable that the laughter is coming from him.

"You're both idiots," he says after a moment, attempting to get himself under control now that he realizes he has caught your attention. Despite his insult, you can't find it in yourself to be mad at his words—too busy searing Diluc's laughter into your memory.

He should really laugh more often , you think. You're used to his quiet, amused chuckles, and a little quirk of his lips, but this…this is something you wish you could record and playback whenever you need a pick-me-up.

"Bold words coming from you, Diluc."

Kaeya's response is meant to provoke him, and it successfully does. Diluc's eyes narrow in annoyance, but Kaeya is unperturbed. He grins like the cheshire cat, cradling his chin in his palm as he leans forward on the table.

You shake your head at their childish banter.

"Okay, boys, the pizza is getting cold. Let's eat before we spoil the meal."

"He started it," Kaeya comments innocently, finally taking a sip of his water. Diluc rolls his eyes, and decides to eat rather than grace the blue haired male with a response. The kitchen falls into a comfortable silence for a short while, until you suddenly remember something.

"Oh! I've been meaning to ask. What are you two doing for Thanksgiving?"

Between recent events, and your daily school and work schedule, you'd nearly forgotten about Thanksgiving.

Typically, you'd do your best to make the journey home for the holiday, but your classes this semester are…well, starting to stress you out a little—especially with finals right around the corner. So, you'd decided it'd be best just to stay here.

When you'd informed your family of your decision, they'd been disappointed, but you had assured them that you'd see them at Christmas instead. Missing you for one holiday wouldn't kill them.

Kaeya is the first to respond, blinking dumbly at your question. Clearly, like you, he had forgotten.

"I guess I'll be staying here," he says, like it's the only logical choice, and…you suppose maybe it is. Diluc and Crepus had been his family up until the end of high school, and after their falling out, you can bet Kaeya hadn't bothered looking for sympathy during the holidays. He'd have rather spent it alone, than have people invite him into their home out of a sense of pity.

"I'll be staying at the apartment too," Diluc adds in after a moment.

If you think about it, you shouldn't be surprised. In the years you've known him, Diluc has always stayed at school for Thanksgiving—opting to head home during Christmas time instead.

"Well," you say, swallowing the bite of pizza in your mouth. Your eyes shift between the two males, and you smile at them. "Why don't we celebrate together then?"

At the same time, they cock an eyebrow, staring at you curiously. Clearly, they've never celebrated a holiday between friends before…

"It's not like it's a crazy idea," you mumble, taking another bite of pizza. "There's three of us. Two people can make dinner, while someone else makes a desert, or something. Don't you guys think that would be fun? Rather than ignore the holiday in its entirety?"

Red meets blue, and for a moment, you feel a bit of tension surface in the room. Since Kaeya and Diluc have been amicable to one another, it's easy to forget that they still actually aren't on good terms.

"I'd be fine with that," Kaeya says, surprising you. He turns his gaze away from Diluc, and flashes you a lazy grin. As you regard him, you begin to realize that Kaeya tends to act playful whenever he wants to distract from how he's actually feeling, but you decide not to call him out.

Something tells you he actually does want to celebrate a holiday with Diluc—like they would have done in the past—it's just that...well, it won't be the same. Can't be.

"I can make dinner."

Diluc sounds neutral as ever as he speaks, but one glance at him and you can discern that his thoughts are elsewhere. Clearly, the two men are hesitant to indulge your idea, and for a second, you regret bringing it up, but…

You want to celebrate with them. If you can't be with your family, you want to celebrate with Diluc, and Kaeya. So, you decide to be selfish for once, peace-keeping be damned.

"I make a mean cake, you know."

You flash them both a smile—one that's genuine, and excited, and has nothing to hide—and almost immediately, the uncertainty that had been filling the room lessens.

Hopefully, everything will play out fine.

Thanksgiving Day comes upon you quicker than you realize, and you assume it's because the holiday falls on a Thursday, after three consecutive days of classes and work.

You awake late in the morning, having remembered to turn off your usual alarm before passing out the previous night, and are too comfortable to get up. So, having no real plans until your celebration with Diluc and Kaeya later on, you roll around in bed on your phone until the fullness of your bladder finally forces you to get up.

By then, it's almost lunch time.

"I was about to knock on your door," Diluc admits when you eventually make your way into the main area of the apartment. He's lounging on the couch, his gaze following you as you walk to the fridge and poke around inside for something to eat.

"What?" you respond. "Did you think I had died?"

His silence is telling.

Blinking, you turn to face him.

" Really?"

The tips of his ears turn red, but he attempts to maintain his dignity.

"You've never slept in this late."

You can't help but smile, realizing that he was actually worried.

Cute .

"I appreciate the concern, but I've actually been awake for a few hours. I've just been in bed basking in a day off."

"You act like you don't have two days off every week."

"Yes, but on those days off I have to do homework," you point out. "Today, I am doing nothing aside from eating good food, watching TV, and lazing around."

Diluc bobs his head in agreement, feeling the same way. The bar is closed today, so for the first time in a while, he truly has nothing he needs to worry about. Any class assignments can wait until tomorrow. Today is a day to relax, and not feel stressed.

Yet, when Kaeya's bedroom door clicks open and the blue haired male steps foot into the room, Diluc's body tenses. Luckily, it's not enough for either of you to notice.

"I need to run to the store to grab some eggs for tonight," Kaeya says, moving to the foyer to slip on his shoes. He glances over to Diluc, and then to you. "Do we need anything else while I'm out?"

"You do know I literally went shopping last night and asked you that exact same question, right?" you point out to him, recalling how cold it'd been when you'd departed the apartment at the ripe hour of 10pm.

Kaeya smiles at you, and there's a certain fakeness to it. A "don't point that out when I'm already aware of it" type vibe, if you will.

"Yes, but at that time, I wasn't sure what side I'd be making tonight to go with Diluc's signature steak."

You sigh. Kaeya had informed you a few days ago that the only thing he knew how to make aside from basic foods like eggs, and toast, was chicken skewers, and clearly that wasn't the best pairing for the steak Diluc had declared he'd be making.

You'd offered to leave dessert to Kaeya instead, but he'd brushed you off, saying he'd come up with something.

Clearly, he has, but not until the very last minute.

"We shouldn't need anything. Just go buy what you need before the store gets totally congested with last minute shoppers like you."

Knowing you're right, Kaeya soon disappears through the front door with a two-fingered salute. About three seconds pass before you're darting after him—remembering that last night, the store had been out of the strawberries you need for your cake.

"Kaeya—!"

You dart down the hall, barefooted, and still in pajamas.

As you attempt to catch Kaeya in the stairwell, lounged atop the couch, Diluc shakes his head.

He finds himself thankful that you're not around to see the fond smile that tugs at his lips.

After all, so long as you don't see it, you won't question him, and therefore, he won't have to ponder the feelings that lay behind it.

When the afternoon fades away, and the sun outside slowly starts to dip towards the horizon, the three of you gather in the kitchen once more.

Diluc takes up one half of the counter space—dicing potatoes, seasoning meat, and warming up a cast iron pan. The other half is taken up by Kaeya, who busies himself with cutting vegetables, and peeling the hard-boiled eggs he'd prepared a few hours prior.

Apparently, he's making a salad. It's simple, but you can't complain. Since Diluc seems to be making a hearty meal with steak, potatoes, and cheese, Kaeya's salad will be a nice pairing.

As the two of them work, the kitchen remains…eerily quiet. It's not like you had expected them to come up with random fluff to fill the silence, but…it's a bit too uncomfortable for you to bear.

You decide to try and lighten the room.

Moving from where you're perched on the couch, you make your way across the room and pull open the door to the fridge. Inside is the carton of strawberries Kaeya had retrieved from the store for you earlier, and you move to sit at the kitchen table after rinsing the container, and grabbing a cutting board.

You had planned to cut them after dinner, since your cake is already prepared and chilling in the fridge, but now seems like a good a time as any.

"How long until everything is ready?" you ask. Your eyes flit to Diluc, who has just placed a pan full of cubed potatoes into the oven.

For a brief moment, your mind gets distracted by the black apron that's tied tightly against his slim waist, and you feel the edge of the knife in your hand press the side of your finger—missing the strawberry you had been intending to slice.

The cut isn't too deep, but red still seeps up through the split in your skin.

For a moment, you can't move—too busy being baffled at your own stupidity to realize you should get up, and tend to the wound.

Diluc hums, wiping his hands on his apron as he turns to address you.

"The potatoes should take about 30 minutes, so I'll put the steaks on—what did you do?"

In the next beat, Diluc has his fingers wrapped around your wrist—the redhead tugging you to your feet and leading you over to the kitchen sink. Curious of what's happening, Kaeya leans over your shoulder—watching as Diluc guides your finger beneath the stream of water—washing off the blood that had begun trailing down your skin.

Blinking, Kaeya glances to the kitchen table, and to the strawberries, not one of which are cut.

"Did you seriously manage to injure yourself before cutting a single strawberry?"

His (unfortunate, albeit correct) observation knocks you back into the present, and you're quick to blush. However, before you can think of how best to retort, Diluc is sighing.

"Please be more careful," he says, grabbing a nearby towel and holding it against your finger. Feeling both embarrassed and ashamed, you nod your head. After a moment, Diluc lifts the towel and makes a sound of satisfaction when he sees the bleeding has stopped.

"I'll get a bandaid."

He steps away from you, heading into his room. As soon as he's out range, Kaeya leans over to whisper in your ear.

"What? Is Diluc in an apron really so distracting?"

Kaeya says it jokingly, only intending to tease, but the way your eyes widen—blush burning brighter on your cheeks—lets him know that his words have hit true.

He looks surprised for a fraction of a second, before his lips stretch into a wide grin, his eye sparkling.

Luckily for him, before you can think to punch him in retaliation, Diluc returns. He steps up beside you, motioning for your hand so he can apply the bandaid. You find yourself grateful that he's focused on your finger, and is therefore completely oblivious to the embarrassment written on your face.

"Thanks," you tell him when he turns back to the stove, holding his hand over the cast iron pan to test the heat.

"Like I said, just be careful," he responds, and then after a beat, adds, "because if you accidentally feed me the tip of your finger, I might have to move out."

Beside you, Kaeya quietly snorts. You sigh, exasperated, and return to your seat at the table.

"Okay, okay! I will keep all off my fingertips intact, jeez."

Diluc smiles to himself as he grabs a steak and places it in the oil coated pan. He speaks over the sound of the sizzling meat.

"Give me 25 minutes to cook the steaks and let them rest. The potatoes will be done by then."

"Salad is ready whenever," Kaeya responds, and the sound of his voice makes Diluc jolt.

That's right, he remembers. Kaeya's here.

It's not exactly that he had forgotten. No, it's impossible to simply forget the man's presence when they're stranding just feet apart, but…for a few minutes, thanks to your distraction, Diluc had forgotten about the strain in their relationship. He had forgotten the fact that they're spending a holiday together for the first time in years, but not as brothers, or even friends.

Diluc's chest feels tight, and yet, he knows the negative emotions bubbling within him cannot all be blamed on Kaeya.

He feels frustrated, yes, but at himself more than anyone.

Kaeya has hurt him, that's undeniable. In the wake of his father's death, Kaeya took the knife already stabbed into his heart and twisted it—causing Diluc to lose two of the most important people in his life, rather than one.

Kaeya is the reason behind all of his pain. Kaeya should be to blame.

…and yet, despite everything, Diluc realizes that he has enjoyed having Kaeya around these last few weeks.

After years of not talking, years of trying to convince himself to forget Kaeya completely, Diluc is slowly letting Kaeya back into his life as if nothing has happened. And that frustrates him more than anything.

How can he turn soft so easily? How dare he even think about forgiving Kaeya, when Kaeya has done nothing to warrant forgiveness.

If not Kaeya, then who can Diluc resent for the passing of his father?

In the background, your laughter reaches his ears, and the sound is enough to pull Diluc from his darkening thoughts.

It's just a few hours , he tells himself, glancing over to find you scolding Kaeya for stealing another strawberry when you weren't looking. The two of you are both laughing, despite Kaeya's thievery, and Diluc forces himself to take a deep breath.

He can't let his emotions get the better of him now. He knows you've been looking forward to today ever since you brought up the idea, and he doesn't want to ruin the occasion on account of his poor attitude.

So, Diluc takes the ugly thoughts that have reared in his mind, and pushes them back into their flimsily constructed cage. He can deal with them later. For now, he has a Thanksgiving dinner to cook.

Once dinner is plated, and the three of you are gathered around the table, conversation comes a bit easier. Diluc's steak and potatoes are absolutely delicious , and you can't help but comment on how this is one of the best meals you've ever had—Kaeya's salad included. (You make sure to compliment him as well after he moans about all his hard work, and how you're not giving him any praise).

You do your best to keep the topic of family off the table—careful not to mention your own family traditions. Instead, you keep the conversation steered in a casual direction, mentioning the weeks to come, and how the ending of the semester might kill you.

Kaeya nods in agreement—less because his classes are hard, and more because he's going to have so many papers to grade—but the two of you nonetheless clink your wine glasses together in mutual support.

Diluc offers his assistance to you, letting you know that he'll be around to help should you need it, but you quickly wave him off. You know he has his own finals to study for, and the last thing you want is to add more to his plate. However, he leaves the offer on the table.

By the time your dishes are empty, Kaeya has gone through nearly the entire bottle of wine by himself—your first glass sitting empty on the table, while Diluc's remains half-full. When Kaeya cocks an eyebrow at the redhead, Diluc relinquishes his glass with a sigh. Kaeya throws his head back and downs it as if it's a shot.

"I'm beginning to learn that you are…quite the lush," you tell him, vaguely concerned. Kaeya smiles pleasantly.

"Well, we are celebrating, aren't we?"

"What are you celebrating when you end up at Angel's Share every other night?" Diluc asks, raising an accusatory eyebrow at the other man. Kaeya is unperplexed.

"Friendship. Good times. The bar master's lovely drinks."

Kaeya lifts his empty wine glass to Diluc in a toast, but the redhead only rolls his eyes.

Pressing to his feet, Diluc grabs his empty plate and takes it over to the sink. You stack a few of the empty dishes on the table atop each other before following after him.

"I'll do dishes tonight, since you both cooked," you tell him. You set the dishes in the sink basin, and then snatch away the sponge that's in Diluc's hands. He frowns at you.

"You prepared dessert."

"Yes, which consisted entirely of me making an instant pudding, mixing it with cool whip, and layering it between graham crackers."

"Don't forget the step where you sliced your finger open while trying to cut strawberries," Kaeya chimes in from the table. You shoot him a glare, pointing the sponge in your hand at him threateningly.

"I hate you."

"Please, declare your love for me louder."

Diluc rolls his eyes, and opens his mouth to argue that both you and he can wash the dishes together, but at that moment, his phone rings.

Blinking at the unexpected sound, Diluc pulls the device from his pocket. A sigh of annoyance leaves his lips when he sees the notification on the screen.

"It's the security alarm at the tavern," he says, already moving for the front door. "It's likely nothing, but I need to go and check it."

"Have fun," you respond, throwing a wave over your shoulder as you start on the dishes. "Dessert should be ready by the time you get back."

Diluc makes a sound of acknowledgement before he slips out of the apartment. Once the two of you are alone, Kaeya presses to his feet and makes his way over to the sink. You can feel him lingering behind you, so when he reaches forward to grab your waist, you aren't surprised.

"Touchy one, aren't you?"

"I can stop, if you dislike it," he says. You pout your lips slightly.

"Well…I never said that."

And if you did, you'd be lying. It's nice to receive a bit of casual affection every once and while, although you won't admit that aloud—feeling that if you did, you'd be guilting Diluc or Kaeya, or your other friends, even, into showing you affection, simply because they feel sorry for you. That's the last thing you want.

If someone feels affectionate towards you, you want them to act of their own volition, like Kaeya is doing now. Although…now that you think about it, the last time Kaeya had his hands on you was after he had his breakdown at Wanmin…

"How are you doing?" you ask, making the grin that has come to his face falter slightly. He fixes his gaze on you.

"Why do you ask?"

You're quiet for a moment, debating if you should respond honestly, at the risk of him raising his defenses.

"It's just…I think that you tend to get touchy when, one—you want to distract someone, or two—you want to distract yourself from how you're feeling."

Turning off the sink, you wipe your hands on the front of your pants and then turn to face him. The smile on his lips is obviously forced, and you frown with worry.

"Is it because of Diluc? Or me? I know I kind of forced you both into this…"

Guilt begins to gnaw at you, but before you can think too hard on it, Kaeya is leaning forward—his hands gripping the counter on either side of you as he successfully traps you against the sink.

"Kaeya?"

His forehead knocks against your shoulder, and you hear him sigh.

"It's annoying that you're able to read me, you know. Incredibly annoying. I've spent my entire life wearing a mask, and in 2 months, you've learned me so well that I can't hide myself from you? You're a nightmare."

You can't help the quiet laugh that leaves you at his words.

"Want to tell me what's on your mind?"

"No," he answers honestly, refusing to look at you.

"Okay, well…what can I do to help?"

It's an innocent, sincere question. If Kaeya doesn't feel like talking about it, you don't want to force him. But, if there's some other way that you can help, then you want to.

At that, Kaeya finally pulls back to look at you. He cocks his head to the side, mustering the most innocent look he can.

"A kiss or two might make me feel better."

Your mind goes blank with shock, and you only snap out of it when one of Kaeya's hands moves to cup your cheek. Immediately, your eyes flit up to him, skin warming with every frantic beat of your heart. (And that stupid grin on his face doesn't help, either).

"Wh-! Kaeya!"

You lift your hands to press against him as he begins to lean in, and you feel his chest rumble with laughter beneath your palms.

"You're so easy to fluster, it's cute."

His lips press against your forehead.

You pause.

…what?

Kaeya steps back, laughing again when he sees the dumbstruck look on your face.

"What? Were you hoping for more?"

You reach forward to smack him, and your fingers just barely miss his shoulder.

"Asshole," you mumble, a huff leaving you as you once again turn to face the sink. Kaeya smiles at the insult, knowing he deserves it, and then turns towards the front door.

"I'm gonna go out and get some air."

"Okay," you respond in acknowledgement. "…and Kaeya?"

"Hm?"

"Leave the cigarettes behind."

Diluc arrives back at the apartment complex about twenty minutes after getting the automatic notification from the Angel's Share security system.

As he had suspected, it was a false alarm. And yet, despite the hassle, Diluc finds himself a little…grateful, for the brief reprieve from Thanksgiving dinner.

It's not that he hasn't enjoyed the evening. No, it's actually been nice—cooking a meal, and sharing it with others. It's just that…one of those "others" is Kaeya , and Diluc still feels very frustrated, and confused, whenever he begins to think of the other man.

Truthfully, he doesn't want to go inside.

Frozen on his feet just outside the building entrance, Diluc closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath.

There's no reason for him to be acting like this. There's no reason for him to be scared of facing Kaeya—

"Diluc."

And yet, the sound of his name falling from Kaeya's lips makes his heart jump into his throat.

Slowly, Diluc peels his eyes open and turns to face the blue haired male who is leaning against a nearby wall.

For once, Kaeya doesn't wear a mask of pleasantry. He looks uncharacteristically serious, and the sight is enough to have dread building in Diluc's chest.

He knows what's coming.

"We should talk."

And damn, does he want to run.

Notes:

As always, please feel free to leave a comment 3 reading your comments makes my day, and helps motivate me to keep writing c:

Also! If you feel like interacting more, please feel free to follow me joonie_beanie on twitter, or joonie-beanie on tumblr.

Chapter 7: Fight and Flight

Notes:

I finally pulled Xiao after 76 pulls :') But when will Diluc come home ;-;

Anyway! kjaldask sorry (not sorry) to have left you all on a cliffhanger. I really really appreciate all the kind reviews, and am so happy to see that people are enjoying this fic. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

If he's being honest, Kaeya doesn't want to talk.

He desperately, desperately does not want to have this conversation with Diluc. He has spent the last half decade living, and accepting, that Diluc hates his guts. That he'll likely never see Diluc again—and that's okay.

It's much easier to be silently hated, then to talk about what has happened.

But then…they had accidentally become roommates. And after months of living together, Kaeya can't just…keep pretending. He needs to say his piece.

Ever since his talk with you at Wanmin, he finds that he can't close the lid on his pandora's box. No matter how hard he tries, the lid won't latch, and the memories keep spilling out. And he's tired .

Tired of feeling guilty, tired of acting like there isn't a rift between them—one that seems like it's closing, but still remains painfully jagged on either side. If they were to continue to pretend like everything is okay, without actually addressing the past, Kaeya's sure that as the rift continues to close, those jagged edges will only grate against one another, until something finally snaps.

They can't go on like this.

"Crepus was like a father to me," is the first thing he says, letting the words spill from his mouth without second thought. He's not even looking at the man who he once considered to be his brother—can't bring himself to see what kind of face Diluc is making.

"I was upset when he died—"

"Kaeya—"

"—And I lied to you. I got your phone calls that night, but I was mad about our argument, so I ignored them—"

"Kaeya!"

Diluc grabs him by his collar, then—shoving him up against the wall of the apartment building. Kaeya is vaguely reminded of the day they fought in high school. The day before Crepus died, and everything turned to shit.

" Stop talking ," Diluc demands, his voice a low growl. There are embers burning in his narrowed eyes, red hot, and fueled by seething resentment. In their childhood, seeing such a face on his friend would have scared Kaeya into silence, but now—

Kaeya grabs Diluc's wrist, and squeezes tight.

"No."

He finally meets Diluc's gaze—his showing eye cold, and determined. Even if they end up fighting like they had years before—knuckles split, and skin battered, and bruised—Kaeya won't stop.

"I ignored your calls, and I shouldn't have. I should have been there for you," he says honestly, the hard lines of his face softening with remorse. "But—"

The remorse slips away, replaced with frustration—a majority of which is directed at Diluc.

"You can't blame me for everything, Diluc. I didn't kill Crepus. I made bad decisions, I acted in ways that I shouldn't have, because I was lost, and confused, and trying to deny the reality I lived in, but…I'm not the catalyst to all your problems. Just because we fought doesn't give you the right to make me a scapegoat for the rest of our li—"

"Is this your attempt at an apology?" Diluc interrupts him, voice carefully measured. His hand drops from Kaeya's shirt, his gaze mindlessly boring into the space between them as his fist clenches at his side.

"If so, it's shit."

He's nearly shaking—struggling to contain the barrage of emotions that assault him.

"Listen, I'm sorry ," Kaeya says, sincere, but the words only make Diluc's chest sting.

In the past, Diluc had imagined that when Kaeya finally said those words to him—if he ever did—he'd finally feel peace. He'd attain closure. He would stop feeling hate, and sorrow at any thought of his father.

But the words don't heal his wound.

Because Kaeya isn't the cause of his suffering.

He's known this for a while, now, but the reality of it is a pill that he can't swallow. After all, if the blame doesn't lie on Kaeya, then that means their severed ties are Diluc's fault. If he hadn't acted so rashly after their fight in the manor—if he had listened to Adeline—had actually allowed himself to properly grieve, to sit back and breathe , and process everything—it's very likely that they would still be friends.

In the end, it's Diluc who chose not to return to school. It's Diluc who deleted Kaeya's number from his contacts, and forbade the house staff from inviting Kaeya to Crepus' funeral. It's Diluc who stands here now, refusing to look at Kaeya because he knows he's spent years directing his spite at the other, spinning his everlasting grief into anger that is, undoubtedly, directed at the wrong person.

There's no one to blame for the death of his father. (Whichever god made it downpour that fateful day, perhaps—sending Crepus' car skidding, and flipping across wet pavement until the car frame crumpled, and pinned his father inside.)

But there is someone to blame for the situation the two of them find themselves in now, and it's Diluc.

Finally, Diluc forces the pill down his own throat.

Instantly, the anger inside of him is extinguished—replaced with a guilt so heavy that he feels like he may puke.

"—the timing was fucked, we shouldn't have fought but—," Kaeya grabs him by his shirt, and Diluc realizes that Kaeya has been talking this whole time. He hasn't heard a word of it.

"—you can't keep—," it's then that Diluc finally looks up at Kaeya, and immediately, Kaeya's words die on his tongue. Diluc has never looked so broken—unshed tears resting on his lower lashes, his throat tight, and chest shaking beneath Kaeya's grasp as he struggles to breathe.

He's panicking under the weight of his sins—his hard exterior torn away—and Kaeya can see it all.

Diluc doesn't want to be seen like this, and finally, his fight or flight reaction kicks in.

"Luc…I—"

Just as Kaeya's cold gaze begins to soften—his grip on Diluc falling away—Diluc raises both hands and shoves . Kaeya's back hits the wall behind him, hard, and he winces as the brick scrapes him through his shirt.

"I told you to stop talking," Diluc says, the words coming out more feebly than he had been hoping. There's truly no more fire in his soul—no will to fight left. So, since he can't fight, he'll run.

He turns away, and manages to take one stride towards the building entrance before Kaeya catches his wrist.

"Luc, we can't keep doing this—"

"I don't want to talk about this right now—"

"Then when ?" Kaeya nearly shouts, feeling exhausted. There's a desperate, pleading look in his diamond shaped eye, and Diluc feels like he's been kicked in the gut.

He doesn't know what to say. He knows Kaeya's right, knows they need to talk, because as things are now, nothing has changed between them. They'll both wake up tomorrow without closure, without knowing where their relationship lies, but Diluc feels like he's drowning in every negative emotion he's ever experienced, all at once, and he truly doesn't think he can bear to have this conversation right now.

"I don't know," he says honestly, and tugs his hand from Kaeya's grasp. He wants to say that they'll talk soon, that he just needs some time to digest everything he's feeling, but that's a lie. He doesn't know when he'll be ready.

So, Diluc leaves it at that.

He turns his back to Kaeya, and disappears into the building.

Kaeya doesn't follow after him.

You're seated at the kitchen table, cake placed in front of you, and three plates ready and waiting, when a notification pops up at the top of your phone screen. A text from Kaeya.

You frown.

A sinking feeling settles in your gut as you read his messages, but before you can even think of how to respond, the front door abruptly opens.

You gaze flits upward, and you catch sight of Diluc's—his shoulders hunched, and head hung.

You want to call out to him—to ask him what's wrong, because clearly, he's upset—but your throat feels tight. Diluc looks about ready to fall to pieces, curled in on himself like this, as if he wishes he was invisible.

You hesitate, wondering that if you say his name, he really will shatter, and in that moment of hesitation, Diluc slips out of sight, and into his room. The door closes behind him with a resounding click, and you're left at the kitchen table, alone, and flooded with worry.

After a moment, you reach for your phone once more.

There are so many questions you want to ask Kaeya. So many things you feel like you missed in the 10 minutes since Kaeya left the apartment to get some fresh air, but as you start to let the situation soak in, you realize that perhaps prodding Kaeya for answers isn't the best course of action, at the moment.

So, you settle for asking him the question that's most important.

By the time Kaeya responds, you've returned your cake to the fridge, and have cleared off the table—conscious of the fact that your dessert will not be shared tonight. That Thanksgiving dinner has ended on a worse note than you'd thought possible.

Unfortunately, you don't feel at all reassured.

You know that Diluc likely wants to be left alone. He's always been a bit of a lone wolf, and tends not to rely on you, or anyone else, when he's faced with an issue, so you can assume that even now, he feels the same.

He wouldn't want you knocking on his door to ask if he's alright.

But, you're going to do it anyway.

It's been almost four hours since Diluc locked himself away—the clock now nearing midnight—and in those four hours, you haven't managed to relax one bit.

At first, you convince yourself to give Diluc some space. You head into your room, and lounge in bed, watching videos on your phone that should make you laugh, but they don't. You can't even focus your eyes on the device in your hand, your gaze shifting to your cracked open bedroom door.

What if he sneaks out of his room while I'm not out there, and I miss him? You think to yourself, and soon enough, you've migrated onto the couch. You sit there with Netflix droning in the background on a low volume, but no matter how much you try, you can't distract yourself. Your thoughts always go back to Diluc—your gaze sliding to his closed door—and finally, you can't take it anymore.

You have to check in on him.

Slice of cake and a bottle of water in hand, you step up to his door, and take a deep breath.

You knock against the wooden surface.

"Diluc?" you call quietly, and for a few long beats, you're only met with silence. You know it's late, but you'd seen Diluc's light on under the door, and had assumed that he was still awake. Perhaps he'd fallen asleep already…

As you start to regret your decision, there's a shift inside the room.

"What?"

"I have cake," you say, a wobbly smile coming to your lips as you attempt to sound pleasant. "I thought you might want a slice."

"I'll eat it tomorrow," he responds after a short pause, and you keep yourself from sighing. You should have figured a piece of cake wouldn't be enough for him to let you in…

Biting the inside of your cheek, you debate walking away. Clearly, he doesn't feel like company, but…

"Can I come in," you ask, squeezing your eyes shut in a silent prayer as you lean forward to rest your forehead against his door. "Please?"

Silence stretches once again. You take that as a "no".

However, just as you're preparing to give up, and walk away, you hear Diluc's voice once more. He sounds reluctant, but also exhausted—too exhausted to summon the courage to tell you no when you're pleading with him like that.

"Okay."

You breathe a grateful sigh.

Reaching your free hand forward, you turn the doorknob and slowly pad into the room. Diluc is seated at his desk, laptop open, and papers scattered across the surface. From the looks of it, he's attempting to distract himself from…whatever has happened, via homework.

He doesn't bother turning to face you when you enter.

You force a smile back to your lips.

"Here," you say, closing the distance between the two of you as you step up beside his desk. You set the plate of cake in an open space between all of the papers, and then set the water bottle down beside it. Your close proximity causes him to tense. His gaze remains forward.

"Thanks."

He has to force the word out, and you're not unaware of how unnatural it sounds. Clearly, he's putting up a front, but to you, who has known him too long, it's painfully obvious.

"…are you alright?" you ask, finally allowing a bit of worry to slip onto your features. Your lips curve downward, your brows pinching together as you regard him. You see his jaw clench.

"Yes."

Silently, he's praying that you'll just drop it, and leave. Unfortunately, luck doesn't seem to be on his side today.

"Diluc…," you breathe a small sigh, fingers twitching as you resist the urge to reach out and hug him. "You know that I care about you, right? If there's ever anything bothering you, you can talk to me about it."

"I'm fine ," he persists, his gaze finally flicking to you. You can tell he's frustrated at your prodding, and for a moment, you debate snapping back, but you know that will get you nowhere.

"You're not," you tell him bluntly. Your words are quiet, sympathy dripping from every syllable, and Diluc flinches at the declaration. He shouldn't have let you in. He should have figured you'd see right through him.

"You're not okay, and… that's okay . I don't want to force you into talking about whatever happened between you and Kaeya—," Diluc's gaze shifts away at the mention of your absent roommate, and your heart aches.

"— but . I do want you to know that I'm here for you. You are…someone important to me, and I care about your wellbeing. A lot. So…," you flash him a small smile, and the compassion behind it is nothing short of genuine.

At the end of the day, your heart is only filled with love for him.

"If you want to talk, you know where to find me. I'll…leave you be now."

"You know, Master Diluc," he suddenly hears Adeline's voice in his head, recalling the words she had said to him years ago, following the passing of his father. Back then, he had always been steadfast—unwilling to show weakness, which included the grief he felt about losing Crepus. (And he supposes, in the end, nothing has changed—even now, he's still the same.)

"It's not so bad to admit when you're hurting. Accepting the compassion of others isn't a sign of weakness—it's a sign that you're strong enough to acknowledge when you're in pain. There are many people in your life who hold you dear…perhaps, you should allow yourself to indulge in their comfort."

You turn away, preparing to exit his room, and in that instance, panic swells in Diluc's chest.

Don't go —

Before he realizes what he's doing, he swivels in his chair—his hand reaching out to catch your wrist.

You blink in surprise, shifting to look at him. Diluc seems just as shocked as you are.

"I…," his fingers loosen, a lost look crossing his face as he retracts his hand. For the first time since you've walked in his room, he's not trying to pretend that he's okay. He appears vulnerable—like a man who wants help, but has never allowed himself to ask.

Luckily, with you here, he doesn't have to.

You turn on your heel and lean forward, wrapping your arms around him as you pull him into a hug. You half expect him to go stiff under your touch, like he always does—at least at first. However, to your surprise, Diluc is quick to respond.

He lifts his arms and wraps them around you—one looping around your waist, while the other cradles the back of your head. The angle is a bit awkward, considering Diluc is still stationary in his desk chair, yet the redhead only continues to drag you in. He's craving contact, and wants you as close as possible.

So, throwing caution to the wind, you take advantage of the fact that his chair is armless, and straddle him. Diluc immediately adjusts to the new position, allowing you to rest your weight on his thighs as he shields you against him, pulling your bodies flush together.

He buries his face against your neck, and breathes deep. His chest shakes beneath your fingertips.

You're okay , you think, unable to vocalize the words as you move your fingers to the base of his skull. You gently rub against his scalp, and after a minute, Diluc finally begins to relax.

Surrounded by your sweet scent, and lulled by your gentle touch, the tension starts to melt from Diluc's body. His desperate grip on you loosens, but when you attempt to pull back—thinking maybe he wants some space—he gives you a little squeeze and keeps you where you are.

You don't complain, continuing to rub your fingers through his hair.

"Kaeya…confronted me. About the past," he says quietly, heaving a deep sigh as he rests his chin on your shoulder. He still feels uncomfortably vulnerable, considering this is the first time in a long time that he's consciously talking about his feelings to someone, but…he knows that he can trust you. And, besides that, it feels good to be able to speak freely, for once.

"He claimed that I've been using him as an outlet for my resentment regarding my father's death, and…I realized that he's right. He and I…we fought, and hurt each other, but I shouldn't have cut him out just for that. He has every right to hate me."

"Hey," you quickly pipe up, leaning far enough away from him that you can look him in the eye. "He doesn't hate you. He wouldn't be trying to talk to you about what happened if he hated you."

Diluc closes his eyes, another sigh falling from his lips. His hands slide down your sides until his fingers find your thighs, and with little effort, he stands from the chair and lifts you along with him. In the next beat, you find yourself deposited on the edge of his mattress. Diluc takes a seat beside you after grabbing the water bottle you had brought for him.

He takes a few big gulps before his eyes find you once more. You can see the curiosity in his stare.

"Do you…know?"

You nod your head, folding your hands in your lap.

"Yeah. Kaeya told me about…well, a lot. Your friendship, growing up together, and when things started to go downhill."

Diluc can't hide his surprise. You can practically hear his unspoken question of "why would Kaeya do that?". Kaeya's reluctance to talk about the past is only matched by his own, and Diluc hadn't banked on the male telling you his tale, and by proxy, Diluc's.

Like it or not, their stories are intertwined, meaning Kaeya has divulged information about Diluc's past that he has been desperately trying to keep out of the limelight. Details that he has deliberately avoided sharing with you for the past few years, despite how closely the two of you have grown.

The realization that you're now aware of one of the darkest periods in Diluc's life nearly causes him to panic once more. It's not a time that he's proud of, and he suspects that you'll feel as disgusted with him as he is with himself, but...the way you look at him is kind. And when Diluc recalls the feel of your body against his, and the warmth you had radiated, all he can think of is comfort.

Despite his faults, you're not treating him any differently.

Suddenly, he feels a little silly for thinking you would have. You've always been understanding towards him.

"…And?"

The panic constricting his chest fades into acceptance—acceptance that you know , and he's okay with that—and he breathes.

You raise an eyebrow, not sure what he's getting at. Diluc elaborates.

"What do you think? About what happened?"

With a quiet laugh, you flop back against his mattress.

"I think that you were both teenagers who made some mistakes. I think that you were both hurting, and ended up acting the wrong way, and saying the wrong things."

You roll onto your side, then—propping up on your elbow as you look at him. A small smile finds its way to your lips.

"And I think you both realize that, but you're both stubborn men, who can't admit their feelings, which is why the two of you haven't made up yet."

Diluc pouts slightly at your accusation, but doesn't refute it, seeing as you're unfortunately correct. Despite being friends for a long time, he and Kaeya were never really the best about communicating. At least, when it came to sensitive subjects.

"So?" Diluc questions, laying back onto the bed beside you. "What should I do?"

You hum considerately.

"Well, I'm guessing you want to apologize and clear the air, considering you're telling me about all this. So, if I'm right, I think you just need to…talk to him. Tell him you're sorry, and that you don't hate him, and want to move on."

Diluc regards you skeptically.

"…that's it?"

"Yes!" you laugh. "Since Kaeya obviously feels the exact same way, it should be that easy! Men, I swear…"

You flash him another smile, eyes crinkling shut, and Diluc feels sorely tempted to lean in and kiss you. His heart aches, but this time, with something akin to fondness, rather than the pain he has been experiencing for the past few hours.

"Y/N."

Your eyes slide open, gaze focusing on Diluc as he stares at the ceiling overhead. Exhaustion dims the fiery red of his usually vibrant irises, but even so, a spark of determination remains. Tomorrow, he'll make a point to talk with Kaeya.

He looks over at you.

"Thank you."

Your heart jumps against your ribs.

"Anytime, Diluc."

…the issue is, the next day…Kaeya doesn't actually make his grand return.

You had assumed that, based on Kaeya's text, he'd spend the night somewhere else, and come home in the morning. But, after crawling out of bed, hours pass with no appearance from Kaeya. Lunchtime slips away, turning into the afternoon, and even then, the man is nowhere to be found.

In the end, you and Diluc are forced to leave for your evening shifts at your respective workplaces without ever seeing the blue haired male.

You figure that he needs a bit more time to work through his own feelings before facing Diluc again. Which is understandable.

Maybe I should text him , you think to yourself, slipping off your shoes at the front door as you return home from your shift. Night has already fallen, and your stomach rumbles with hunger.

You make your way into the kitchen and pull open the fridge, intending to heat up some leftovers from the previous day's dinner. There's a fair amount of cake left as well, considering only you and Diluc have partaken in eating a slice, but—

Wait.

Your eyes narrow, scanning over the pan which is now missing a third piece of cake. You know for a fact that there'd been only two pieces missing when you'd left for work, and Diluc had vacated the apartment before you to work his own shift. Which means…

Heaving a sigh, you throw a plate full of leftovers in the microwave, and flop into a chair at the kitchen table.

Kaeya is avoiding Diluc.

And maybe even you.

He'd purposefully come back to the apartment when neither of you were home, and had left again without saying anything.

You hang your head backwards and groan .

Why can anything involving these two men never be easy ? Why couldn't things just work out without issue, for once?

You pull out your phone and open your chat with Kaeya. Where you at you sneaky blue haired bitch , you type, before taking a deep breath, and backspacing.

God, he's so fucking infuriating.

With Kaeya once again spending the night elsewhere, it's not hard for Diluc to surmise that Kaeya is avoiding him. However, Diluc's not exactly in a position to go out, hunt him down, and force him into having another awkward conversation about their emotions, so…all he can really do is wait.

And wait.

And wait.

And holy shit, which of Kaeya's friends is letting him freeload on their couch for 3 nights in a row?

It's seriously getting ridiculous. Which is why the text you get from Childe (when did you even save his number?) is like a blessing from the heavens.

Well, you think, your eyes finding Diluc as he walks into the room, oblivious to Childe's scheming, and the role you and he now play in said scheme.

It looks like tomorrow's reckoning day.

Notes:

As always, if you enjoyed, please feel free to leave a comment 3 they make my day better without fail.

Also! please feel free to follow me joonie_beanie on twitter, or joonie-beanie on tumblr. (I promise I'm not scary, so feel free to interact akjdlas)

Chapter 8: Unexpected Present

Notes:

Hello! I am alive...I think.

Sorry for the wait, I just didn't feel like writing for a bit, and had also been working on the Zhongli x Reader x Childe fic that I posted.

I don't have much to say but uh :)) I've done 86 pulls for Hu Tao and haven't gotten her or any other 5 star yet, so if you hear screaming, that's me.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The next day, things go…just about as you expect them to.

You wake up, finish some assignments (dreading the fact that classes resume the next day, and finals are looming just around the corner), and do a few small chores before getting ready for work.

By now, Diluc has become aware of the fact that Kaeya is avoiding him, considering it's been three days since he last had seen the man, and is admittedly a little…downtrodden. You can tell that the fire in him—the determination to talk to Kaeya—is slowly waning.

Hopefully, the embers will stay lit until tonight.

Without completely spoiling Childe's plan—afraid that if you do, Diluc will overthink it, and get cold feet—you reassure him that everything will be alright. He seems a bit skeptical of your perpetual optimism, but in the end takes a deep breath and decides to remain positive.

In the afternoon, the two of you once again depart the apartment to work your shifts, and when Diluc kindly offers to drop you off at Good Hunter's, you silently pray that he won't hate you for what's to come.

But, honestly, your idiot roommates really just need to rip the bandaid off and get it over with already.

Hopefully, you'll live to witness their reconciliation.

" YOU ," a scathing voice reaches your ears as soon as you step foot into the restaurant, and you blink in surprise as you look up and find Brooke striding towards you. Immediately, your instincts to not get murdered by the resident chef kick in, and you weave your way through a few of the tables—slipping past her. She chases after you as you slide into the kitchen—hoping to escape her wrath.

"I thought— ," she laments, her narrowed eyes following you as you step into the break room to set your things down. "—I could just have a regular, easy Sunday. But no , someone had to go and place an order—for 100 chicken skewers , no less—and now I have to prep and cook them while also juggling the regular dinner orders."

You wince, knowing the order must be from Childe, but decide, for your own sake, to play innocent.

"That…really sucks, but, um…why are you mad at me?"

With a glare that could kill, she stomps over to you and holds up the online order ticket. At the bottom, in the notes section, it clearly says "send Y/N to deliver. We'll be keeping her afterwards. Hopefully the tip will help".

You press your lips together. Ah , you're totally caught.

"I'm…I can help," you tell Brooke, giving her the most apologetic look you can manage. You had assumed that Childe would order like—oh, maybe a couple orders of fries, maybe some sandwiches too. Not…your entire stock worth of chicken skewers. A dish that requires a lot of cutting, chopping, and grilling.

"You'll have to help," Sara tells you, shuffling into the kitchen and putting a few dishes in the sink. She sighs, and places a hand on her hip. "It'd be impossible for Brooke to do it all, so you're going to be in charge of the order. You can handle not over cooking the chicken, right?"

You blink, eyes shifting to the counter, where a bucket of raw chicken breasts is waiting for you.

"Uh…I think so?"

"Good," Sara smiles, and pats both you and Brooke on the shoulder. "I know you two can get it done."

With that, she disappears back into the dining area to check on the guests.

Grabbing a spare apron, you make your way over to the sink and wash your hands.

"So…how much was the tip?"

"100 dollars," Brooke tells you, laughing when you choke on your own saliva. "That's the only reason I didn't call the number on the order and tell them to get fucked. Your friend must be loaded."

"Fuck, I guess so."

You vaguely wonder if Childe needs a sugar baby.

It's half past 7 when Angel's Share receives a call, asking if they have a spare keg for sale.

Diluc, at first, is reluctant to sell an entire keg worth of their stock to a customer he's not sure he can trust, but when the customer offers to pay in advance, and the payment comes through with an extra tip added on top, Diluc decides he'll allow it.

The issue is…they want the keg delivered.

Diluc is seconds away from dialing the customer up again to reverse the transaction—the hassle of having to deliver the keg himself sounding like far too much work for what should be a slow Sunday night—when he receives a text from you.

Sighing, Diluc calls Charles over and asks him to help move the keg into the trunk of his car.

The sun has already set when Childe's phone buzzes in his pocket, the notification on screen signaling a text from you, letting him know that you and Diluc have just arrived with the food and alcohol.

Smiling, Childe scoots through the intimate crowd of people gathered in his apartment and makes his way to the man of the hour—clasping a hand on his shoulder.

"I need you to do me a favor," Childe says, making Kaeya pause. He cocks a curious eyebrow at the ginger. "I've arranged to have your favorite vices delivered, and it seems like the delivery has just arrived. Can you go help them bring it up?"

"Why are you asking me ?" Kaeya responds, clearly offended that Childe is asking his honored guest to do his bidding. However, Childe only smiles wider.

"Because you've been sleeping on my couch for the last three days. It's the least you can do."

There's a bit of malice behind the pleasant lilt of his words, and Kaeya wisely decides that it's not worth arguing.

Sighing, he turns and moves to grab his coat.

Kaeya really thinks nothing of the favor, or the delivery he's going to retrieve. He makes his way down the stairs to the lobby of the building, pushes the front door open, and then steps into the chilled evening air to find—

Something red.

Something familiar.

Something he's been avoiding.

Oh shit .

Kaeya freezes in his tracks, wide eye shifting between you and Diluc, who are standing on the curb just a few feet in front of him. Instantly, the tension becomes palpable in the air, and you can only imagine how bad it must have been a few nights ago, when Kaeya had first confronted Diluc.

"I—," Diluc stumbles on his words, distress written clear across his face as his gaze darts from you to Kaeya, and then back again. The awkward, yet hopeful smile that your force onto your lips is telling enough. You had known exactly who the delivery was going to, and had purposely asked him for a ride.

Diluc is just beginning to wonder if you have a partner in crime—perhaps the person who had decided to place an order to both Angel's Share and Good Hunter on the same night—when Kaeya's voice fills the awkward silence.

"Really?"

Annoyance is clear in his tone, his cerulean eye reflecting his displeasure at seeing the redhead.

"You had to do this today?"

"To be fair—," Diluc sighs, his hands fisting at his side as he attempts to mentally steel himself. He hadn't exactly been prepared to face Kaeya like this, but he knows he can't let Kaeya slip away again. "—I didn't know you'd be here."

Kaeya's nose scrunches, and he poses a hand on his hip.

"Did you forget what day it is, Diluc?"

The redhead cringes, and you look between the two—nervous confusion knotting in your chest.

…what day is it?

"No, I…," Diluc admits, looking more forlorn by the second, "I know that today is your birthday—"

WHAT , you internally screech, eyes nearly popping out of your head. Guilt floods into you, and you curse yourself, realizing that you should have asked Childe why exactly he was throwing a party for Kaeya. After all, you wouldn't have agreed to this plan if you'd been aware of the reason!

"I know it's your birthday, but —"

"It's really not his fault," you cut in, and are tempted to wince when Kaeya's cold gaze falls on you. You don't want to upset him—seriously, you feel horrible enough already considering you're crashing his birthday celebration like this—but… god , now that the two of them are here, it's now or never.

"He didn't know. Blame me if you have to…and Childe."

(After all, why take all the blame yourself when Childe can take half of it.)

Kaeya turns to glare at the building behind him at the mention of his friend's name, and you sigh, taking a few hesitant steps forward. You make it to Kaeya's side without him batting you away, but when you grab one of his hands, he very obviously stiffens.

"I just…think you two can work this out. Please," you practically beg, voice quiet, and eyes pleading. He regrets looking at you the moment he does, because instantly a bit of his reluctance is torn away. Kaeya has never before seen anyone look so openly concerned about his well being, and he knows that if he were to turn away from Diluc again, he may very well break your heart.

It's a little annoying, honestly, that aside from your uncanny ability to see beyond the mask he wears, you're also able to care about him so wholly, despite the span of your relationship lasting but a few months.

Kaeya, truly, is terrified of you.

You shouldn't be able to make him feel like this. Like he's in the wrong for tucking his tail between his legs and running. And… dammit , he knows he's wrong. After finding his balls, and opening up about the past, he'd closed himself off again just like that.

In the end, his and Diluc's problems can't be solved through confrontation, but rather, conversation. And for that to happen, they both need to be present.

Kaeya places his free hand on his hip, tilts his head back, and releases a long, long sigh.

He hates meaningful conversation. It's so much easier to be fake.

But…you're right. This needs to happen. Although…Kaeya wishes he'd have been able to down a few drinks beforehand. They would definitely be helping with the nerves he's feeling at the moment.

"Okay," Kaeya relents, giving your fingers a squeeze.

He takes a deep breath.

It'll be okay.

They can talk about the past, and everything will be okay.

It will—

"I want you to come home for Christmas," Diluc blurts.

Kaeya freezes.

What…?

His gaze shifts to you, wondering if perhaps this surprise twist is something that you and Diluc had planned out before arriving, but you look equally as dumbfounded.

"Um…," is all Kaeya can manage. Diluc's face begins to pinken, embarrassed at his own outburst, and he brings a hand up to card through his hair.

After taking a second to compose himself, he tries again.

"I…was… wrong …to cut you out like I did," he admits. "I shouldn't have used you as an outlet for my resentment surrounding father's passing, and you definitely deserved a better friend in high school. And I'm sorry for that. I'm…sorry for everything."

Diluc's throat closes, then, and he swallows harshly, willing himself not to cry. The last thing he wants is to break down in tears in front of Kaeya once more, but damn, he's never experienced such a cathartic release before. It seriously feels like a weight has been lifted—even if Kaeya hasn't exactly accepted his apology.

" So ," he coughs, trying to play off his emotions. "I think…you should come back to the winery for Christmas. Like old times."

Having said what he intended, Diluc stares at Kaeya, and you do the same—awaiting his response. For a moment, you wonder if Kaeya's still breathing. Then, he suddenly laughs—one of his hands moving to cover up his untimely smile.

You marvel at the sound of Kaeya laughing so heartily.

"Usually, you say your apology before inviting someone home for Christmas," he says after finally managing to compose himself—a grin lighting up his face. "What am I, your girlfriend?"

" Listen ," Diluc seethes. He glares at Kaeya as warmth rises on his neck. "I'm trying , okay?"

"I know," Kaeya admits, his mirth fading into something more appreciative. He meets Diluc's eyes, and for the first time in years, it's like they actually see each other.

Their burned bridges are patched back together—a little clumsily but…it's a starting point.

The two boys share a small smile.

After all that time avoiding each other. All that time wallowing in the past, and hating each other for stupid mistakes...one heartfelt conversation is all they needed to clear the waters.

You're not sure if you should cry from happiness or laugh at the stupidity of it all.

Either way, you don't have enough time to decide, considering Kaeya has to go and ruin the moment.

"Just so you know, I don't intend to apologize again, since I already said sorry during our last… bonding session ," he announces with a grin, one that only widens when Diluc rolls his eyes. "But what I will say is this—"

Kaeya suddenly places his hands on your shoulders, and you blink, looking back at him stupidly. He winks at you.

"—I'll come home if she does."

There's a beat of silence.

"What?" you and Diluc chorus.

Kaeya hums.

"I'll come back to the winery for Christmas if Y/N comes too."

Leaning forward, he fixes you with a pout.

"After all, it'll be strange returning after all this time. I'd feel a lot better if Y/N was there."

As you stare at him, slack jawed at his words, Diluc grapples to figure out what to say.

"Kaeya, you can't just… guilt Y/N into coming home with us. She has her own plans, I'm sure. It's not fair to—"

"Also!" you chime in—or rather, interrupt—stepping out of Kaeya's grasp. You turn toward him, poking him in the middle of his chest, and fixing him with a disapproving glare. "You can't just go extending invitations to people who haven't formally been invited. I know that Christmas at the winery is an intimate tradition with the staff, and I wouldn't think Diluc would want me there during such an important—"

"I mean…you're more than welcome to come home with us," Diluc cuts you off. He looks honestly confused at the notion that you wouldn't be invited, and you feel warmth rise on your cheeks.

You wonder if he realizes asking you to come home with him for Christmas is…kind of a big deal. He's explained before that Christmas time at Dawn Winery is always an event to look forward to. The staff hold a big party to celebrate another prosperous year, and it's a very intimate, and homey group. Diluc's found family, now that his father is gone.

For him to extend the invitation to you so easily—even if Kaeya had been the one to suggest it—it feels…intimate in its own right.

"I know you stay with your family during the holidays," Diluc comments, interrupting your thoughts. His eyes soften as he regards you, and you know his understanding look means it's alright to turn him down, but you can't. You won't.

You…really want to go home with them. Because, in a way, they've become your home.

"If I'm invited, then…I'll come."

Diluc blinks, looking surprised. Even Kaeya, who had been the one to brazenly invite you, is astonished.

"Really?" Kaeya says. You roll your eyes, and throw your hand back against his chest lightly.

"Really. Well, assuming you won't change your mind."

You direct the comment at Diluc, flashing him a smile, and he quickly shakes his head.

"I would never."

Especially not when his heart flutters at the idea of your laughter filling the manor on Christmas day.

"Then it's settled!"

Happily, Kaeya pats your shoulder, and then moves past you towards Diluc. He reaches down to grab one side of the keg at Diluc's feet, and motions for Diluc to grab the other.

"C'mon, I don't have all night. I'm missing my own party."

The bar master rolls his eyes, but nonetheless reaches down to grab the other side of the keg. Carefully, the two start towards the door, and Kaeya tells you the door code, which you punch in while trying to juggle the many containers full of chicken skewers that are once again balanced in your arms.

Once you've managed to make it into the elevator—the keg being placed against the floor, and making the entire elevator lurch—Diluc brushes his hands against his pants and takes a step backwards.

"Enjoy your party," he says, and for some reason, Diluc addressing Kaeya reminds you of a baby taking its first, awkward steps. "I'll…be working until 10, so if you need a ride home later, just let me know."

He waits for you to step outside of the elevator and join him, but you don't. Diluc cocks an eyebrow.

"Childe, uh, rented me for the rest of the evening?" you say, but quickly attempt to backpedal when both Kaeya and Diluc stare at you in concern.

"No—he just! He gave us this big tip on the basis that I wouldn't have to work the rest of my shift, because he wants me to attend the party for Kaeya, I guess? So—!"

"As long as it's not anything strange," Diluc interrupts your worrying. He stares at you fondly, and raises a hand in farewell when the elevator doors start to slide closed. "Have fun. And—," his eyes slide to Kaeya, then. "—happy birthday."

With that, Diluc disappears from view. After a brief pause, Kaeya reaches forward to press the appropriate button for Childe's floor. You shift your attention to him.

His expression is unreadable. Not because he's trying to conceal his emotions, like normal, but…because there are too many there to decipher.

Kaeya is…a little overwhelmed, and understandably so. A lot has happened over the last few days, and you're sure it's a shock to return to one's own party after having a sensitive conversation with one's now non-ex best friend. Especially when he turns up without warning, when you've been pointedly avoiding him for days…after not talking to him for years.

Yeah, understandably overwhelmed.

So, you decide to try and distract Kaeya—before he gets the chance to think about it too much.

"You know," you say, flashing him a grin. "I didn't actually know that today was your birthday, but luckily I already have the perfect present prepared for you."

Snapping out of his thoughts, Kaeya raises a curious brow. You motion to yourself, and he raises his brow higher.

Annoyed, you sigh.

"It's me, dumbass, I'm your present."

Finally understanding, Kaeya snorts and turns his head away from you to laugh.

"What a shitty gift," he whispers, his shoulders shaking even harder when he hears your gasp of indignation.

"I think I'm a plenty good gift!" you tell him, lightly jabbing him in the side. He reflexively reaches out and snatches your offending hand, smiling at you cheekily as he brings your fingers to his lips and presses a kiss against your digits.

"If you're my present, do I get to unwrap you?"

It takes you a moment to react, so he kisses your fingers again, lingering this time. Finally, your frantic heartbeat manages to pump blood into your cheeks, and shoot him an annoyed stare.

"You just said I was a shitty gift. Of course not."

Tugging yourself from his grasp, you reach down to reclaim the boxes of food at your feet. As you do so, the elevator dings, and the doors slide open.

"What apartment number is Childe's? I'll get him to come help you carry the keg."

"508," Kaeya responds, reaching forward to press the hold door button. Nodding, you disappear up the hall.

Kaeya stares after you, quietly laughing to himself.

Despite his joking, and his flirtatious words…you really are the perfect gift.

After finally managing to get the food and drink into Childe's apartment, the festivities begin in full swing. Drinks are poured, plates of skewers are handed out, and you quickly find yourself in the middle of a crowd of people—some of whom are familiar.

Of course, Lisa, Zhongli, and Childe are faces you've seen before, along with Venti, who you learn is good friends with Zhongli. (Although you struggle to understand how someone with a grandpa-like and child-like personality can get along, but…) Either way, you're more than happy to see the modern-day bard, and end up sticking close to his side for a majority of the night.

Also in attendance of Kaeya's birthday bash is Fischl, the girl who Kaeya had roomed with prior to moving in with you and Diluc, and…she's…a character, for sure.

"Do you actually understand her?" you eventually ask Kaeya, leaning over to gently nudge his arm.

Already 4 drinks in, and a little tipsy, Kaeya manages to spot the self-declared "Prinzessin" who is monologuing in the corner of the apartment, with Mona—a home grown astrologist—and Zhongli serving as her appreciative audience.

"You get used to it," he says, leaning down to whisper in your ear. "She's a theater major, and takes her acting…very seriously."

"She scares me," you admit, cautiously eyeing her, which makes Kaeya laugh. You can barely tell if she's still speaking your language…

Yet, even despite the unique individuals gathered in Childe's apartment, the group gets along well, and you find yourself having a pleasant time. Wisely, you decide not to consume the abundance of alcohol littered throughout the kitchen—one, because tomorrow is a Monday, and two, because…a few hours in, Kaeya is pretty wasted, and you want to make sure at least one of you can climb the stairs back to your own apartment later on.

However, before the clock ticks past midnight, and people begin filing out of the apartment, you find yourself seated on the sofa beside Mona—who is avidly observing your palm, since you can't remember your exact time of birth.

"Anything interesting?" you ask, not exactly knowing what to expect. It takes her a minute, but eventually she hums, and fixes you with her silver stare.

"Well, first of all, you need to lotion your hands—it gets hard to correctly read the lines when the skin is dry."

Dumbfounded, you can only stare at her, but idly acknowledge with winter coming, your skin has been drier, and she's right, you should probably start using lotion more…

"But, no, according to your palm, you're fairly ordinary," she tells you bluntly. You force a laugh.

"The only thing of interest is your love line."

Now that catches your attention.

"It's not strange for people to have a split love line, but most people's split later in life. Likely due to loss of a loved one, and finding new love—things like that. Yours, however, splits early."

Curiously, you hold up your palm and try to find whichever line she's talking about. She observes you with a quiet laugh.

"It doesn't necessarily mean you'll have two lovers, or anything like that. Even people without interest in romance have love lines. Love comes in all shapes and sizes, so it could simply mean that you'll gain new love, oh, before your 30's, from the looks of it. Perhaps new bonds, new romance, new family—anything is possible."

She smiles at you then, and it catches you a little off guard.

"Just keep in mind that your love is very strong, and that sometime soon, if not already, something good will come of that love."

At that moment, your phone screen lights up where it's resting on the coffee table beside you. It's a text from Diluc, asking if you have a ride home, or need him to stay up.

You smile and glance to the kitchen, where Kaeya is leaning against the sink, drunkenly talking to Lisa about…ancient literature from ruined empires? Alright then.

The sight of him causes you to quietly laugh, and, knowing that Fischl (who still isn't 21 and has refused to drink since it is "unbecoming of her title") has already offered you a ride, you let Diluc know you're alright, and will be home soon.

The entire time, Mona regards you with amusement.

You manage to drag Kaeya from Childe's apartment before 1am, which might be a miracle.

A few of the others have already departed, deciding to be responsible, considering classes resume again in the morning, but Kaeya had wanted to stay. The only thing that convinced him to accompany you downstairs to Fischl's falling-apart car was the fact that if she left, you and Kaeya would have to walk home.

(Or, at least, that's what you tell him. You have a feeling Diluc would come get you, even if you had to wake him up and beg, but preferring not to do that, you had lied).

After an uneventful ride, you depart from Fischl's chariot with a thank you, and a wave goodbye, and sling Kaeya's arm across your shoulder as you make your way into the building. You honestly have no idea how many drinks he's had tonight, but he smells like his beloved Death After Noon, and is stumbling on his feet.

"If I wake up to the sound of you throwing up all those skewers you ate, I'm gonna be pretty pissed," you tell him as the two of you step into the stairwell. Starting your slow journey up, you find yourself grateful that Kaeya is still coherent enough to know how to properly climb stairs.

"Trust me, I will wake up feeling refreshed," he tells you, grinning proudly. You roll your eyes, and only hope that he's not lying. If you were him, you'd be out of it for the entire day tomorrow.

With Kaeya's arm still over your shoulder, and your own arm around his waist, you finally manage to make it to the third floor.

Unlocking the door, you drag Kaeya into the apartment and straight to his bedroom, where you sloppily roll him onto his bed.

"Goodnight, birthday boy," you tell him with an exhausted pat on his shoulder, and then turn to leave.

Immediately, he latches onto your wrist and pulls you onto the bed on top of him.

" Kaeya ," you whine, attempting to right yourself, but he's already got his arms wrapped tightly around you—your ear pressing against his chest, where you can hear the steady beat of his heart.

"Thank you," he says, so quiet that you barely hear. He sounds very much sober in that moment—the quality of his voice so sincere that you doubt your own ears. However, the rumble of his chest beneath you as he speaks assures you that you're not imagining it.

Sighing, you melt into his embrace, and manage to wrap your own arms around him. You linger for a few seconds—simply enjoying the feel of him—before you respond.

"You're welcome…now let me up before I fall asleep on you."

"My chest is comfy, isn't it?" he responds with a cheeky smile, but nonetheless loosens his grip on you. You roll your eyes, yet don't deny it, which both of you realize.

Chuckling, Kaeya rolls onto his side and eyes you as you make your way to his door.

"Goodnight, Y/N," he says.

"Goodnight, Kaeya" you respond in kind, flashing him a tiny, tired smile, and then shut the door behind you. In the next beat, you're flopping into your own bed.

You've never felt so bone-tired before. Between Diluc and Kaeya's fight a few days ago, the tense waiting period prior their reconciliation, days busy with work, and now Kaeya's party…you're exhausted.

You never realized that Diluc and Kaeya's issues had been taking a toll on you as well. But now that they're resolved…

Sighing, you snuggle beneath your covers and let the stress wash out of you.

Tonight, you're going to sleep like a rock.

…unfortunately, it's the last restful sleep you'll be getting for a while.

Notes:

I'm ngl...Fischl's game dialogue scares the hell out of me and she's the one character I don't have the vocabulary to write confidently, so that's why she didn't have any lines aldkjsad

But the boys finally...kind of...talked :') I'm lov them. As always, please feel free to leave a comment because they make my day! And I will catch you...whenever the next update is.

Edit 4/18: I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while! I promise I haven't forgotten about this story, I just really haven't felt like writing lately. Please bear with me until my motivation returns from the war. Thanks! 💕

Chapter 9: Final Hurdle

Notes:

Of course, after having writer's block for way too long, my motivation to write would return on Diluc's birthday.

I was literally struggling with this chapter for so long. I rewrote the first few sections of the chapter more than a couple of times, not liking how they sounded, and after weeks of being at a road block, here we are...I finally did it.

Happy Birthday, Master Diluc.

I hope everyone enjoys the update. Thank you for being patient.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Your favorite thing about college is that, for the most part, you get to choose what professors you have. Technology makes it easy to figure out which professors are the nicest, the easiest, and so on and so forth.

The issue is…once you start getting towards the final stages of your degree, there are slim pickings. And because of that, this semester, you've managed to get stuck with one of the WORST professors you've ever had the unfortunate pleasure of knowing.

His assignments are hard, his tests are harder, and the final exam counts for 40% of your grade. Which…is already struggling. Despite your best efforts.

The only reason you've managed to stay sane until now is because he allows the use of a single 3x5 notecard—or, cheat card, rather—on his tests, and boy, you've never made your handwriting smaller. Only thanks to the notecard have you managed to stay afloat.

But now, a week before the end of the semester, he has informed his students that a notecard won't be permitted on the final exam. And that, unlike all his other tests, the final exam will be a handwritten essay.

That needs to be at least 5 paragraphs long.

And you only have 90 minutes to write it.

With no notecard to remind you of the course material.

You seriously debate crying right then and there.

But…you do your best to keep your outlook positive. Two of the classes you have are easy, and your final grade won't matter much, since you're already in a good position. Your other two classes will…be a challenge as well, but at least the tests are multiple choice.

And! Once finals are done, you'll be heading home with Kaeya and Diluc for the holidays!

So, assuming you can survive the next week, at least you'll have something to look forward to!

But…that's assuming you actually survive.

And your chances of survival look…so, so bleak.

Because in between your finals, you have work too.

Your schedule for the next four days is literally: exam, work, study, sleep…study, exam, study, exam, sleep…study, work, exam, study, sleep…and then, the final hurdle. The final final. The one that's going to kick your ass.

Of course it would turn out to be your last exam. That way you have more time to lose your shit over it.

Actually, are you even going to have time to sleep?

"Fuck," you groan into your pillow, rolling out of bed to commence your first day in hell. You shuffle across the floor, robotically starting your routine for the day, and—

"Here," Kaeya says the minute you open your bedroom door—placing a plate full of eggs and toast on the kitchen table. "Eat."

Standing there with a half-full bladder, and a hand tucked beneath your shirt to scratch a random itch, you blink at him dumbly.

His eyes shift to you—holding your gaze as he pulls out a chair for you to sit in.

Ah, so he had been talking to you.

Obediently, the rumbling of your stomach taking priority over your morning bathroom routine, you walk into the kitchen and seat yourself. Kaeya pushes the chair in, and you tilt your head backwards, staring at him. He can see the curiosity in your eyes.

"Figured I would do something nice," he says.

You take a bite of toast.

"Why?"

It's not that you're not appreciative—of course you are—but usually this scenario goes the other way around. You're always the one cooking him an extra egg for breakfast.

Kaeya chuckles, returning to the stove and sliding his own egg from the pan and onto a clean plate.

"What? Is me doing something nice for one of my roommates so out of character?"

"You said you'd be busy during finals, since you're grading papers in between studying for your own exams," you respond, recalling the small conversation you'd had with him the other evening, when he'd returned from a night drinking, and had bemoaned his upcoming workload.

Kaeya rolls his eyes.

"I had some time to spare. Sacrificing a minute to make eggs and toast for my darling friend won't ruin my schedule for the day."

With his own breakfast in hand, he moves to the table and seats himself across from you. The coffee inside his mug starts vibrating the moment he sets it down, and he quickly realizes that it's not an earthquake, but the feeling of your leg bouncing anxiously against the kitchen floor.

He's tempted to sigh, his cerulean eye softening as he regards you.

"You'll be fine," he says, not bothering to ask if you're alright, because he knows you're not. You're stressed, you can't hide it.

Your gaze snaps up to Kaeya at his words, breaking you from your worried thoughts, and you bury your head into your hands.

"I…I knowwwww. I want to believe that, but…I just…ugh, I don't know, I feel so unprepared, and I'm worried I might not have enough time to study properly, because I have work, and—"

Tired of watching you psych yourself out, Kaeya reaches across the table and peels your hands away from your face. When you look at him, he's frowning.

"Why not take Diluc up on his offer to help you study?" he says, having overheard Diluc's offer to you a few days ago. "He's smart, despite how he looks."

"What does that mean?" you say with a laugh, attempting to kick Kaeya beneath the table. He grins, happy to get a smile out of you, and finally lets your hands go.

"Oh nothing~ But seriously, depending on the class, Diluc should be able to help. He's a walking encyclopedia when it comes to business related topics."

"I know," you mumble, finally taking another bite of your breakfast. "But, I just…I feel like I should be able to do this on my own, you know? I've never had to ask for help studying for finals, and besides, Diluc has his own finals to take too. I don't want to be a bother."

"He wouldn't have offered to help if he thought you would be a bother," Kaeya wisely points out, hoping you'll believe his words, but he doubts it. As much as you scold him and Diluc for being stubborn men, you're stubborn in your own right, and he knows a small conversation over breakfast won't be enough to alleviate your anxiety.

Kaeya wishes he could do more to help—he'd honestly fake your grade for you if your professor was one of the select few he's working for—but his hands are tied.

All he can do are little things like this.

"I believe in you, princess."

The only think you can think to say is—

"Thank you."

Day two of finals starts out…rough.

Diluc doesn't need you to tell him that to know it's your current reality.

He'd watched you the night prior, when you'd walked through the front door dragging your feet, and had immediately locked yourself inside your room to study. When you'd gone quiet around midnight, he'd assumed you'd called it quits, but when he steps into the kitchen to grab a glass of water around 1am, already half asleep as he holds the cup to his lips, he notices that the light in your room is still on.

Honestly, a part of him had hoped that you'd fallen asleep already, and had simply forgotten to turn the light off.

However, when you emerge from your room the next morning, dark bags under your eyes, and exhaustion apparent in your posture, Diluc knows that you'd forced yourself to stay up studying.

"You have a final this morning, right?" he says, attempting to make small conversation as you drag yourself into the kitchen. Your response is an affirmative grunt, your dim eyes scanning the inside of the fridge for something to eat. After a few long beats, you sigh, and retrieve some yogurt.

Diluc's gaze follows you as you discard the aluminum lid in the trash.

"How about I cook something for lunch? I think we have the ingredients for—"

"No, it's okay. You don't need to bother yourself," you interrupt before he can finish. Diluc frowns, opening his mouth to assert that cooking a meal for you is something he already does on a fairly regular schedule, so it's no trouble at all, but you speak up once more.

"I have another final in the afternoon, so I was thinking about just eating on campus. And since I won't have to walk home for lunch, I'll be able to get some more studying in…"

"Or you could take a break," Diluc suggests, watching with a grimace as you accidentally toss the spoon you'd been using into the trash can, and then move to put the plastic yogurt container in the sink. It takes you a second to realize your mistake, and with a sigh, you dig inside the trash can to retrieve the spoon.

"I'm sure your final grades will turn out fine, so remember to let yourself relax, Y/N."

"I—," your heart clenches at the way he speaks your name—his voice concerned, yet sweet. You want to believe that he's right—that all this studying, and an entire semester worth of attending lectures will have properly prepared you to not bomb the final test, but…you can't go easy on yourself. Not yet.

"I will," you say. Eventually.

You glance up at Diluc, preparing to flash him a half-hearted smile—something that will ease his worry—but the look in his crimson eyes makes you falter. They're soft with sympathy, and the more you stare at him sitting there—his long hair untied, and the smell of his shower products fresh in the air—the more you want to hug him and forget about everything else.

But…giving in to those feelings won't do you any good right now, not with a majority of your finals still looming overhead, so you swallow down the urge to cry. You finally force a smile to your lips, and while Diluc isn't entirely convinced, he decides not to push the matter.

"I can drive you to campus today."

Standing up from his seat at the kitchen table, Diluc heads towards his room. You blink after him, glancing at the clock nearby, and realize you should start getting ready.

"Meet me by the front door at 8:45."

He hears you mumble your thanks, and the sound of your feet hurriedly shuffling across the floor as you head back into your own room, but his thoughts are elsewhere—preoccupied with planning what meal he's going to cook for lunch. Something that will appeal to you—that you can eat for dinner when he's at the tavern later.

Perhaps I should stop by the store on my way home…he muses.

By the time you've navigated your exams for the day, there's a dull pain in your head. One that makes it hard to think of anything, but you know two things for sure—

You're probably dehydrated, and—

No matter what, you have to study more tonight.

There's only 2 more days until you have to face the final that's going to potentially ruin your entire college career, so you can't afford to give yourself a break. Maybe later, but not now.

So, you drag yourself to the kitchen sink, fill the biggest cup you can find with water, and then return to your room.

The house is completely silent around you—both of your roommates gone for the evening—and you're so caught up in your muddled thoughts that you fail to notice the saran wrapped bowl sitting in the center of the kitchen table.

Inside the bowl is one of your favorite meals, and the note on top reads: "Y/N, eat. Kaeya, don't.

The first one to notice the considerately prepared bowl of food is…the man who prepared it, when he arrives home hours later, once the sun has long past set.

For a very brief second, fear jolts in Diluc's chest. Has something happened? Did you make it home from your second final?

Luckily, his fear ebbs out the moment he hears the quiet sound of music seeping through the cracks of your closed bedroom door.

You're home, but…you hadn't eaten the meal he'd prepared?

Diluc frowns, and surveys the kitchen. There are no new dishes in the sink—no carry-out containers in the fridge or in the trash to indicate that you'd picked up something on your way home—so…

Sighing, Diluc takes a step towards your bedroom door, intending to gently confront you and make sure you're alright. However, he's quick to stop in his tracks, glancing down at himself.

The white t-shirt he'd worn to work is stained red with wine—just another unfortunate mishap that comes with working at a bar—and he figures it'd be best not to talk to you looking a mess, and smelling like sweat, and old wine.

So, he turns on his heel and heads into his bathroom, preparing to take his second shower for the day.

Your brain feels like it's in a fog—your eyes barely able to focus on the computer screen in front of you, where your lecture notes have been typed out neatly, unlike the messy handwritten notes in your notebook.

You'd typed them out assuming that doing so would help aid in your studying, but after reading through them once, twice, and again, the words are all beginning to blur together.

It doesn't help that your stomach is rumbling, and your mouth is dry—both your stomach, and the cup of water you'd filled hours ago now empty.

Wait…hours?

Your eyes refocus, shifting to look at the time located at the bottom corner of your laptop screen.

11:02

There's no fucking way, you think, placing your hands flat on your desk as you push yourself to your feet. Your legs feel weak beneath you.

There's no way you've been sitting here mindlessly droning at your laptop for this long. You'd gotten home from your afternoon exam around 5, and you remember getting up once to use the bathroom and get more water but…has it really been 6 hours?

Now realizing exactly how much time has passed, you groan quietly as you make your way across your room. The dull pain in your head has only gotten worse—your eyes strained from focusing too long—and your stomach aches with hunger.

You'd been so caught up with studying this afternoon that you'd forgotten to buy a proper lunch on campus—instead snacking on granola bar from a vending machine just before your afternoon final. And considering you'd been too concerned with cramming in more studying when you'd arrived home, it'd completely slipped your mind to eat dinner…

It's no wonder you feel like shit.

Pulling your door open, you fumble your way into the dark kitchen—too tired to even attempt finding the light switch on the wall. Right now, your only concern is getting some more water and some food, and you're pretty sure you can manage such a small feat without any light.

…at least, on a normal day you could. Tonight, however, you're feeling pretty out of it, so when you take one step too close to the sink—your knee knocking into the cupboard beneath the basin—your legs immediately give out beneath you.

Instinctively, you grapple for the counter. One of your hands manages to get a grip, but your strength fails you, and you go falling to your knees. The weight of your body hitting the floor successfully rattles the empty beer bottles Kaeya has lined up near the fridge, and one of them tips over—rolling off the counter.

It hits the ground with a loud clatter, but thankfully doesn't splinter into a million pieces.

…unlike your sanity.

Tired, and hungry, and frustrated with yourself, you simply lean your head forward, your forehead knocking against the cupboard as you sit there, trying to piece yourself back together. Your head goes blank for a second—your sleep-riddled mind begging you to just get some rest already—and unconsciously, you pick up on the creak of a door opening nearby.

"Y/N?"

It takes you a moment to register the sound of Diluc's voice, and the thud of his bare feet hurriedly padding across the wooden floor. A hand lands on your shoulder, and when warm fingers skim against your face—cupping your cheek, and turning your head to the side—you finally manage to open your eyes.

The amount of concern painted across Diluc's face makes your heart crack, and finally, the stress that you've been attempting to play off overwhelms you.

Tears blot your eyes.

"What happened?" he asks, his gaze scanning over your crumpled form for a sign of any injuries. "Are you okay?"

"I'm just—," your voice catches in your throat, fisted hand lifting to wipe at your cheeks as tears topple past your bottom lashes. "—I'm sick of finals. I wanna pass, but it feels like it's hopeless, and I'm tired."

Diluc frowns, his thumb swiping across your dampened skin.

"Hey, it's okay—you'll be fine."

"But—"

"You've just been pushing yourself too hard," he tells you, sitting himself on the floor beside you. He shifts his hand to cradle the back of your head, his other arm hugging around your waist, and in one smooth motion, you find yourself cradled against his chest.

Seeking comfort, you immediately wrap your arms around him, hiding your face against his collarbone. Your torso shakes as you try, and fail, to stop yourself from crying.

"I know you're stressed about finals, but it's important to take breaks and take care of yourself," he tells you.

"I know," you sniffle, "I'm a hypocrite. I always preach to you and Kaeya about taking care of yourselves, but here I am."

You remove your arms from around him to pathetically motion at yourself.

Diluc chuckles quietly.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. I think most people end up being hypocrites. It's a lot harder to take care of yourself sometimes than it is others. But really-," he soothes his fingers against your waist, "—I know you'll be fine. I can help you study tomorrow."

You sigh.

"Diluc…"

"It's no trouble at all. I want to help you, so let me."

You lean back to look at him, searching his eyes for any sign of a lie, but when he smiles, you know he's telling you the truth.

"Okay, I appreciate it. And…I'm sorry about, well…all of this."

"The only thing you have to be sorry for is not eating the meal I made you," he says, smiling a little wider when he sees the look of shock that slips onto your face.

Your eyes go wide-one, final line of tears slipping onto your cheeks—and Diluc is quick to wipe them away.

"You what?"

"You really didn't even notice?"

You sit back, innocently peering around the kitchen for a sign of said meal. Diluc shakes his head, breathing out a laugh as he maneuvers himself to his feet. Once he's standing, he offers you a hand and helps you to yours.

"It's on the table," he says, watching you as you quickly make your way to the now-cold bowl sitting on the wooden surface. You cradle it between your hands, turning to look at him with the saddest look on your face—feeling horrible that you hadn't even noticed—and Diluc poses a hand on his hip.

"Don't start crying again, please. It's just food. We can pop it in the microwave, and you can eat it now."

He steps forward to take the bowl from you, and you relinquish it to him. Setting it in the microwave, Diluc starts the timer, and then turns to face you.

With your red cheeks, and exhaustion still clear in your form, he doesn't want to leave you alone right now, but…

He glances down at himself, placing a hand over his bare stomach.

You blink, noticing for the first time that Diluc is topless. All he's wearing is a pair of gray sweats—his long red hair thrown into a bun atop his head.

"I had just finished showering when I heard you fall," he explains, feeling your stare. Your cheeks get a bit hotter in that moment, but if Diluc notices, he thankfully doesn't comment.

"Let me put on a shirt and I'll come back and join you. We can watch that new John Mulaney Netflix special. You like him, right?"

"Yeah," you confirm with a little nod of your head, and Diluc flashes you another small smile, promising he'll be right back. He disappears into his room, and as soon as he's gone, you turn to observe the microwave.

You watch the bowl inside spin round and round, a delicious smell wafting from the appliance as the food is reheated. The scent causes your stomach to rumble loudly, and the moment the microwave chimes, you've grabbed the bowl and are digging in.

When Diluc returns a few minutes later, his hair now tied in a low-pony, he finds you curled up on the couch.

"Are you sure you have time to watch something like this with me?" you ask him as he takes a seat on the sofa beside you. He reaches forward to snatch the TV remote from the coffee table and opens up Netflix.

"I could use a break myself," he says honestly, and you nod, smiling to yourself as you take another bite of your meal.

"I see. Thank you, by the way, for the food. It's delicious."

"It would have been more delicious if you'd eaten it 4 hours ago," he quips.

You sigh loudly at his comment, moving to lightly punch him in the side, and Diluc can't help but grin.

You can't say anything, however, knowing that he's right.

It's a little past midnight when Kaeya finally makes his way into the apartment.

He expects to be greeted with silence—assuming that both you and Diluc will either be asleep, or in your rooms minding your own business—and is therefore fairly surprised when he hears that the TV is on.

Curious, he kicks off his shoes and makes his way into the living room. He pauses at the sight of you and Diluc on the couch—you completely and utterly zonked with your head resting on Diluc's shoulder. The redhead's eyes slide to Kaeya at his entrance, and Kaeya is just about to open his mouth and tease Diluc when he notices the puffiness of your eyes, and the dried sheen of tear tracks on your cheeks, illuminated thanks to the light of the TV in the dark room.

Immediately, the smirk on Kaeya's face falls.

"What happened?" he asks quietly, but already feels like he knows the answer.

"She worked herself into exhaustion and kind of…broke down," Diluc supplies, his crimson eyes shifting over to you. Despite their conversation, you don't budge at all.

Clearly exhausted and in need of sleep, he doubts you'll be waking up anytime soon.

Kaeya sighs.

"I knew she was stressing but I didn't think she'd end up like this."

"Neither did I."

Eyeing you, Kaeya walks around the coffee table and seats himself in the empty recliner. His gaze soon shifts to the TV screen, the program nearly over, and he rests his chin in his open palm—fingers drumming against his cheek.

"…does she work tomorrow?"

Diluc blinks.

"I believe she's supposed to work in the afternoon, after her morning exam. Why?"

Kaeya shoots him a smile, the pleasantry behind it completely fake.

"You don't happen to know her manager's name, do you~?"

Under normal circumstances, Diluc would scold Kaeya for what he's thinking of doing, but…

"…I believe it's Sara."

"Oh? That's great information, thank you."

For a long moment, the room is silent save the sound from the television. Then, Kaeya's gaze is sliding to you once more. Specifically, the spot where your head rests against Diluc's shoulder.

"Don't you think she deserves a better pillow than your boney shoulder?" he mumbles. Diluc rolls his eyes.

"She fell asleep here. I was afraid I'd jostle her awake if I attempted to move her off my shoulder and into her bed."

"Well, now that I'm here, I can lend a helping hand," he smiles, shifting out of the chair.

On the opposite side of you than Diluc, Kaeya gently maneuvers his arms beneath your knees, and around your shoulders.

"C'mon, sweet thing," he says, lifting you off of the couch as smoothly as he can manage, and despite being picked up, your sleep remains undisturbed. "Let's get you to bed."

Rolling his eyes at Kaeya's petname, Diluc stands and follows after the two of you, watching Kaeya as he places you in your bed, and throws the covers over you. He doesn't linger at your side—quick to exit your room and let you sleep.

Once the door is shut behind him, he finds himself face to face with Diluc.

"Can I help you?" Kaeya asks when the redhead makes no effort to move. Diluc sighs, and finally turns away.

"You should get rid of all those beer bottles. Y/N knocked one over when she fell, but luckily it didn't break."

"I'll make sure to put it on my agenda," Kaeya says, cocking an eyebrow at him, and Diluc takes a few steps away before pausing. Kaeya eyes him, curious to what else Diluc intends to nag him about.

"…good night, Kaeya."

The eyepatch adorning male blinks, caught off guard.

How long has it been since the two have said good night to each other? The exchange feels so awkward after years of bad blood between them, but…

"…good night, 'Luc."

And with that, the night finally comes to a close.

The next morning, you wake up feeling more well rested than you have in days—grateful that your morning final is at 11, and not 9—and reach over to find that you have a brand-new text message lighting up your phone screen.

…what?

Kicking off your covers, you shuffle out of your room and into the kitchen, where you find Diluc and Kaeya seated at the kitchen table. They both turn to look at you, and you hold up your phone.

Kaeya smiles.

"You called in sick today, isn't that great?"

Honestly, you're not sure if you should thank or scold him for calling you out without consulting you first but…you'd be lying if you said you felt more remorse than relief.

Now that you don't have to work, you'll have more time to study with Diluc this afternoon. And—after completing your 11am final—that exactly what you do.

You spend the afternoon in the living room with with both Diluc and Kaeya—Diluc helping you review the class material that will be on the exam, while Kaeya throws in helpful comments here and there, the cerulean eyed male engrossed in grading papers while still giving his input when he can.

When dinner time rolls around, you offer to pay for a delivery meal, since they were both kind enough to help you study for the last few hours, and neither of them turn you down.

Over dinner, you allow yourself to relax for a bit—conversation flowing easily between the three of you as you chat about the upcoming holiday break, and other random points of interest. And when dinner is finally finished and digesting in your stomach, Diluc helps you go over the material one last time.

(Kaeya disappears into his room, needing to focus on his own studies).

You feel a lot better about your test tomorrow thanks to their help, but…

"I'm still so nervous," you sigh, rubbing your hands down your face.

Busy reorganizing your notes for you, Diluc responds without looking up.

"I can't guarantee you'll get an A, but I know you can achieve at least a C based on all that we studied, and a C is all you need to pass. Give yourself a break tonight, skim over the information in the morning that you're still struggling with, and then just…rip the band-aid off. You'll survive."

You take a deep breath.

I'll be okay, you tell yourself. And with a more positive outlook in mind, the rest of the day melts away.

The next morning you wake up with a ball of anxiety knotted in your chest, but you do your best to calm yourself down. Diluc and Kaeya wish you luck in passing—all three of you leaving the apartment to attend your own exams—and soon enough, you find yourself outside the lecture hall occupied by the professor who has made the last few days of your life a living hell.

When you finally walk into the classroom, you do so rolling your wrist, preparing yourself for the hell you're about to put your hand through while writing this essay. And, once everyone has taken their seats, the professor stands from his to address the class.

"Good morning, everyone. Congratulations on a successful semester. As you're aware, today is our final exam.

"I know I mentioned in last week's class that the final exam would be a hand-written essay, but I realized that I don't want to spend my Holiday break grading papers day after day, so I've decided that you will be taking a multiple choice exam instead."

…what.

"Scantrons will be passed around along with a test booklet. Once you're done, please bring them to the head of the class, and then you'll be free. Exam scores should be posted by the end of tomorrow at the latest."

The professor moves to hand out the materials, and while you're certainly relieved at the change in testing medium…COULDN'T HE HAVE FUCKING TOLD YOU SOONER?

(When you finally get home, you yell about it to Kaeya for at least an hour, and then yell for another hour when Diluc arrives home later on.)

(What…a fucking…bastard.)

That evening, with all of your exams out of the way, you truly relax for the first time in days.

You're in the middle of cleaning your room—which had fallen into disarray during recent events—when your phone pings. The color flashing on screen indicates that it's a new email, and you swipe your phone open, assuming it will be nothing.

In fact, it's an email from the college's online network.

[NEW EXAM SCORE AVAILABLE]

Immediately, you freeze.

There's no fucking way…it's only been a few hours.

Fingers beginning to shake with worry, you open the school app on your phone and click into the course which exam you had taken this morning. Sure enough, there's a mark in the exam section, indicating that a new grade is available.

Oh god.

The anxiety that you'd finally gotten rid of returns full force, but you manage to dig up a scrap of bravery within you, and with a deep breath, you open the score.

Final Exam Score: 87%

Before you know what you're doing, you're on your feet, darting out of your room.

Kaeya is sitting on the couch, unsuspecting, when you round the corner and pounce on him. He grunts, not having prepared himself for a girl to suddenly throw themselves across his lap.

He's about to ask what's going on when you excitedly mumble into his shirt, "I got an 87%!"

You kick your feet, ecstatic about an outcome you hadn't expected, and Kaeya breathes a laugh.

"I'm happy for you, Y/N."

He's just returning your hug when Diluc's door opens—the redhead curiously peeking his head into the room. He cocks an eyebrow at Kaeya, wondering why exactly you're hugging him so tightly, and Kaeya smiles a little.

"She passed her test," he says.

Realizing that Diluc must be in the room, you untangle yourself from Kaeya and turn to face him.

The smile that lights up your face is brilliant.

"I got a B!"

"I knew you'd be fine," Diluc chuckles, instinctively opening his arms when you glide across the room to hug him as well. You throw your arms around his neck, and Diluc holds you close, giving you a squeeze.

"Oh, thank you both so much. I'm so glad this is over with."

"Since finals are finished, why don't we go out for a meal?" Diluc suggests, smiling at you when you step out of the embrace. From the couch, Kaeya hums.

"Are you treating, Master Diluc?"

Diluc rolls his eyes.

"Yes, it's my treat."

"Well then," Kaeya is quick to stand. "Let's get going, shall we?"

That night, the three of you spend dinner in each other's good company—drinking and feasting after a job well done. Having come out on top of your finals, there's now only one thing on your mind that you have to worry about.

…what the hell should I get Kaeya and Diluc for Christmas?

Notes:

As always, comments are definitely appreciated

Oh, and-

Diluc come home :(

Edit 6/27: hello! I'm sorry its been almost 2 months since my last update. I promise you I haven't forgotten about this fic. Time flies, and aside from my job being busy, I've been trying to prioritize taking care of my mental and physical health. My motivation do to anything, including writing, has been really low because ~depression~ but I still appreciate people who interact with me and leave nice comments on this fic c:

It may take some more time, but the next chapter is slowly making some progression. I appreciate all the support!

Chapter 10: Homecoming

Notes:

*sneaks in and drops this chapter*

*leaves again*

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

When Diluc wakes up for the second time on the 24th, the first thing he hears is "what's your go-to porn category?" and honestly, he tries very hard to convince himself that he's still asleep. That he's not squished into the backseat of his sedan, the stacked presents on his left forcing him to lean against the door for support, lest he risk squishing them, and he has no idea if what's inside is fragile or not.

Ideally, at 11am on Christmas Eve, he'd be at the winery, helping the staff prepare for the holiday festivities—having enjoyed a quick 2-hour trip home on Dawn Winery's private jet the day before. However, with Diona accidentally having approved far too many time-off requests for Angel Share's staff during the Holiday Break, Diluc had been forced to go-back on his plans to fly home in order to help cover the night shift at the tavern on the 23rd.

And, in turn, he'd had to resort to the travel option he'd been hoping to avoid—a roadtrip.

He has no qualms with driving, really. In fair weather, the trip back to his childhood home should only take 6 hours (maybe a little longer, if he abides by the speed limit, but 5 over doesn't really hurt, especially when it shaves half an hour or more off his travel time).

The issue is…Dawn Winery's staff like to get things started early. Many of them have families, and prefer to turn in early on Christmas Eve in order to prepare for Santa's arrival, or whatever other guests they may be hosting on Christmas Day. And, of course, Diluc completely understands. He hardly minds getting things started early—wrapping up by 9, so that his staff can get home safely.

Therefore, he always tries to be on his way on the 23rd instead.

Obviously, this year, a wrench has been thrown in his plans.

"Unfortunately, I believe we'll have to drive."

This is how he'd broached the topic a week prior, you and Kaeya standing side by side, listening to his words closely as he sighs and explains the situation. If the three of you want to arrive with enough time to settle in, and help the staff finish their final preparations, you'll have to start your road trip around 6am.

The real issue is, Diluc—tied up at the tavern, with less-than-ideal staffing—likely won't get home until past 2am. And driving on 3 hours of sleep isn't exactly a practice he enjoys.

"Well, why not let Kaeya and I drive?" you end up suggesting, cocking your head to the side and blinking at him as if your words are obviously the answer. "You've let me drive your car before. I can go to bed early to make sure I get enough sleep."

Diluc can't deny that he has, and that honestly, he trusts you behind the wheel.

…the issue is Kaeya.

It's not that Kaeya is a bad driver, but that he's just…not a morning person.

Kaeya knows the meaning behind Diluc's doubtful look the minute the redhead throws it his way.

"Hey, as long as you buy me a coffee before we hit the road, I believe I should be fine."

"I'll talk to him so he stays awake with me," you chime in, flashing Kaeya a smile. He laughs.

"See? She'll keep me awake. And with all our talking, I'm sure we'll manage to learn lots of new information about each other."

Diluc never imagined that the "new information" would extend to such sensitive topics as porn preferences.

"Hmm…why don't you guess what I like?" Kaeya finally responds, his eyes straying from the road for a brief moment as he glances at you with a playful grin. Outside the car window, daylight paints the farmland surrounding the two-lane road.

In the passenger seat, you hum thoughtfully.

"Well…I think maybe you're into—"

"Stop," Diluc rasps, cutting you off. A quiet groan gets stuck in his throat as he pushes himself into a straight-up position, a tiny kink in his neck making him wince, but he supposes that's what happens when he ends up using a window as a pillow.

"How do you two always end up talking about these types of topics? Shouldn't you have more shame?"

"Oh? Good morning, nice of you to join us."

Kaeya shoots Diluc an amused look through the rearview mirror, his cerulean eyes twinkling as he answers, "Shame is something I lack, Diluc. You should know this by now."

Diluc snorts, digging into his pocket for his phone.

"You're right, how could I be so foolish."

You roll your eyes at their bickering, yet can't help smiling.

"I'm glad you managed to get some sleep. You must have been tired."

Honestly, Diluc hadn't intended to fall asleep for—he checks the time on his phone screen—4 hours of the 6-hour trip, but after putting in more hours than usual at Angel's Share the last few days to help cover other staff being gone, he supposes that he'd needed the rest.

"How are you two fairing? I can drive the last leg of the journey if you want to swap seats."

You glance down at your phone, which has Google Maps open, and look ahead on your current route.

"It looks like there's a town coming up in 20 minutes that has a McDonalds. Why don't we stop there for a break?"

"Fine by me," Diluc nods.

Gripping the steering wheel with one hand, Kaeya brings the other to his mouth to stifle a yawn.

"I could use another coffee, that's for sure. It'd be a bit disgraceful to show up at the manor for the first time in years looking half-asleep."

"Shit, maybe I should get one too then," you joke, sharing a quiet laugh with Kaeya.

In the backseat, Diluc goes quiet, his crimson eyes glancing out the window to take in the snow dusted land. Hearing Kaeya mention his arrival at the manor has caused him to realize that he'd forgotten to do something important.

Over an hour later, with only a short amount of time left in the journey, Diluc finally decides to reveal his misstep.

"I may have forgotten to inform Adeline and the other staff that I would be bringing guests this year."

You glance over at Diluc in shock—McDonald's hashbrown that you had convinced him to buy for you paused inches from your open mouth.

"…what?"

He frowns, looking disgruntled, and you know half of it is likely due to the fact that he's frustrated with himself for having managed to forget something so significant.

"Since I invited you both on a whim, and I'm not used to anyone accompanying me home for the holidays…I suppose it just slipped my mind. Preparing two extra rooms shouldn't be of any consequence, though. In fact, there are likely spare rooms that are already prepared."

"Well…that's good, I suppose," you respond, but can't exactly ignore the nervous butterflies that have bloomed in your tummy. From the way Diluc has spoken of the winery staff, you know that you likely have nothing to be worried about. It will be a surprise to them, but considering how friendly they are, and the fact that you're Diluc's guest, you doubt anything terrible will happen. Maybe just a few awkward hellos, and having to explain who you are a few too many times.

Kaeya, on the other hand…

You glance over your shoulder, into the backseat, and see that Kaeya is frozen. He's fixing Diluc with a look of disbelief.

"Really, Diluc? You forgot something like that?"

His tone hints at anger, but Diluc lets it wash over him without flinching.

"Everything will be fine," he says simply, and while you honestly believe that in the end, everything will be fine, you understand why Kaeya is upset.

It's been years since Diluc and Kaeya's friendship had fallen apart, and you're sure that Kaeya hasn't been back to the winery since. Simply showing up with Diluc after all this time, now his college roommate, and with their relationship on the mend…it would be a shock to anyone.

Taking the final swig of his second coffee of the day, Kaeya sighs. He wishes the staff could have been informed ahead of time, but he supposes there's no point in getting mad at Diluc. He'll simply have to…mentally prepare himself for the worst-case scenario before you arrive.

…hopefully, Adeline doesn't reach for a bat when she sees him (considering the last thing Kaeya had done before being banished from the manor was break Diluc's nose).

Due to nerves, the remainder of the ride passes slowly, even with Diluc navigating the familiar roads with ease.

Outside the window, the last remnants of frost are beginning to melt off any remaining crops, and idly, you wonder if snow will come in time to gift you a white Christmas. You're sure the children of the winery staff would love to be able to wake up and make snowmen. They'd probably think that Santa brought it for them as a gift.

To try and distract from the anxiety you're now feeling, you decide to pose your roommates a question.

"Did you two used to run around the winery in the winter causing problems?"

You turn to look at Diluc, a small smile tugging at your lips as you envision the two of them as boys, sliding around outside and leaving tracks in the snow.

"Somehow, I can imagine you having snowball fights."

From behind you, Kaeya snorts. Clearly, your question has unlocked some sort of memory.

"I once hit Diluc in the face with a snowball, and he cried."

"Hey," Diluc rebukes. Offended, he narrows his eyes at Kaeya, their gazes meeting thanks to the rearview mirror. "That's because your snowball was 90% ice . I got a black eye."

Kaeya waves his hand.

"That's your own fault. You should have ducked."

Diluc looks like he wants to argue more, but instead, he takes a deep breath, and grins wryly.

"At least I wasn't the fool who got his tongue stuck to an icicle."

Kaeya jolts, and the sight of it causes you to laugh. You do your best to hold it in, trying to be considerate of Kaeya's now-open wound to his pride, but fail miserably. It comes out as an ugly bark of a laugh before your hands fly to your mouth to dampen the sound, and Kaeya absolutely glowers at you.

"To be crystal clear, Diluc dared me to do it, and then burned my tongue with scalding water afterward."

"You're exaggerating," Diluc says with a roll of his eyes, his hands gripping the wheel firmly as he directs the car to the left, up a path that branches off the main road. "I had to use hot water to get your tongue detached. It was hardly scalding."

Kaeya deadpans, his gaze sliding outside the window as he debates telling Diluc that he hadn't be able to taste anything for 3 days afterwards, since his tastebuds had been burned off, but his mind goes blank the second he sees a familiar garden roll by, quickly followed by a fountain, and a small grove of trees, and—

He leans forward in his seat, wide eye peeking over your shoulder at the building up ahead. It's large, with a wooden exterior, and arching, clear windows—an array of shrubbery and flowers lining the driveway and front entrance, which is paved with stone.

It only takes Diluc a moment to roll up the circle drive, slowly coming to a stop, and when the front door comes into sight, Kaeya feels nostalgia rise in his chest.

Home, he thinks, unable to help it. However, when the front door opens, and a woman dressed in maid's uniform steps out, the light feeling of nostalgia is quickly weighted down with guilt.

In the passenger seat, while not experiencing exactly the same plight as Kaeya, you find yourself in a similar boat.

Looking at the…the…mansion laid out before you, you could NOT feel any farther from reality.

You've known all along that Diluc is wealthy. It's something he has disclosed to you before, of course…but now that you're here—watching as a few staff members begin their short trek down the neatly kept stone path, making their way towards the car to likely help with any luggage Diluc has brought along—dread starts to constrict your throat.

It's stupid, you know. Even if Diluc is rich, he makes a point not to flaunt it—going so far as to work to afford his rent and utilities. And because of this, you've never seen him as anything other than a normal college student trying to make his way in the world.

Now, as you sit in his car unable to move, or even breathe, you realize the vast difference in status the two of you hold, and the unfortunate thought of "what if his staff don't like me?" begins to gnaw at you.

After all, you've spent the past week lounging around in the same pair of sweats day after day, eating chips from the bag and doing nothing but watch Netflix and binge Tiktok. You're not proper at all, and have no clue how to interact with rich people. You suppose Diluc is the exception, since he never actually acts spoiled rotten, but—

"Y/N," Diluc calls, and you nearly jump out of your skin. Your eyes snap to him.

He's glancing at both you and Kaeya from where he's stooped down to view inside the car, a frown on his face as he realizes that neither of you have moved from your seats.

"We're here…are you coming?"

"Y-Yeah," you say, flashing him a shaky smile. You hurry to unbuckle your seatbelt as you hear a "it's good to see you, Master Diluc" close by, but as you do, you glance in the rearview mirror and notice that Kaeya, while having unbuckled, still seems reluctant to move.

You can only guess that as happy as he is to be back, it's still nerve wracking nonetheless, especially when Diluc hadn't warned the staff ahead of time that he'd be coming.

"Hey," you say, flipping around in your seat to face him. You catch his gaze, and flash him a small smile. "We're in this awkward boat together…and we can't exactly stay in the car any longer without looking like idiots, so let's do this together, okay?"

Kaeya wants to respond "easy for you to say", because it's not like you're the one who'd been banished once before, but instead he simply nods. He knows you're right.

Taking a deep breath, you flip back around and pop open the door.

Adeline, who is in the middle of making small chat with Diluc about the weather and party preparations, pauses mid-sentence when she hears the sound of a car door opening.

Typically, as the head maid of the Raginvindr household, she's very observant. However, despite her knack for keeping track of the manor, she is not so good at keeping track of Diluc when he is hundreds of miles away. Which is why, when a girl steps out of his car with a sheepish smile and a small bow of her head, looking a little shy, Adeline is shocked.

Her first reaction is to whack Diluc in the back of the head, making both you and Diluc jump.

"If you're going to bring a girl home with you, you should at least tell us ahead of time!"

Grumbling, having been scolded about this today already, Diluc responds, "I know. I just lost track of details, and—"

"You haven't even introduced her, Diluc. You've always had such good manners, but now she's standing there looking lost and you're not even guiding her over to get acquainted with us all."

Flashing you a polite, yet excited smile (after all, why wouldn't she be excited when Diluc brings someone home with him for the first time in years) Adeline takes a step towards you, preparing to officially introduce herself and welcome you to the winery.

However, just as the words are working their way onto her tongue, the car door behind you pops open. A familiar face comes into view as the second guest stands at his full height, and Adeline wonders if she's dreaming.

When Kaeya flashes her a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head and inclining his head to her, she knows that this is reality.

"It's been a while," Kaeya says, wondering if she's mad. He's never quite seen Adeline with nothing to say before. He honestly was expecting her to stomp up and interrogate him at first sight—scolding him for showing his face on the grounds after how much he had hurt Diluc—so when she calmly walks forward and reaches a hand up to cradle his cheek, saying "my, you've gotten big", Kaeya has to force himself to hold back tears.

Choking on a laugh—the anxiety in his chest beginning to melt away—Kaeya gently leans into her touch.

"Well, I hit a growth spurt after I left."

Adeline smiles at him fondly, her hands moving to brush over the wide expanse of his shoulders, and you can't help but smile as you watch the sweet interaction. It's clear that despite being a part of the staff, she's a motherly figure to both Kaeya and Diluc, and being in her good graces means a lot.

"Apparently. So, the two of you have finally made up, then?"

She glances over at Diluc, whose face is rosy with embarrassment.

"If you want to refer to it as such…"

Kaeya rolls his eyes, "always a drama queen", and then reaches a hand forward, tussling your hair.

"If you're looking for our savior, look no further."

Blinking, Adeline turns her attention back to you. Your face feels hot, unsure what to say in response to Kaeya's claims. You don't exactly feel right being credited with mending their relationship, considering the two had secretly wanted to make up in the first place, so—

Adeline steps forward and wraps her arms around you, squeezing you in a tight hug. You stiffen in surprise.

"Those boys always have been idiotic and stubborn," she says quietly, but not quiet enough that Diluc and Kaeya can't hear. They both look away sheepishly, and Adeline presses her cheek to yours, whispering in your ear.

"You're a blessing, thank you."

"It was nothing…," you mumble, finally reciprocating the embrace. "Like you said, they're just stubborn idiots..."

Laughing, Adeline pulls back and flashes you a smile.

"Well, if you're able to agree so easily, you certainly must be close to them. Care to finally introduce her, either of you?"

"Y/N is our roommate," Diluc says, sighing. He hasn't even managed to step in the door of his own home, and already he's being slandered. "I believe I've mentioned her before."

"Oh! Yes, I'm so glad to finally meet you!" Adeline says, her eyes lighting up. "Diluc has said wonderful things about you."

"Adeline, please…let's not keep her out here any longer. Do we have spare rooms prepared?"

The maid is tempted to roll her eyes, but resists.

"Yes, we have two spare rooms already available. Next time, I would appreciate being informed about guests ahead of time, though. I hope we will have enough food…"

"As far as I remember, the Christmas party always has too much food," Kaeya comments. He places a hand on your shoulder, guiding you towards the manor, and when you look back to see if there's anything you need to grab, you find that the car has already been emptied.

Ahead of you on the path, other staff members are already lugging your belongings through the front door. Diluc and Adeline walk side by side after them, discussing details of the party preparation, and you and Kaeya trail behind.

"If Adeline approves of you, you have nothing to worry about," Kaeya tells you quietly. You glance over at him, still a little nervous.

"So…you think she likes me?"

Kaeya chuckles, fixing you with a fond look.

"I haven't seen her hug anyone like that in many, many years. As far as I can tell, you may very well be more favored by her than Diluc and I. What a special thing, you are."

"Oh, stop," you say, gently flicking your hand against his side. He chuckles, and doesn't say anything more. A moment later, the two of you step into the threshold of the home.

You're absolutely awed.

The manor isn't new, or modern, but it's elegant all the same. The floors are polished and decorated with neatly kept rugs. Portraits and artwork hang from the walls, and even a chandelier looms high above your head.

The entire space, while still feeling overwhelmingly rich, feels homey.

The fireplace on one of the walls keeps the air comfortably warm, and you instinctively begin to peel off your jacket, so busy taking in the sights around you that you almost miss Adeline directing the staff where to drag your luggage.

"Hillie, Moco, take Miss Y/N's belongings to the spare room on the second floor, beside Master Diluc's. Master Kaeya's belongings should go to his room."

Kaeya blinks dumbly. "My room?"

"Oh, you didn't know?" Hillie pipes up, giggling and sending a sly look Diluc's way. "Master Diluc actually ordered some time ago that "Kaeya's belongings should not be thrown away" so Adeline made sure to keep the room in—"

"I'd really appreciate it if you all would stop talking now," Diluc interrupts her, sighing loudly, and you're beginning to think that if the red tint to his ears gets any brighter, it will outshine his brilliant hair.

While clearly surprised to hear that Diluc had been so kind as to not immediately throw all of the belongings Kaeya had left behind into the trash following their fight, Kaeya also can't help but tease him for it. It's in his nature, after all.

"Aw, Diluc, if you wanted to kiss and makeup sooner you should have just told me~ Come here—"

He swings an arm around Diluc's shoulder, tugging him in and guiding his lips towards Diluc's cheek. The redhead is quick to shove him away, telling him not to be disgusting, and immediately laughter fills the room—the present staff getting a kick out of the two's antics.

In some faces, it's plain to spot the relief. The winery staff are elated to have their two young masters' back home together, and to see that their once broken relationship is on the mend. Finally .

You exhale, affection in your gaze as you regard the two men, and despite the small knot of anxiety that still remains in your tummy, you're beginning to feel at home right along with them.

A gentle hand touches the small of your back.

"Let me guide you to your room," Adeline says, appearing beside you. There's a knowing look in her eyes, and for a moment, you feel a little bad that your awkwardness has clearly shone through, but you'd be grateful to receive a moment to breathe nonetheless. So, you nod your head and allow her to lead you deeper into the home.

She guides you up the nearby stairs, and through the wide halls. The commotion in the main area of the house fades into the background, your footfalls becoming the loudest sound to reach your ears. The silence that settles between you and Adeline feels comfortable, so you simply focus on memorizing the path to your room, so that you don't get lost later. (That house isn't so big that you'd manage to get completely lost, but the last thing you want is to accidentally walk into Kaeya or Diluc's room, or a different room you perhaps shouldn't be in).

"Here we are," Adeline says, breaking you out of your thoughts. Ahead of you, she pushes open a wooden door and gestures you into the room. You step inside, glancing around at the spacious bedroom.

There's a queen bed positioned against the middle of the right wall—neatly made, and lined with white sheets, and a thick down comforter. On either side of the bed, there are matching nightstands adorned with matching lamps, and on the opposite end of the room, you spot matching dressers, and a wardrobe. The opposite wall—directly across the room, is an expansive glass wall—a set of double doors installed directly in the middle, which lead out onto the balcony.

When you pad across the room, closer to the windows, the winery vineyard is laid out before you. Rows and rows of grapes, lined with trees, and bushes. And beyond them, you can see a barn, and a lake, and—

"I hope you will be comfortable here. If there's anything I can get you to help you feel more at home—"

"N-No!" you interrupt her, hands knotting in front of you as you turn to face the head maid. "No, it's…I'm fine, really. It's just…," you glance around the room again, and god, you feel so spoiled here.

"I didn't exactly realize how rich Diluc is. It's so beautiful here, I feel like I don't deserve the kindness I'm being shown. Or that I'm out of place, I guess."

"Oh nonsense," Adeline says, waving her hand. "You're exactly where you're meant to be. The winery is a home to any who are invited, and considering how close you seem to be with Diluc and Kaeya, you are more than welcome here."

She takes a few steps forward and gently pats your shoulders.

"I'm very glad to see that the two of them have a level headed woman in their life consistently, since I'm not around to bother them. I suppose I can't be, now that they're not boys anymore."

She smiles bittersweetly, and you reach forward to snag her hands when they drop from you. You give her fingers a small squeeze.

"I don't think I can compete with you, honestly, but I'll try my best to keep them in line."

Adeline laughs, and then very seriously says, "One of them had better marry you."

Your brain honestly stops working for a solid minute—face going slack with shock as you digest her words. Then, when the mental image of Diluc and Kaeya standing at the end of the aisle waiting for you wiggles its way into your head, blood rushes into your cheeks, chest, and everywhere else.

"I—"

"I hope you're not teasing her too much, Adeline."

Diluc's voice enters the room, and you glance up to find him standing in the doorway. Adeline smiles, and bows her head to him.

"When do I ever tease? Everything I say, I say seriously."

She purposefully sends a small wink your way.

Oh, you think, willing your blush to disappear as Diluc takes a few steps inside the room, she really was serious.

You hope that Diluc will be dumb enough to not notice the flush of your skin, but unfortunately, Diluc is one of the smartest people you know.

"Is it too warm for you?" he asks, placing his palm against your forehead. "You're more than welcome to crack the balcony door to let some air in."

You shake your head, chancing a look at Adeline, and god, she looks so pleased. Like she's sure Diluc will one day propose to you, but that's…that's…

"Is there anything I can help with?" you ask, preferring to distract yourself rather than consider what Diluc's feelings for you might be. If you start thinking about it too much, you'll either get your hopes up too high, or make yourself sad, so you'd rather busy yourself with other tasks.

"I know Diluc mentioned wanting to get here early to help out."

Adeline looks like she wants to say no—that there's nothing for you to help out with. You're a guest in the house, and it'd be rude to ask you to help with any preparations, but she can tell that perhaps you'd benefit with something to keep you occupied, so she says, "I believe we could use some help in the kitchen, assuming you know the basics of cooking."

You nod your head happily.

"I might not have the skills of Diluc, but I'm good enough to lend a hand!"

Adeline quietly laughs.

"Well then, I'll guide you to the kitchen."

She turns on her heel and moves to depart the room. You step forward, intending to follow after her, when Diluc grabs your wrist. He gently stops you, and when you turn to look at him, blinking at him innocently and wondering if something's wrong, he frowns.

"Are you sure you're alright? I know you were nervous about meeting the staff, since I forgot to inform them you'd be coming…if you need to step away, feel free. They won't be offended if you take some time to yourself. And, of course, I'll always be around if you need me—"

"Diluc," you interrupt him. You slip your wrist from his loose grasp, moving your hand down until you can clasp your fingers between his own, and then flash him a sweet smile. "Thank you, but I really am fine. The staff all seem nice, I don't think I will have an issue."

You give his hand a squeeze, and Diluc sighs. You purse your lips.

"…why? Are you worried about something?"

Diluc, for a brief moment, struggles to figure out what to say.

"I just…want you to be able to enjoy your time here. To feel at home, that's all."

Your heart flutters at his words, and the urge to step forward and hug him nearly overwhelms you. However, before you can even think of the best way to react, Adeline's voice cuts through the silence.

"She'd be able to enjoy her time if you stopped holding her up, Master Diluc."

You turn to find her standing in the doorway, arms crossed, and—finally releasing your hand—Diluc sighs.

"You were scolding me about my manners earlier, and now you're rushing me when I'm simply trying to check on a guest?"

"She asked to help out, and I'm simply trying to lead her where needed. You're the one now hindering us."

Sighing loudly, Diluc brings a hand up to rub at his temples. He mumbles something under his breath about the joys of finally being home, and you can't help but giggle. His relationship with Adeline is something special, that's for sure.

"Thank you, Diluc," you tell him quietly, flashing him one last smile. Then, you shuffle quickly towards the doorway.

"Okay, Adeline, let's go! No more Diluc to stop us!"

"I wasn't trying to stop anyone!" Diluc calls out from behind you, clearly offended that you've taken to teasing him along with Adeline.

You exit the room without looking back, and before following after you, Adeline locks eyes with Diluc and very clearly mouths—

Keep her.

She disappears a moment later, your voices fading up the hallway as you're led towards the kitchen, and Diluc turns to glance out the windows behind him. It's quiet for a few beats before he mumbles—

"I don't plan on letting her go."

—and then exits the room as well.

Notes:

Hewwo! I'm sorry for the long wait ;;; I know a lot of people left comments asking for updates, but unfortunately my motivation to write is very fickle. I actually ended up rewriting the start of this chapter 3 times, because I was never happy with how it sounded. I finally got it to a point where I felt alright with what I wrote, so here we are.

I can't promise the next update will be timely, but I promise I haven't forgotten about this fic :') I'm always trying to write, but if I don't feel like writing, I won't force myself.

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying Inazuma 3 I was fortunate enough to pull Raiden Shogun and am currently saving my primos to pull for Thoma (bc if I can't have Diluc, at least I'll get Thoma ;-;)

Please stay safe and healthy, and may your genshin rolls be blessed~

Chapter 11: Second Families

Notes:

I'm alive! Somehow!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

For as worried as you had been about potentially being out of place in Diluc's home, and with his staff, you fit right in perfectly.

Adeline puts you to good use in the kitchen—specifically helping to decorate Christmas cookies with the children of the staff. By the time you get there, half the cookies are already messily topped with icing and sprinkles, but you ask if they'll let you try one, and they agree.

The second you show them your master creation—a round cookie that you had decorated in a delicate pattern of white frosting to look like a snowflake (and you're no artist, but it looks pretty damn good in your opinion)—they're positively amazed.

Rather than slapping an array of Christmas colors onto the cookie and calling it a day, the children ask you to show them out to make more…refined patterns. Like a snowman with a carrot nose and three buttons. Or a Christmas tree with colorful ornaments and a star on top.

As you and the children slowly (but not so quietly) work, they tell you about how they plan to take cookies home later to give to Santa when he stops to drop off presents. A smaller girl quietly admits to you that she'd like to save your snowflake cookie to take home later "since it's so pretty, Santa will definitely like it", but you're sure to tell her Santa will appreciate any cookie, especially the ones that she decorated herself, so she should take some of those too.

You've just finished decorating the final cookie when a shadow looms over the table.

"Do I get a cookie?" a sly voice asks. You roll your head back to look at the new arrival—your tall, dark, and handsome roommate—and smile at him.

"Hold on," you say. Turning to look at the kids, you hold a hand up to your mouth and whisper loudly, "Kaeya thinks he deserves a cookie. Should I give him one?"

"These cookies are for Santa!" they say, clearly their way of saying "hell no!". You nod sagely, and turn back to him.

"You're not Santa. No cookies for you."

Kaeya frowns—puts on his best pouty face and leans over you to try and snatch a cookie from the overloaded tray. The kids all yell in protest, jumping up to grab his arm and stop him. Kaeya tries to reason with them—giving his best pitch about why he deserves a cookie, all while amusement dances in his eye—but it doesn't work.

He is fully denied. The children grab the tray and run towards the dining hall.

You can already smell the array of food that's starting to be set out for the feast, and your mouth waters.

"Dinner will be served soon," Adeline comments, popping her head into the kitchen to see what all the ruckus is about. When she sees the kids running away with the cookies, and the amused look on Kaeya's face, she is able to surmise what has happened.

"Save the cookies for later, Master Kaeya."

"Oh, c'mon, Adeline. One cookie before dinner wouldn't hurt."

She breathes a laugh, shaking her head at him.

"Unfortunately for you, I'm not Master Crepus. No spoiling your dinner."

Kaeya sighs, once against feigning a look of disappointment.

"Really, Adeline, Christmas is the time of year to remember those we've lost, and to do things in their memory."

You side eye Kaeya, smiling.

"…is that your way of saying since Crepus would let you eat a cookie before dinner, we should let you get away with it?"

Grinning, Kaeya throws an arm around your shoulder.

"You know me so well."

Adeline looks sorely tempted to roll her eyes, but she refrains. Instead, she directs her attention to the nearby dining room, which is indeed starting to become filled with other members of staff who had instinctively followed their noses to the source of all the delicious smells.

Dinner will have to start shortly, lest people become—as the kids say—hangry .

However, one key person is still missing.

"Speaking of the late Master, I believe his son is currently in the cellar below."

You blink. Cellar…beneath the house? Well, you suppose this is a winery…

"He's been down there quite some time. Why don't the two of you go and fetch him? I assume Master Kaeya can help him pick a bottle to share over the meal if he's struggling with his decision."

Kaeya hums.

"And perhaps more than one. C'mon~"

With his arm still looped around your shoulder, Kaeya steers you away from the kitchen, and into the hall. He guides you through a few twists and turns before you find yourself standing in front of a set of stairs that lead down to a fancily carved pair of doors.

Although it's not your intent, you can't help but think that a basement in a big ancient mansion is probably hiding some skeletons, and unfortunately, your thoughts are outwardly expressed—your body tensing beneath Kaeya's touch.

He looks over, blinking at you.

"What?"

"…it's just like. A totally normal, non-scary wine cellar, right?"

Kaeya cocks an eyebrow, an amused puff of air leaving his nose.

"Well, it hasn't exactly been modernized, as far as I'm aware, but considering this is a winery, the cellar is well kept. There shouldn't be any cobwebs or scary things laying around. Although…"

He leans down to whisper in your ear.

"Crepus did tell Diluc and I some ghost stories when we were kids…"

He grabs your waist with his free hand, giving you a squeeze. A shiver rolls through you, and Kaeya jumps away before you get the chance to slap him.

Laughing, he holds up his hands innocently.

"But! I'm sure that was just a way for him to keep any kids from breaking into all the precious alcohol stored under the house before they were of legal drinking age."

You huff quietly, reaching forward to grab the door handles.

"If I have nightmares tonight about ghosts in the cellar, I'm going to kick your ass tomorrow."

You pull hard on the doors—acting brave, despite the way your heart flutters anxiously. It's a silly thing, really. Being scared of ghosts, or something hiding out in a basement cellar. The manor is so well kept that surely the basement doesn't have even a single cobweb, let alone something creeper than tha—

As the doors swing open–a little too quick, thanks to your strength–a hand shoots out of the darkness.

You gasp, stumbling backwards—unable to avoid the hand as it wraps around your forearm. You trip over the step behind you, effectively tumbling into Kaeya as you lose your footing, and in a heap, 3 bodies land against the staircase.

Your first reaction is to try and kick away from the weight that lands atop you, but when you finally manage to focus your attention on the head that's resting against your tummy, you realize the person that had fallen out of the darkness is none other than Diluc.

He huffs a few strands of hair out of his face, carefully bracing himself against one of the stairs as he pushes himself back. Beneath his other arm, three bottles of wine are safely tucked.

"So why exactly are you two here ripping the cellar doors open just as I'm about to exit? I could have spilled the wine I just spent time picking carefully by hand."

"You can blame Kaeya," you tell him, sitting forward to try and steady the bottles that are beginning to slip out of his hold. "He was freaking me out about ghosts in the cellar."

"Actually, I just shared with her the tales Crepus would tell us to keep us out of the cellar. I guess our roommate is a little bit of a scaredy cat."

Diluc shakes his head, quietly thanking you when you carefully take one of the bottles from his possession. Taking the remaining two bottles in each hand, Diluc maneuvers himself to his feet.

"Here," he says, holding one of them out to Kaeya, who is still pinned against the stairs beneath you. Blinking, wondering exactly what Diluc's priorities are at the moment, Kaeya takes the bottle, and as soon as one of Diluc's hands is free, he extends it to you.

You smile, taking it, and he helps you to your feet.

Curiously, though, Kaeya doesn't move to stand. Just stares at the label on the wine, a fond smile stretching on his lips.

"This bottle is the one you, Crepus, and I made together after we met, right?"

In that moment, both Diluc and Kaeya recall a memory from their childhood, where Diluc had invited Kaeya home for the first summers of many. Crepus had lifted them into wooden buckets and let them stomp around in the grapes until the skin of their feet was dyed a different color completely.

At that time, Crepus allowed them to drink some of the fresh grape juice obtained from the fruits of their labor, but he had also reserved some to set aside and let ferment into wine.

Making a noncommittal sound, Diluc brushes past you and begins climbing the stairs. His face remains passive, but you and Kaeya both note the way his cheeks dust pink.

"It's been aging for some time now. I assumed now would be a good opportunity to taste it."

"Uh huh," Kaeya says, grunting quietly as you help pull him to his feet. With the wine bottles carefully guarded between the three of you, you and Kaeya trail behind Diluc back towards the dining room.

As you go, you glance over at Kaeya, half expecting to see him grinning—teasing words building on his tongue. After all, one of his favorite pastimes seems to be riling up Diluc. But, to your surprise, the smile that adorns his face is peaceful. Content.

It makes you smile in kind.

Not after long, the three of you rejoin the rest of the manor's guests. Diluc takes to pouring wine to those who wish to partake, while you assist Adeline in bringing out the last of the food from the kitchen. Kaeya meanders away after catching wind that a few people are still loitering in other parts of the house, but he returns soon enough, with said stragglers in tow.

And with everyone gathered, it doesn't take long for people to take seats at the table. Diluc, fittingly, takes the head, with you and Kaeya sitting to his left, and Adeline and Elzer to his right. Before partaking in the feast, Diluc stands, raises his glass, and gives a short, fitting speech about his appreciation towards the winery staff, and the people who have gathered to help celebrate the holidays. And when mentions how he's sure Crepus would be proud of their efforts to continue the upstanding traditions of Dawn Winery, maybe you tear up, and maybe you step on Kaeya's foot beneath the table when he notices, but luckily no one else does.

"To another fruitful year," Diluc ends with, picking up his glass of wine and raising it in a toast. The rest of the table follows suit.

"Here, here!"

Glasses clink together, and merriment ensues. Dishes of food are passed around, healthy servings distributed onto every plate. Chatter fills the dining hall—and while you eat—you find yourself immersed in conversation with those around you—namely Adeline and Elzer, who are intent on sharing embarrassing stories about Diluc and Kaeya's past. The two men try to stop them multiple times—blushes adoring their pretty faces whenever the details of said stories cause them to recall a memory that they wish had stayed forgotten—but Adeline and Elzer are relentless.

Diluc and Kaeya's only saving grace is when Adeline stands up to grab some more dinner rolls from the kitchen. To their surprise, you chase after her.

Over the many voices flitting throughout the hall, they only manage to hear you ask "Do you know if there's any…?" before you're out of range.

Both men share a look, but decide not to worry about it.

The remainder of the evening flies by in a whirlwind of karaoke, games, and drunken shenanigans.

You never imagined that Diluc (whether he was the one who purchased it or not), would own a karaoke machine, but here you are—watching as the ever-drunk growing guests huddle around the TV, microphones in hand as they slur lyrics as loudly as they can.

At some point, you get roped into singing a song with a man whose name you eventually learn is Ernest, simply because the rest of the staff pushes you to the front. (And if Kaeya pulls out his phone to record the event, it's simply for keepsake, and definitely not for blackmail.)

Those who aren't participating in karaoke are spread out, having jolly conversations, or playing games. In particular, there's a group of four men in the corner, playing a game of cards—specifically, euchre. You're not exactly sure how to play the game, but when they need a fourth player—one of the men stepping away—a kind, elderly man named Tunner guides you over and very patiently teaches you the rules of the game.

Diluc, curious, watches over your shoulder as you play, and when you miraculously manage to win your first round—cocky enough to announce that you'll be playing the final hand alone, and winning it on top of that—he laughs heartily at the dumbstruck faces of your opponents.

The sound makes your heart sing, as do the compliments from him and Tunner that follow.

With your amateur skill now renowned, you get roped into playing a few more rounds, but unfortunately your luck ends up running dry, and you get your ass handed to you more than once.

Seeing your dejection, as well as the others who have lost, Diluc smartly brings over a bottle of wine to share, and it doesn't take long for spirits to once again rise.

At some point, the staff gather around the Christmas tree—decorated spectacularly all the way from the lowest branches to the star on top—and begin passing out the gifts that have been nestled beneath it since your arrival.

Apparently, the staff of the winery participate in a Secret Santa every year, and with the sun having set beyond the horizon, and dessert waiting in the dining hall to be served, it's time for everyone to open their presents.

"I wish we had known that you and Master Kaeya would be coming home for the holiday's," Adeline sighs, taking a seat beside you on the couch. She rests a neatly wrapped box in her lap—her present that is yet to be opened.

"We would have included you in the winery traditions if so."

You flash her a smile, setting the empty wine glass in your hands off to the side. Your cheeks are hot from the alcohol, and also the fireplace that burns nearby. It's a content warmth that seeps deep into your bones.

"It's okay! I already feel so welcome here, no additional gifts are needed."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Adeline's eyes soften as she looks at you, and honestly, you wonder exactly how old she is. There are years of wisdom etched into the way she handles herself, and she's so motherly to both Diluc and Kaeya, yet she looks so young. Maybe she's just been blessed with good genes…

Suddenly, Adeline looks surprised.

"Are you okay?"

You blink, and two tracks of tears stream down your cheeks.

"Oh, I…," you touch your face, for the first time noticing the constricted feeling in your chest. "I guess I'm just…really glad that Diluc and Kaeya have someone like you who cares about them. And…," you flush a little, embarrassed, "talking to you makes me miss my mom. Which, I'm sorry if that's offensive. I honestly have no idea how old you are, so I'm not trying to insinuate you're my mom's age, I promise. It's just…this is the first holiday I've been away from my family. And I don't regret it at all. I'm having so much fun. But…"

You trail off when Adeline reaches over, placing her hand on your knee.

"Why don't you go and call them? I'm glad we're able to make you feel welcome, but I understand missing your own family. Why not take a short break from the party and go talk to them?"

You nod your head.

"Yeah, maybe I'll do that."

You press your feed to the ground, preparing to stand, but pause. Adeline stares at you curiously.

"Can I, uh, give you a hug?"

She laughs, finding your bashful face cute.

"Of course."

After sharing a much-needed hug with the head housemaid, you leave her alone to open her gift and silently slip away the crowd. On your way out of the room, you see Diluc standing near the tree, pulling a sweater over his head.

From the looks of it, it's his Secret Santa gift—handmade by Tunner, who is standing beside him, straightening it out. He makes a remark about the pattern, saying that his son, Guy, had suggested it to him, thinking Diluc would get a kick out of it, and you nearly burst out laughing at the look on Diluc's face. Like he's torn between choking Guy the next time he sees him, and simply accepting his fate—standing there in a sweater that says "Feel The Joy" with two hands perfectly aligned over his chest.

Surely, you'll tease him about that later, but for now, you have a phone call to make.

The phone call to your family lasts longer than expected, seeing as the moment the call connects, you're forced to say hello to each and every relative at your own family's Christmas party. However, the call is rewarding nonetheless, and when you finally manage to say goodbye, promising that you'll call again soon, you feel relieved.

You're glad Adeline had suggested you call them. Now, though, it's time for you to get back to the others.

Stepping out of your room, you start down the hall back towards the main area of the house. However, not too far along, you hear Kaeya's voice, and pause. Just ahead, the door to Kaeya's room is ajar.

"Big brother Kaeya! Klee made you a Christmas present, and big brother Albedo is gonna help me send it soon! So when it comes in the mail, you have to promiseto call us again so Klee can see you open it!"

Kaeya laughs.

"Of course, Klee. I will definitely call. Just make sure whatever you're sending is completely legal. I don't want it to get stopped by someone at the post office. Again."

There's the sound of a little girl giggling, and, your curiosity getting the better of you, you step closer to his door. Since it's cracked, you peek your head inside.

"Don't worry. I have thoroughly checked Klee's gift, and it doesn't involve anything that will cause any trouble."

This time, it's a male who speaks.

Kaeya, who is sitting at the small desk nearby—his back to you—breathes a laugh.

"Thank you, Albedo."

Kaeya's got his phone propped up against the wall, facetime open. You can see two blond haired figures taking up the screen.

Noticing movement in the background of Kaeya's video, Albedo smiles knowingly.

"Well, Klee and I won't keep you. It seems like you've got a visitor, Kaeya."

Blinking in surprise, Kaeya turns around and for the first time notices your head peeking around his door. Your heart stutters in embarrassment, and you step a little more into the room, mouthing him an apology.

"I didn't mean to intrude…"

There's a gasp from his phone.

"Big brother Kaeya! Is that your roommate? The one you told us about?! She's sooooo pretty!"

Kaeya turns away from you, back towards the facetime call, and if you didn't know any better, you'd say that his posture almost seems sheepish.

"Yes, Klee. That's her. I'll call again soon and let you talk to her, okay? For now, we should both be getting back to the party."

"Okay! It's a promise!"

"Have a good night, Kaeya."

"You too, Albedo, Klee. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas!"

With that, Kaeya ends the call. Before you can even think to apologize again, he's turning to face you.

"Spying, are we? Santa won't bring you any gifts if you're acting naughty."

You roll your eyes.

"I said sorry, okay? I just heard you talking and got curious. It's your fault for not closing the door."

Kaeya shakes his head, pocketing his phone. You rock on your heels, watching him as he stands and stretches out his long limbs. Your eyes sparkle.

"So, who was that? The little girl seemed fairly fond of you."

"Ah," he says, a slightly embarrassed laugh leaving his lips. "That would be Klee. At my last university, I was roommates with Albedo—the blond male—and Klee is his little sister. She came to visit our apartment often, and I spent my last few Christmases with their family, so I guess she's been missing me."

You frown with worry. You hadn't known about him spending Christmas with Klee and Albedo. Hopefully he doesn't regret coming back home to the winery…

Almost as if sensing your thoughts, Kaeya stands, and beckons you over with a wave of his hand.

"Get those worrisome thoughts out of your head. I'm happy where I am."

Quickly, your frown turns into a pout—upset at his mind-reading abilities—but you nonetheless walk deeper into the room when he beckons you.

Once you're at his side, Kaeya is quick to reach out and wrap an arm around your waist. He pulls you into his chest, grabbing one of your hands and interlacing your fingers. It's impossible to stop heat from rushing to your face at the close position.

"Kae—"

"You know, when we were kids, Crepus insisted on teaching me how to dance."

He takes a step backwards, and, still pressed to his front, you're forced to follow after him.

"You may have noticed, but despite the current day and age, the staff of the manor still insist on entertaining formal traditions. Such as the way they address others, or the way they conduct themselves. Maybe to keep up the charm of a winery that's generations in the making."

His feet move smoothly across the floor to the faint music in the background—sounds that creep up the hall from the party—and you do your best to, at the very least, not step on his toes.

"The winery, at times, would hold more formal parties, and the adults were always blown away by my and Diluc's dancing ability, as mediocre as our skills were. It's just…unfortunate…that the only partners we ever had aside from Adeline and Crepus was each other."

The image of Diluc and Kaeya dancing around together, fighting over the male role in the dances, makes you laugh, and finally, you become less stiff in Kaeya's hold. He smiles.

"Where were you, all those years ago?"

Feeling bold, likely from the many glasses of wine currently sloshing around in your stomach, you look up at him and say, "just biding my time, waiting for the right moment to pop out and wreak havoc in your lives."

Kaeya blinks, and then throws his head back and laughs.

"I'm not sure if havoc is the right word, sweetheart."

Grinning, he lets go of your hand, wraps his other arm around you, and forces you to bend backwards. You gasp, hands moving to wrap around his neck in case you fall, but Kaeya holds you in the dip safely.

Mind swirling thanks to the sudden move, your hand moves on its own—wandering to the black patch of fabric that covers one of his eyes. Your thumb traces against the edge of it, but doesn't attempt to move it out of the way.

Kaeya, typically so good at controlling his reactions, freezes. He's lucky you're too distracted to notice the tips of his ears turn red.

"You're not calling me a menace? How surprisingly sweet of you."

"Well," he says quietly, pulling you out of the dip. "I have to be nice to you every so often, don't I? And it's Christmas, after all."

With your feet firmly planted on the ground, Kaeya takes a step back, and grabs one of your hands. He guides it to his lips, planting a gentle kiss against the soft skin. You expect him to say something sentimental, considering how uncharacteristically tenderhearted he's being at the moment, but instead he mumbles, "we're missing dessert," and it doesn't even ruin the moment because dammit, you've been waiting all night to try a slice of Adeline's purportedly famous cheesecake.

"You should have said something sooner," you tell him, tugging him in the direction of the door. "The kids are going to eat all the cookies before you ever get one."

Suddenly remembering that he, too, had been looking forward to dessert, Kaeya is quick to follow you out of the room.

Together, you speed-walk up the hall and hope that you're not too late.

When you make it into the dining hall, Diluc is standing there, a plate in his hand. A piece of cheesecake and two cookies reside on the surface.

"You're lucky I know what you both like, or you'd be out of luck."

You and Kaeya sigh in relief, and—still a little loose thanks to the wine in your veins—you forget yourself and lean in to kiss Diluc's cheek.

"You're a lifesaver," you say, taking the plate out of his hands. Absolutely stunned, Diluc freezes, hand still held out in front of him even though you're already walking away with the plate it'd been grasping onto.

Kaeya, who is also shocked at your lack of awareness, snickers at Diluc's reaction, and decides to have his own fun.

Leaning in, he presses a kiss to Diluc's other cheek.

"Apparently we're giving out kisses to show our gratitude tonight."

At that, Diluc finally snaps out of it. Face flushing the same color as his hair, Diluc attempts to whack Kaeya upside the head, but Kaeya skillfully dodges. Laughing with glee, Kaeya jogs off—chasing after you, since his cookies are also on the dish you'd taken from Diluc.

Left alone, Diluc cradles his face in his hands.

"What have I gotten myself into," he groans.

And yet, deep down, he knows he's more content than he's been in a long, long time.

Notes:

Thank you so much to everyone who left supportive comments on the last chapter after I mentioned not wanting to write when I don't feel like it :') Luckily, though, after a long wait, I finally felt like writing again!

I hope this chapter was able to bring you a little holiday cheer since at this point, Christmas is right around the corner.

Also! :D I managed to pull Diluc since the last update! And I bought Kaeya's constellation from the store this month, so now I also have a c6 Kaeya :') I guess that was their way of saying to come back and write more fluffy, comfort goodness for this fic.

As always, I hope that if you're reading this, you enjoyed the chapter 3 And if you feel like it, comments are always very appreciated.

Chapter 12: Christmas Morning

Notes:

An update, can you even believe it! (I can't!)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Diluc wakes up the next morning with the dullest of headaches—a tiny pain situated at the crown of his head. He deduces that it's likely a product of the glass of wine he'd partaken in the night prior—a new creation that Elzer had insisted he try. A wine that doesn't taste like wine! And he hadn't been lying—the wine mainly tasted sweet, and fruity. Something palatable to Diluc.

And yet, while Elzer had succeeded in taking the wine flavor out of the wine, he hadn't managed to stop the alcohol from reaping its effects later on on those who had consumed it.

Sitting himself up in bed, Diluc glances to the windows nearby—sunlight flitting through the partially closed curtains. On his nightstand, Diluc's phone indicates that it's already nearing 8am.

He's slept in.

Brushing a few wild strands of bed head away from his face, Diluc climbs out of bed.

His plan is to b-line for the nearest bathroom—feeling very in need of a nice hot shower—but the second he exits his bedroom, stepping out into the hallway, a delicious, salty scent makes him pause.

Bacon, he quickly realizes.

But that doesn't make sense. In years past, Adeline has stayed with him Christmas morning. Cooking breakfast for them both, and staying at Diluc's side so he doesn't have to spend the entirety of Christmas day alone. But with you and Kaeya here, Diluc had insisted Adeline go celebrate Christmas morning with the other people in her life, and so, she had departed last night along with the other winery staff members.

…so who is cooking breakfast?

Diluc steps back into his room only long enough to grab a sweater to cover his naked torso, and then he sets off—padding towards the kitchen.

As he approaches, he picks up on other aromas as well. Eggs, sausage, pancakes…and honestly, Diluc is beginning to wonder if Adeline had snuck back in at the crack of dawn.

However, when the kitchen finally comes into sight—Diluc slipping through the doorway and into the threshold of the wonderful smelling room—it's not Adeline he finds at the stove, but you.

There are already dishes full of cooked meat and eggs set out on the counter beside you, but you're still working on the last of the pancakes—your back turned to him as you quietly hum a Christmas tune to yourself, waiting for the pancakes to be ready to flip.

Since you haven't noticed him yet, Diluc takes a second to simply…admire.

Admire the fact that you're here with him now, standing in his kitchen on Christmas morning, clad in a pair of flannel sleeping pants, and a hoodie that, ironically, he had purchased for you for your birthday the year prior.

A year ago, he had never imagined he'd be in this situation. Spending the holidays with Kaeya, and with you—feeling happy, truly, for the first time in a long time. And he supposes, at the end of the day, the only one he has to thank for this happiness is you.

Without you, he doesn't know where he'd be. And that says a lot.

Smiling to himself, Diluc finally steps into the kitchen.

He quietly walks up behind you, his arm extending forward to wrap around your waist, but before he can make contact, he hesitates.

Because he worries if he'll startle you, sneaking up like this. And—

Because he manages to surprise himself with his own actions.

He's not really the physical type—doesn't show his feelings or interact with others through physical contact—so the fact that he's reaching out to you without a second thought is a little startling.

…But. When he thinks about it a second longer, his hesitation melts away. He wants to hold you, and there's no reason for him to overthink that.

Gently circling his arms around your waist, Diluc can't help but quietly laugh when you jolt at the sudden feeling of a body surrounding you—the spatula in your hand effectively dropping the pancake you'd been in the middle of flipping.

It lands awkwardly on its side, and folds in on itself. Like a taco.

You stare at it for a moment before turning your head to squint at whoever has interrupted your cooking. Your heart does a flip of surprise when you realize it's Diluc, not Kaeya, who currently has his arms wrapped around you, but luckily, your tiny little glare manages not to waver.

"That one's yours," you tell him with a quiet huff. He just smiles.

"Where did you find all the ingredients to make this?"

He rests his chin on your shoulder, his hair tickling your cheek, and you silently pray that he'll think the flush of your skin is from the flame of the stove.

"I asked Adeline about it yesterday," you tell him. "I wanted to do something nice for you, since you invited me here, and are pretty much providing for me the whole time. She told me that she had actually already prepared some food in advance for your stay, so. Waking up early to make breakfast was the least I could do."

Diluc recalls, then, that you had run after Adeline during dinner the night before, and now he supposes he knows why.

"I appreciate the wonderful smelling Christmas gift," Diluc says, taking a step back. His hands brush over the curve of your waist, pausing for just a moment, before he turns and heads for the coffee maker. When he pulls the pot out and notices it's empty, he quickly busies himself with getting a pot brewing.

"But sleep in for the rest of your stay. Please."

You smile, flicking off all of the burners. You transfer the food remaining in the pans to already half full plates, and then balance them in your grasp—carefully carrying them into the threshold of the dining room.

It feels scarily empty—the long, wooden banquet table—now that it's only you, Diluc, Kaeya left in the manor, and for a second, you have to wonder if Diluc ever sat at this table alone, after losing Crepus.

However, you quickly shake your head at the thought, turning back to look into the kitchen at the redhead, who is digging in the cupboard for a mug. You can easily recall the many smiles that had graced his face during the Christmas party—surrounded by his staff—his family—and you know that despite what Diluc may have gone through in the past, right now, he's surrounded by love.

Especially every second that you're at his side.

"Oh? What's all this?"

A pair of arms reach around you—hands slotting inside the warm pocket on the front of your hoodie. The lean fingers give your tummy a little squeeze, and at the feeling, you bristle—knocking your head backwards. It makes contact with Kaeya's collarbone, and he attempts to laugh off the pain, knowing he deserved it.

"Is it too late to hope there will be a Christmas miracle where you stop sneaking up on me?"

"It's just too fun," Kaeya admits, reaching across the table to grab a slice of bacon. "I don't know if I'll ever stop."

You roll your eyes, grateful when Diluc arrives with the coffee. He wordlessly passes one mug to Kaeya, and then takes a seat at the table, saying, "let's eat before all of Y/N's hard work turns cold."

With your stomachs already rumbling, you and Kaeya don't argue. The three of you huddle at one end of the table, reminiscing on notable moments from the night before between bites of food. When your plates are nearly empty, however, Diluc decides to change the subject.

"So, what should we do after this? There's no need to make a plan, of course. If you'd just prefer to lounge around, then—"

"Well, we have to do Christmas presents," you interrupt him, a smile tugging at your lips when both of your roommates blink in surprise.

"What? You think I wouldn't get either of you a present? Believe it or not, I actually kind of like you guys."

"I just don't remember seeing you pack any prettily wrapped boxes into the car when we first left the apartment, that's all," Diluc says, taking one final sip of his coffee. "You hid them in your luggage?"

"Well…," you grumble. "It's not like I wanted either of you to see them beforehand. Presents are supposed to be a surprise, right? Plus, I feel like Kaeya would have hounded me the whole ride trying to get me to tell him what his present is if he had seen anything present-looking."

"Oh, you wound me," Kaeya sighs, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. "Do I look like I'm still a child to you?"

You cock an eyebrow at him, unable to stop your lips from curling up at the corners.

"I mean, you did try to steal some of those Christmas cookies before dinner yesterday. So maybe?"

Kaeya narrows his eyes, rivaling your growing smirk with one of his own.

"Hmmm, with an attitude like that, maybe I shouldn't have gotten you a Christmas gift~"

Now that wipes the smirk off your face. Instead, your eyebrows raise high on your forehead, dumbfounded by his words.

He…got you a gift?

On instinct, you turn to look at Diluc, wondering if he had gotten you a present as well, and upon seeing the dumb look of surprise on your face, he frowns in concern.

"Don't tell me you assumed we wouldn't be getting you anything?"

"Well, no—I didn't assume that," you say, your face feeling hot as you wonder in the first place why exactly you're so shocked by the fact that they would have gotten you something. "I guess I didn't assume anything. Presents aren't expected, you know?"

"Don't be silly," Diluc sighs. He presses to his feet, nudging his chair backwards as he begins gathering empty plates from the table. "Let's clean up from breakfast and then meet in the living room to open presents."

Kaeya hums.

"Sounds good to me."

After carrying the dirty dishes into the kitchen, and running back to your respective rooms to pick up the presents you had all apparently managed to hide from one another until now, you find yourself sat on the floor in front of the the manor's large Christmas tree—Diluc and Kaeya on either side of you. The 6 presents spread out over the velvet tree skirt look sad when compared to the luxurious tree (it had looked much prettier last night when stuffed full of presents for the secret santa with the rest of the staff), but despite the lackluster presentation, excitement still bubbles up in your chest.

Especially, because with 6 presents sat neatly at the foot of the tree, that means Diluc and Kaeya had gotten a gift for each other as well.

When you glance between the two males with a happy, knowing grin on your face, they both pointedly avoid making eye contact—the tips of their ears turning red where you can't see.

Breathing a laugh, you reach forward and grab one of the nicely wrapped boxes, passing it along to Kaeya.

"Me first?" he says, staring at the box you've just placed in his lap. "Shouldn't Diluc or you go first, since—?"

"It really doesn't matter," Diluc says matter-of-factly, reaching forward and grabbing the gift he too had prepared for Kaeya. He holds it out for his friend to take, which Kaeya hesitantly does after a moment.

"I wasn't exactly sure what to get you so I just went with my gut feeling," you tell him, flashing him a smile. You rock yourself back and forth, excited to see Kaeya's reaction to your gift, (and also endlessly curious to know what Diluc had decided to gift Kaeya as well).

Not wanting to keep you waiting, Kaeya shakes any unnecessary thoughts from his head, and then—with your gift still resting in his lap—begins tearing open the paper around the small box Diluc had handed him.

Immediately, Diluc tenses, not having expected Kaeya to go for his gift first—but he supposes there's no point in worrying about it now. He had already picked this gift out some weeks back, after all…

When the wrapping paper has been fully ripped away, all that remains in Kaeya's hand is a small black box.

"This box is too small for those Beat headphones I mentioned to you the other day," he says smartly, which causes Diluc to scoff.

"Unfortunately, I had already picked a gift by then."

Chuckling at Diluc's response, Kaeya tugs the lid off the box—instead imagining that perhaps Diluc had opted to get him a watch, or something else small, and generic, that he wouldn't be able to go wrong in picking.

Instead, Kaeya finds himself staring at two items—one long forgotten, and the other that holds implications Kaeya's not sure if he can bring himself to believe.

At Kaeya's silence, and Diluc's lack of comment about the gift he had given, you decide to scoot forward and have a look for yourself.

Within the shallow walls of the box, resting on some tissue paper, are a key, and an earring.

…admittedly, you're not exactly sure what significance these items hold, but clearly, both men aren't unaware.

"Adeline found the earring after you left," Diluc finally speaks, softly breaking the silence that had stretched. "I figured now would be a good time to give it back."

Peering a bit closer at the diamond shaped earring, you suddenly realize why it looks so familiar, and your gaze snaps up to Kaeya. On his left ear is the same earring.

Diluc is giving him back the missing half of the pair.

Excited by the thoughtfulness of the gift, you decide to take action when Kaeya doesn't—gently picking the earring from the box and brushing Kaeya's hair aside in order to see his hidden ear. In doing so, you notice for the first time the faded little scar that leads from Kaeya's piercing hole to the outside of his earlobe.

You suddenly come to realize when Kaeya likely lost this earring.

"Honestly," Kaeya sighs, tucking his hair behind his ear, and stealing the piece of jewelry from your grasp. "It's been so long since I've worn anything on this lobe. The hole might be closed by now."

Yet, despite his words, Kaeya patiently attempts to work the stud into his ear. It takes a few long moments, but finally, the earring makes it through the soft skin.

You smile at the sight, preparing to compliment him on his now matching earrings. However, before you can get the words out, Kaeya is snatching the small silver key from the box, holding it between his thumb and pointer finger as he pointedly stares at Diluc.

"And this?"

"It's what you think it is," Diluc huffs—already embarrassed by words he's about to say.

"This has always been your home too. I figured you should have a key to be able to get in when needed."

The confirmation that this is , indeed, a key to the winery manor make's something in Kaeya's chest ache. He doesn't want to refuse Diluc's gift, but this feels like too much.

"Diluc, I—"

"Just say thank you," Diluc interrupts him, sighing in annoyance. He hates it, but he's fairly certain he knows what Kaeya is thinking right now, and he doesn't want to deal with it.

"We don't need to get into it. It's my gift. Take it."

Seeing the blush that dusts Diluc's cheeks, Kaeya decides not to fight it. Pocketing the key, he smiles gently.

"It's almost too meaningful a gift that it feels embarrassing, coming from you, but…thank you. Now—"

Smile morphing into a playful grin, Kaeya picks up your gift, and pointedly shakes the box. Immediately, you're lurching forward, grabbing him by his wrists to stop him from doing it again.

"Don't shake it, you idiot!"

"Oh? What could you have gotten me that's fragile, hm? I hope it's not alive. As much as I love pussy, I don't really want to pay monthly cat rent."

Behind you, Diluc groans at Kaeya's dirty sense of humor. While Kaeya is snickering at his reaction, you lightly smack his arm.

"Just—open it, jeez."

"Fine, fine~," he says, setting the box back in his lap as he begins ripping off the paper. "Let's see what's inside."

Unlike the nice black box Diluc's gift had come in, yours is a reused cardboard box from Amazon, but Kaeya doesn't judge the choice. After tearing open the tape on the seal, and removing the top layer of tissue paper, Kaeya realizes there's, once again, more than one item inside the box.

"Like I said," you babble, a little anxious about the gift now that Kaeya is finally seeing it for real. "I didn't exactly know what you wanted so I just kind of…went with things that I thought you'd like. I still have the receipt if you want to return anything. Well, the gift card actually isn't returnable, but—"

"You got me," he interrupts, pulling a small plastic gift card from inside, marveling at the bottle of liquor printed on the front of the card. "A gift card for Angel's Share?"

"Well," you say, looking thoughtful. "You seem to go there to socialize a lot. So I figured you'd definitely be able to use it."

Smile tugging at Kaeya's lips—a warm appreciation for your thoughtfulness spreading in his chest—he pulls out the next item from the box. A heavenly smelling bag of coffee. The brand that's his favorite, but he doesn't buy because it's always out of stock whenever he goes to the store.

"I'm not kidding. It was the last one and I had to race an old lady to grab it before she could. If looks could kill I'd be dead, but," you pat his leg, sighing as you remember the stressful memory. "I did it for you, buddy."

Chuckling at your words, Kaeya notices the final piece of your gift at the bottom of the box. A shiny cloth, partially hidden beneath another layer of tissue. Moving the paper aside, Kaeya holds the fabric up, and he soon finds himself staring at a black shirt which is undeniably—from the feel of the cloth—made from silk.

This time, you don't bother to comment. Kaeya distinctly remembers that he had told you some time ago about wanting a new silk shirt. His last one had been the unfortunate victim of a party goer's upset stomach and terrible choice in people to throw up on (Kaeya), and after that incident, Kaeya had been forced to throw the shirt out.

"Thank you," Kaeya says sincerely, flashing you one of his rare, genuine smiles that makes your heart squeeze. "I appreciate all of these."

"Good," you nod, pleased with his reaction. "Now—"

Turning back towards the dwindling pile of presents, you search for the two items labeled with Diluc's name, and slide them along the floor towards him.

"Your turn."

Diluc is half tempted to argue that as the host, he should be the last to open his presents…but. Honestly, there's no point in being a stickler about formality when the two people he's dealing with are you and Kaeya. So, he picks up the biggest box placed before him, and begins tearing away the paper.

Once the box is opened, Diluc finds himself face to face with…quite possibly the ugliest vase he has ever seen.

"Speechless, are you?" Kaeya asks, clearly prideful of his…horrid pick in pottery. "I figured despite being years late, Adeline would appreciate me replacing that vase I smashed…what, the summer of our Freshman year? Crepus never did buy a replacement when he was alive, so I assume one was never purchased."

Astounded, Diluc can only ask, "...but why this? "

The red, gold, and blue vase is obviously not in-line with the characteristics of the manner. And while DIluc doesn't really remember the vase Kaeya had broken at this point, he's positive his father or Adeline would never have displayed something this… exotic.

"Personally I think it's a charming vase," Kaeya says with a shrug of his shoulders, and then after a beat adds in, "Oh, also check inside."

Cocking an eyebrow, Diluc glances inside the vase. Sure enough, he can see something pooling at the bottom.

Gently flipping it over—scared his hand may get stuck if he decides to simply stick his arm inside—a pair of leather gloves plop into Diluc's lap.

The redhead stares in surprise.

"I couldn't help but notice that the ones you wear when you're bartending are looking a little worse for wear," Kaeya explains with a wave of his hand. "Figured you might appreciate a new pair."

"I…do appreciate it," Diluc admits, surprised by the fact that Kaeya was able to get him such a thoughtful gift. "Thank you. I'll have to ask Adeline to find a…suitable spot for the vase."

"I'm sure she'll love it," Kaeya says with a confident air, causing Diluc to shake his head. And yet, you can't help but notice the way his lips twitch up into a smile.

With his gift from Kaeya now unwrapped and carefully set to the side, he moves to open your present—aware of your nervous, yet excited stare. He's sure, however, that you have absolutely nothing to be nervous about. Knowing that he's receiving a gift from you has already made him more than happy.

Like Kaeya, your gift to Diluc seems to be a mash-up of thoughtful items, the first of which comes in the form of a gift card. However, unlike Kaeya's gift card to Angel's Share, Diluc's giftcard is printed with an image of a client receiving, what he can only assume, is a massage.

"So, I kind of…already booked you an appointment," you tell him, gauging his reaction carefully. You know that getting Diluc —a person who doesn't exactly indulge in physical contact often—a massage is a gamble, but—

"The gift card is just so you can pay for it. I feel like you do a lot of heavy lifting at work, and you also tend to internalize stress, so I figure, you know. A massage might do you some good."

Diluc makes a little face at you calling out the fact that he internalizes his stress (it's definitely true, but damn), but can't exactly deny that a massage sounds…almost appealing.

"Let me know when you booked the appointment," he tells you as he sets the card aside and begins digging for the next item. "I'll have to make sure I'm not working."

Next, Diluc comes across something…he definitely doesn't expect to see. Before he even gets the chance to pull the small package out of the box, you're already trying to explain yourself.

"So—Kaeya may have, at some point, shown me a few pictures of you two when you were younger, and I couldn't help but notice you used to wear your hair up more. And I thought—well—," you feel your cheeks flush a little at what you're about to admit, but you stay brave because it's true—

"—you looked really good in those pictures, so…"

Curious, Kaeya leans forward to look at the small bag of hair products nestled between Diluc's palms. The bag is filled with headbands, ribbons, and even new ponytail holders.

Diluc takes a moment to digest that Kaeya has shown you pictures of him when he was younger—something he honestly wasn't expecting, but hell—living with you two is like an endless train of surprises—but eventually smiles, and says—

"It's been a while since I've put a ribbon in my own hair. You may have to help me at first."

The dumbfounded look on your face as you digest that yes , Diluc has just invited you to play with his hair again, causes Diluc to laugh. The sound of his laughter kindles a warmth inside you, spreading through every inch of your body, and you find yourself unable to do anything but fondly watch him as he digs out his third, and final, gift.

"A good choice", Kaeya comments as Diluc unfolds the white shirt at the bottom of the box. Sleek, short sleeved, and breathable, Diluc immediately realizes that you'd picked him out a new workout shirt.

"Now maybe Diluc won't look like a maiden covering every inch of his skin when he goes out on his run."

"I just figured," you huff, watching as Diluc runs his fingers over the fabric—stretching it out and checking the overall size, "that it might be nice to have something short-sleeved and white for hotter days. Almost all your work out clothes are black, so…"

"These are…all extremely well thought out gifts. I really appreciate the time and effort you took to pick them," Diluc tells you, catching your eye. He charms you with a smile, his crimson gaze shining softly as he regards you. His heart feels full, incredibly so. But because he's not exactly how to put his abundance of love and gratitude into words, he simply settles on—

"Thank you, Y/N."

It's not like Diluc has never thanked you before, but the words still cause your heart to skip a beat.

"I'm really glad you like it," you say in turn, hugging your knees to your chest.

Feeling warm, and safe, and contented, you look between the two males fondly.

Kaeya is the first to comment.

"What's that look for?"

You hum thoughtfully.

"Oh, I was just thinking that I don't need a gift," you admit. You smile at them brightly, hugging yourself tighter.

"I'm just really glad to be here with you two."

It's a sudden proclamation, but one that's entirely true, and straight from your heart. Time seems like it's been moving so fast since you've met them, and yet, you feel more fulfilled and happy than you've ever been. Even despite all the ups and downs, it's been such a joy.

"Cheesy," Kaeya mumbles.

You pout your lips, turning to face him.

"I was being serious, you know—"

"I know," he says, gently bonking the top of your head with his fist. "But we did get you presents, so you should open them."

"Kaeya's right," Diluc concurs, offering his present up to you with a smile. "Although I'm sure we're both happy to be here with you too."

Not bothering to refute Diluc's claim, Kaeya simply slides his present along the floor towards you. Compared with the small box Diluc hands over to you, Kaeya's present is quite sizable. And, curious as to what could be inside such a large box, you decide to open Kaeya's first.

After ripping the paper away, and opening the cardboard beneath, you find yourself face to face with a shower rack. The second you realize what it is, you snicker.

"Finally couldn't take it, huh? Did a bottle drop onto your foot one too many times?" you ask while laughing, and Kaeya resists rolling his eye.

Despite not sharing a bathroom with the two of you, Diluc is also aware of the abundance shower products in the bathroom you and Kaeya share, and more than once he's heard the thud of items crashing into the shower floor—a consequence of too many bottles balancing on the small ledge the shower offers as storage space.

"Actually yes," Kaeya admits, plastering a fake smile on his lips. "Right before we departed for the winery, a bottle of your shampoo hit the floor, opened up, and squirted right into my eye."

You pause to consider his words, not recalling this occurrence, but after a moment, a lightbulb clicks on above your head.

"Oh! Is that why I heard you say "fuck!" at 2am the other night?"

"The very reason," he confirms, and you wince sympathetically. To be fair, you've both been pretty stubborn about buying a shower rack, and you'd say his products have landed on your feet just about as much as yours have landed on his, so it's not like it's entirely your fault. He has an equal amount, if not more shower products than you do.

"Let's go through everything when we get back home," you tell him, offering up a small smile. "Thank you for the gift. I suppose it was definitely needed."

You giggle as you move to set the shower rack back into the box, but before you get the chance, Kaeya stops you.

"Hold on. You think that's all there is?"

You blink up at him innocently, and he releases a sigh.

"Really, Y/N. I didn't think I'd need to say this, but please know that you're worth more than a 15 dollar shower rack."

His words cause an embarrassed blush to rise on your cheeks, and when you hear Diluc quietly chuckle from behind you (despite his attempt to hide the laugh behind his hand), your skin burns brighter.

"Wh—How am I supposed to know what your budget is?!" you say defensively, because it's true. Some people don't have a ton of money to spend on gifts! You would have been happy with the shower rack regardless!

"If he can afford to drop a hundred dollars a week on drinks, I would hope he'd have allotted more than 15 dollars for your Christmas gift," Diluc chimes in, ignoring the side-eyed look Kaeya sends his way. However, rather than come up with a witty rebuttal, Kaeya just reaches inside the cardboard box and retrieves a small jewelry box that you hadn't even noticed.

"Here," he says, placing it between your hands. Taking a second to get over the fact that Kaeya has gotten you jewelry , of all things, you open the box.

Inside, you find a set of gold, mismatched drop earrings—the key focus of the earrings being two circular hoops, of which in the center are a pair of peacocks. There are also a few blue crystal accents that match the color of the peacocks perfectly, and compliment the gold metal as well.

"I never usually wear earrings like this, but…I really like these," you admit, setting the small box on the floor in front of you so you can fiddle with the studs currently adorning your lobes.

"I know," Kaeya says with a breathy laugh. "You always have the same earrings in. I thought maybe you could do with a change of pace."

He carefully frees the earrings from the packaging as you tug your regular studs from your ears. Once your lobes are bare, Kaeya hands you the set of earrings, and you once again survey them with a smile.

"Now, are these to your taste, or mine?"

Kaeya ponders your question with a playful grin, watching as you thread the golden earrings through your ear. They glimmer when they catch the rainbow lights coming from the Christmas tree, and immediately Kaeya knows that he'd made the right choice (even if he had picked them based on his taste, and the simple fact that. Well. He thought you'd look good in them).

"Well, considering you've already admitted to liking them, I'd say your taste. But of course, it all boils down to my expert opinion."

"Of course," you muse, admiring the way the earrings feel. They're lightweight, and comfortable, and even though you don't have a mirror to look in at the moment, you feel pretty.

"Thank you, Kaeya," you say sincerely. He matches your soft smile, dipping his head in acknowledgement. While he won't admit it, he's definitely relieved that you like his gifts.

"Don't mention it."

Decorated with your new earrings, you now turn your attention to the box Diluc had handed you a few minutes prior. The closer you observe it, you realize that it's about the same size as the box Diluc had given Kaeya, meaning—

"Wait, did you get me jewelry too?"

Diluc gives away nothing despite your inquisitive stare.

"Open it," he says, breathing a laugh when you pout and immediately begin tearing through the wrapping paper.

Sure enough, it's a replica of the box Kaeya had received. Meaning there's either jewelry, or something equally as precious contained inside.

The realization causes your heart to beat a bit faster—completely clueless about what Diluc could have possibly gotten you. However, rather than ponder the possibilities, you simply hold your breath, and slowly flip the lid open.

A necklace stares back at you—a drop pendant, embellished by a silver chain. The first thing that catches your eye is the pearl. Sparkling, and topped with a prong-set diamond accent, the pearl is linked to an inverted pear-shaped garnet bale, which connects the pendant to the necklace chain.

It's an incredibly simple piece of jewelry, and yet, the elegance of it is stunning.

You find yourself speechless.

Curious, considering your lack of reaction (well, aside from the astonishment on your face), Kaeya leans over your shoulder to get a good look at the tiny box in your lap. When he sees the necklace, he whistles.

"Wow, bet this cost you a pretty penny."

Of course, that manages to snap you out of your stupor—your worried gaze darting to Diluc as you begin to worry exactly how much he spent on this necklace. You honestly have no idea how expensive pearls are, or garnet, or—

"The cost doesn't matter," he starts off by saying, but knowing you won't be satisfied with that answer, adds on, "but I promise it wasn't anything outragous."

Kaeya hardly looks convinced, but Diluc ignores his friend's unimpressed stare in favor of scooting next to you, and gently toying with the pearl.

"I picked this one because the shop assistant explained that pearls are supposed to be calming, and provide protection and good luck. And considering what happened during finals, I figured if a pearl really does have those attributes, then it might do you well to have it."

Your heart flutters as you realize the consideration he'd put into choosing this necklace for you.

"And the garnet…?"

He doesn't answer your question right away, instead gently lifting the necklace from the box.

"Here," he whispers, gaze dropping to your neck. "I'll put it on you. Move your hair."

Immediately, you turn your back towards him, hand moving to brush your hair away from your nape. Diluc circles the necklace around you, his fingers skimming the skin on the back of your neck as he secures the small latch.

"The garnet was just my personal choice," he finally admits. "I hope you don't mind."

You have to fight the urge to shiver, then. Between the light touch of his fingers, and the warmth of his breath ghosting over your skin, it's nearly impossible to stave off the reaction, but somehow you manage.

With the necklace secure, Diluc drops the chain around your neck, and you finally let go of your hair—fingers moving to touch the pearl now dangling in front of your chest.

"This would probably look a lot better if I wasn't wearing a hoodie," you mumble. Kaeya and Diluc have both given you beautiful pieces of jewelry, and yet you're sitting here in your pajamas. "Maybe I should go dig up something nicer to wear."

"You look perfectly fine as you are," Diluc assures you.

"I agree," Kaeya chimes in. "Although, considering mine is gold and Diluc's is silver, they seem to clash a bit…"

"Even so, I really love them both," you say, holding your hands out to them. Both men grasp your hands with one of theirs once they realize what it is you want, and immediately you slot your fingers together.

"Thank you both for the gifts. I don't know what I expected, but you blew those expectations away. I hope you'll get some use out of your gifts from me too."

"Your gifts are extremely thoughtful and practical. I appreciate them greatly," Diluc says, giving your hand a reassuring squeeze. Kaeya mimics the action, twirling the Angel's Share giftcard between the fingers of his free hand.

"I have to agree. This baby is going to come in handy during New Years."

"Ugh, I don't even want to think about that right now," Diluc groans, bringing a hand up to rub his temples. Knowing that Diluc isn't looking forward to the gaggles of drunk students that will soon be crowding his bar on New Years' to watch the ball drop, and likely all the days leading up to it, you quickly decide to change the topic.

Letting go of their hands, you scoot forward and snatch the bag of hair accessories from Diluc's stack of presents—holding them to your chest as you flash your roommates a hopeful grin.

"Actually, before we wrap this up, I have a favor to ask..."

Notes:

Honestly, I got stuck on this chapter for months 😭 I really wanted to write something for Christmas morning where they gave meaningful gifts to each other, but figuring out what those gifts are, and then debating how long to make the chapter, or if devoting an entire chapter to opening those gifts was exciting enough or not really stalled me out 😭

But :') I finally managed to finish this, and decided to end it with a cute text thread between Klee and Kaeya :') Hopefully you can catch hints from their convo about what the favor was the reader asked Diluc and Kaeya for. If I was an artist I'd definitely draw the cute selfie that the three of them took to commemorate the occasion, but I don't have any drawing skills, so please imagine a cute selfie for them 😤

Thank you to everyone who continues to come back when I update, and also all those who somehow stumbled across this fic and left kudos or kind reviews Whenever I saw a new review over the past few months, it was really heart warming I appreciate how many ppl have been understanding and patient

I hope you all enjoy this update :') (Oh! And I made a post on twitter earlier that shows Diluc and Kaeya's gifts to the reader! It's linked in the fic where they give her their gifts, so if you want to see the visual, please check it :3 )

Chapter 13: Snow-covered Memories

Notes:

Hello! I'm honestly probably just excited about this update as you are 💀 (meaning I'm very excited I finally managed to get this done). I hope you enjoy 💛

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Climbing up a hill at 9am–shrouded in a heavy coat and boots that are too big for you—is not how you guessed you'd start out your last full day staying at the winery. But alas, Diluc's comment over breakfast that a snow storm would be blowing through around lunch time and continuing for the remainder of the day had spurred on Kaeya's somewhat joking suggestion that now would be a good time to give you a tour of the outdoor winery space.

When you'd expressed interest in the idea, that had pretty much sealed the deal–and with Diluc leading the way, the three of you had gone off in search of heavy winter clothes to wear. Considering you hadn't packed with the intent to go out into the snow covered fields, you end up wearing whatever Diluc can scrounge up. Which just so happens to be one of his old coats, and a spare pair of winter boots that are a few sizes too big, but you'll just have to make due.

Once you're all appropriately dressed for the conditions, Diluc officially begins his tour.

Least to say, the winery is bigger than you expected.

With a fresh dusting of snow lining the paths, Diluc carefully guides you around—Kaeya trailing behind you. While he is already familiar with the features the winery has to offer, you are not, so you listen to Diluc's words intently.

And honestly, he could be a professional tour guide.

"These are the main vineyards. There are different types of grapes here, but they all are used in creating Dawn Wineries' wine. There's a secondary vineyard farther out. Those grapes are used for grape juice, among other less popular products."

"Crepus created the grape juice patch just for Diluc," Kaeya chimes in, a grin on his face as Diluc sighs. "Since his beloved son always disliked wine from a young age."

"That patch of grapes had already been established," Diluc corrects him. He treads farther up the path, and you follow closely behind. "Father just coincidentally decided to change their use to grape juice when I was a child."

Kaeya's eye pinches at the corner as his grin widens, but he doesn't bother arguing. You quietly laugh.

"Have I tried the grape juice yet?"

Diluc actually pauses at your question, eyebrows furrowing.

"You have not. I'll have to remember to pick a bottle from the cellar before we leave so I can take it back with us…"

Stepping past you, Kaeya moves to Diluc's side and throws an arm over his shoulder.

"I'd like to request that we grab a bottle or two of wine, as well."

Rolling his eyes, Diluc elbows Kaeya in the side, effectively pushing him away.

"I refuse to encourage your drinking habits."

While Kaeya pouts, Diluc trudges ahead. You give Kaeya's arm a sympathetic pat as you pass him.

"Up ahead is the garden," Diluc continues on, leading you up the stone path to an area lined with barren hedges. "It's…not much to see at the moment, considering the season."

You survey the area, noting the empty beds. You're sure in the spring it must be beautiful. There's even a fountain.

"Well, I suppose you'll just have to bring me back sometimes when the flowers have bloomed."

You say the words jokingly, having no expectation that Diluc will do so in the future, and yet he smiles at your words.

"I suppose you're right."

He doesn't bother saying more than that. Just smiles at you a beat longer, before he's back playing the role of tour guide. You hesitate for a moment to follow him, distracted by the way your heart skips a beat, which gives Kaeya the chance to sneak up on you.

"Honestly," he says, his breath hot against the cold shell of your ear. "It's not too late to tell him you forgot to give him a special present."

Unsure of what he's talking about, you cock an eyebrow and glance over at him. You haven't forgotten any gift, for either of them.

Seeing your confusion, Kaeya immediately puckers his lips and makes a kissy sound. You assume your cheeks flush, considering he laughs when you shove him back.

"Oh stop," you say, trying to catch up with Diluc. Kaeya stays on your heels.

"Listen," he whispers, gaze glancing at the redhead up the path. "I'm just saying now's a good time to make some sort of move. That's all. I won't push it more than that."

With his piece said and done, Kaeya falls a step behind, giving you a little bit of space. You do your best to not think about his words but…isn't he kind of right? The three of you being here at the winery, in the holiday spirit…it would be a good time for something to happen, but…

"It seems the children forgot to return their toys to the correct place…"

Blinking out of your thoughts, you walk up beside Diluc, looking down at the colorful pieces of plastic at his feet. Kaeya follows suit, humming quietly.

"I don't know—leaving sleds in the middle of the path probably seemed like a good idea to them."

"Obviously," Diluc snorts in response. He bends down to grab two of the sleds, slinging them under his arms as he looks around for an appropriate spot to store them away. There's a gardening shed in the distance—

"Well hold on, Diluc."

As if knowing what Diluc is thinking, Kaeya snatches the third sled from the snowy ground.

"There's that old hill we used to sled on not too far from here. Why not go and have some fun?"

Diluc frowns, eyeing him curiously.

"You…want to go sledding?"

"What can I say," Kaeya shrugs, "I'm feeling a bit nostalgic."

His azure eye slides to you, eyebrow cocking high on his forehead.

"What say you, dearest roommate? Up for a little early morning climb before the next wave of snow rolls in?"

You…haven't been sledding in…god knows how long. But, honestly, it sounds kind of fun.

"I think I'm still in shape enough to survive a couple treks up a sledding hill."

"Excellent," Kaeya smiles. Without waiting for Diluc to take the lead, Kaeya turns and treks farther up the path. Diluc pauses, waiting for you to make it to his side, before you both follow after Kaeya.

You motion for Diluc to hand you one of the sleds in his arms as you walk, but he shakes his head, refusing to hand it over. What a gentleman.

A few minutes later—after having been led off the paved walkway and across the snow covered lawn (which your boot had gotten stuck in considering they're about 3 sizes too big, but graciously both boys had stopped to help)—you find yourself standing atop a sizeable hill, your lungs burning slightly from the cold air and exertion.

From your vantage point, you can see the entire expanse of the manor, and the vineyards circling around it. You can imagine the boys here when they were younger, Adelinde or Crepus shouting at them from the house to come inside and get warm.

"This hill seemed a lot bigger when we were younger," Kaeya frowns, surveying the slope before him, which apparently pales now when compared to his memory of it. Stepping up beside him, Diluc snorts.

"I believe we haven't been sledding since we were in middle school. You've grown nearly a foot since then."

"You haven't. Does it still seem as grand to you?"

Kaeya manages to hold a straight face for about half a second before he's grinning like the Cheshire cat. Diluc narrows his eyes, reaching over to grab Kaeya, but the taller male jumps out of harm's way.

"Oh, did I touch a nerve?"

Before Diluc can even respond, Kaeya has thrown his sled on the ground. He grips the flimsy string reigns secured to the head of the sled, and with a few short kicks, he's coasting down the hill, riding it like some sort of snowboard.

"Be careful!" you shout after him, afraid that he'll hit a bump and go flying. At your side, Diluc is mumbling–

"It'd be fun to watch him eat shit for once."

"Diluc," you gasp, reaching over to lightly hit his shoulder. A boyish grin breaks out on his face at your reaction, and a quiet laugh rumbles in his chest.

"What?" he says. He throws one of the sleds still tucked under his arms to the ground, and nudges it towards you. At the bottom of the hill, Kaeya has already slid to a stop, and is now yelling at the two of you to hurry up already.

"Sit down, I'll give you a push."

Unable to keep from smiling—Diluc's happiness contagious to you whenever it openly appears on his face—you plop onto the sled. Your gloved hands grip the sides, Diluc placing his boot on the rear of the sled, seeing that you're ready.

He gives you a slight shove, and momentum does the rest. Within seconds, you're breezing down the hill—fluffy snow kicking up under the nose of the sled and blinding you. Luckily, you manage to stay upright on your sled and arrive at the bottom of the hill safely.

Kaeya immediately waltzes over, crouching down in front of you.

"Next time, pull the front of the sled up so you don't get pelted in the face with snow," he tells you, his thumbs brushing against your cheeks as he helps clear some of the quickly melting show from your face. Your skin is flushed from the cold, and yet you feel warm inside.

It's…nice. Feeling like a kid again. Sledding without worry, with the people you're close to.

Speaking of, where's—

"Look out!"

Your attention snaps to the slope behind you, and you and Kaeya are quick to spot Diluc's rapidly approaching sled—his crimson hair whipping behind him as he barrels towards the both of you.

Before you can even think of scrambling to your feet and diving out of the way, Kaeya is grabbing the reins of your sled, tugging you to the side and out of Diluc's path.

A few seconds later, Diluc slides past you—going maybe 20 feet farther than you had.

"Hell, Luc," Kaeya says, looking Diluc up and down as he finally disembarks his sled and makes his way over to make sure you're both alright. "What are you, a fucking brick?"

Diluc looks down at himself thoughtfully, placing a hand over his stomach. Suddenly, you're reminded of that time during finals he'd run over to check on you without a shirt on. You'd been a little out of it at the time, so you hadn't noticed all too much, but…vaguely, you can remember the slight swell of his pecs, and the sharp lines of his torso.

Either way, Diluc ends up brushing off Kaeya's question, instead apologizing for accidentally nearly hitting the two of you. Of course, you assure him it's no big deal, while Kaeya waves him off, picking up his sled and starting back up the hill.

Without a word, you and Diluc do the same.

You're not sure exactly how many times the three of you end up going back and forth, up and down the hill. At some point, Diluc and Kaeya end up inadvertently racing each other—both of them riding their sleds like snowboards, while you sit at the bottom of the slope, watching the race unfold.

From your point of view, both men reach you at the same time, so you declare it a tie. Of course, this ends up with Diluc and Kaeya both grumbling at each other on the trek back up the hill. So, you then suggest the three of you have a proper race instead. While sitting, because god knows you'd end up tumbling face first down the hill if you tried to ride your sled standing up.

Diluc and Kaeya end up agreeing, and the three of you take your marks. You may end up pushing off before you finish counting down from 3, and maybe both Kaeya and Diluc—who are feeling competitive—yell after you about being unfair. But you could care less, coasting down the hill while laughing gleefully, easily winning the race, even if you are a cheater.

When you come to a stop, you flop off your sled—starfishing onto your back as you stare at the white clouds overhead. After a few seconds, Kaeya walks up, gently kicking his boot into the side of your coat as he tells you you're a bad person. Diluc chastises him for saying that, which Kaeya ignores, saying it's true, and you're about to laugh at their banter when a thick snowflake lands between your eyes.

Sitting up, you hold out your hand, watching as one after another snowflakes land against your glove.

"Um, is it me, or is it starting to snow? Like, a lot."

Pausing, Diluc and Kaeya look around. The previously clear air is now dense with falling snow.

"C'mon," Diluc says, just as a gust of wind rushes down the hill, knocking a wall of frigid cold air against your body. "The storm must be here. Let's hurry back."

Grabbing your sleds, the three of you scuttle back towards the manor. It's only a five minute walk back, but you swear in that five minutes it's already snowed half an inch, and dropped 10 degrees.

By the time you step inside the warm embrace of the house, your ears are numb and your lips are chapped. Despite the gloves on your hands, and the coat surrounding you, you feel like ice.

"Shit," Kaeya curses, kicking off his boots and holding his hands to his mouth, breathing hot air against them. "Didn't think the storm would roll in that fast."

"I didn't either," Diluc mumbles, unzipping his coat. His crimson eyes slide over to you, and he sighs when he sees you shiver.

"I'll make all of us something warm to drink. Why don't you two go sit by the fireplace in the foyer?"

You open your mouth, about to volunteer that you can help him with the drinks, but Kaeya is already dragging you out of the room before you can get a word out.

"Your lips are almost blue, sweetheart. We're getting you to warmth."

You pout, but don't argue.

Soon enough, you find yourself huddled in front of the fireplace. It takes a few minutes before the flames lick warmth back into your body, Kaeya going out of his way to wrap you in a blanket as well, like a little burrito.

Diluc soon arrives with the drinks, and it's not long before you and your roommates are huddled around the fire, nursing mugs of hot chocolate and talking about whatever comes to mind.

Outside, the snowstorm continues to move through, and selfishly, a little part of you hopes it won't end, so you'll be able to stay here with Kaeya and Diluc a little longer.

You can't believe your trip is nearly at an end.

…

…

That evening, you make a point to explore the manor.

It's your last night there, after all. You want to make sure you've seen everything Diluc's home has to offer, not knowing if you'll be coming back, or at the very least, when.

After eating leftovers for dinner, the three of you had gone your separate ways for the time being—Kaeya saying Klee was bugging him about having another facetime, and Diluc using the opportunity to "take care of a few things" before leaving.

So, you'd been left alone, but you don't mind much, considering it allows you the opportunity to poke around the house without Kaeya or Diluc's supervision. Not that you think they're hiding anything—nothing like that. You just want to see things for yourself, without a tour guide, for once.

When you'd first arrived, Adelinde had given you a brief tour, but swept away in the new scenery and people, you hadn't managed to soak much in. Now, following the same path, you take ample time peeking inside each room you come across.

Most turn out to be guest bedrooms—neatly kept and ornately decorated. You end up wondering how many people actually stay over, but when you find a room on the lower floors with a long table, a white board, and projector, you realize that perhaps the manor is a little more than just a home. Well, sure—it's home to many people, Diluc, and Kaeya, and the staff as well, but it had never occurred to you that the manor might just be the base for some major winery operations as well.

I can't believe he never brought up all this up in detail sooner, you think to yourself, socked feet padding against the polished wooden floorboards. It's a little crazy to think that for as long as you and Diluc have been friends, he barely ever mentioned any of this. Although…when you think on it, it's not like you had ever pressed him for more info.

After finding out early in your friendship that his dad had died, and he never really knew his mom, you had immediately made the decision on your own to not bring up his family unless he did it himself first. You didn't want to make him uncomfortable, after all, so you'd always steered clear of family talk in conversations.

But, now you're here, in his home, where all his memories have been made, and you can't exactly help but be curious.

…which is why when you come across a door at the very end of the hall on the second floor, you can't help wandering inside.

Based on the placement of the door, you assume it will be some sort of master bedroom, but no. Inside, you find a small library—shelves stacked high with books lining the outer walls. There's a few chairs and a couch tucked into one side of the room, circling around an unlit fireplace, and on the opposite end of the room, you spot a desk.

The desk looks…strangely out of place. The veneer of the wood has faded, the chair tucked beneath it is well worn. And yet, it doesn't look used—every item atop the desk neatly stacked, not even a pen out of place.

When you step closer to get a better look, a certain journal catches your attention. The cover is black leather, although the color has faded, leaving it looking gray in certain spots. You can tell it's been used by the way it doesn't sit perfectly flat—the pages inside having been flipped through, and written upon.

For a second, you wonder if it's an invasion of privacy to look, but you can't help yourself. Picking up the journal, you open it to a random page. The handwriting is one you don't recognize.

The first few pages you flip through are filled with notes—comments about the state of the wineries business, and little calculations about expenses versus profits. In the corners of some pages, there are notes about the vineyards—which grapes should be picked, and when. Likely little reminders to whoever had written them.

You venture a little deeper—skimming through another few pages. When you find the same content—little math equations and to-dos, you figure that's all there is to see, and prepare to put the journal back where it belongs.

…but then, a certain word catches your attention.

Scribbled at the top of one of the pages, it says: Diluc wants German chocolate cake for his birthday. Remember to tell Adelinde so she can get the ingredients.

Huh…

You turn to the next page, looking a little closer this time.

Cancel the meeting with the board on Friday. Diluc's school play 4pm.

Page after page, little notes keep popping up.

Buy more homey decorations for the room across from Diluc's. Kaeya will take that room during the summer.

Boys want a beach day. Ask Elzer to arrange a trip for three.

Adelinde taking the boys school shopping. Meet them for dinner afterwards.

The notes radiate fondness, and you have a sneaking suspicion that this journal must belong to Diluc's father, Crepus.

As if guided by some unseen force, your gaze slides upwards—staring at a space on the wall above the desk. There, a picture of a middle aged man is hanging, his hair and eyes the same scarlet shade as Diluc's. Undoubtedly, this is Crepus. The resemblance—minus the facial hair—is striking.

For a moment, you can only admire his portrait. You've never seen a picture of him before now, and for some reason, the sight of him makes your heart ache. If you think about it too much—him being gone, and how his death impacted Diluc and Kaeya—you know you'll start crying, so you steer your thoughts in a different direction.

Instead, you decide to feel grateful. Grateful to Crepus for raising two of your best friends, and allowing them to become a part of your life.

Ugh, dammit, you just said that you weren't going to cry—

"I thought I saw a light on in here."

You jump at the sound of Diluc's voice, turning to look at the door with Crepus' journal still in your possession. You feel like a criminal caught in the act, and when Diluc's eyes slide down to your hands, spotting his father's journal, you immediately begin babbling.

"I'm sorry if I—I was just looking around the manor one last time since we're leaving tomorrow, and I found this room. I didn't realize that you father's things were on this desk, and I just…you know—"

"Y/N," Diluc says calmly, staring at you. "It's fine, really. This room isn't off limits. And it's not like the journal was hidden somewhere."

Padding over to the desk, Diluc stands by your side, gently taking the journal from you when you hold it out to him. He regards it thoughtfully.

"This used to be the master bedroom," he says. "After my father died, I decided to convert it into a small library. This is his desk."

He slides his palm over the worn surface, fingers lightly drumming against it. Clearly, Crepus spent a lot of time sitting here, so it makes sense why Diluc would want to keep it.

"I saw his portrait," you quietly respond, motioning your head towards the frame on the wall. "It was the first time I've seen a picture of him, but I connected the dots since the resemblance is uncanny."

Diluc breathes a laugh at that, stroking his fingers against his chin.

"Should I grow a goatee?"

"You'd look handsome regardless," you tell him without thinking, flashing him a smile. A small look of surprise flashes in Diluc's eyes, but it passes quickly, and he thanks you while moving to set Crepus' journal back in its appropriate spot on the desk.

"There were some notes about you and Kaeya in there. It's clear he was fond of you both."

"He'd probably be a little disappointed knowing what all happened between us after he died," Diluc responds, sighing to himself. Immediately, you reach over and grab his hand. You give it a firm squeeze, catching his gaze.

"I think he'd be proud that you and Kaeya were able to talk and reconcile. I can't imagine him being anything but proud of you, Diluc. He…I mean, he's your father. He loved you, and always will. Unconditionally."

Diluc is still, for a moment, words escaping him. Then, you feel a tug on your hand, and suddenly your face is against Diluc's chest—his arms wrapping tightly around you. You can smell the earthy scent of his cologne, and when you adjust the angle of your head so your cheek is flush against his sweater instead of your nose, you swear you can hear the thumping of his heart.

Despite being caught off guard by his sudden show of affection, you immediately accept it—hugging him in return. You're trying to figure out what silly comment you should say to abate your own nerves when Diluc finally speaks up.

"I love you," he says.

Your heart leaps violently, and for a moment, you swear the earth stops spinning.

He…

Your fingers grip his sweater a little tighter, and you feel blood rushing to your face.

He's never said that before.

Why is he saying it now? What is he thinking? Has something changed? He's typically not so affectionate, and he sounds so genuine. Does that mean that maybe he—

"I love you too," you respond, your voice nearly a whisper. The words come out before you even realize that you're speaking—a little part of your brain forcing them out of you, knowing that if you wait too long to say it back, it will make your words seem insincere. As if you're only saying them back because he'd said them first. But god, that would be the farthest thing from the truth, because you adore him so wholly. Just being here, hugging him like this, feeling his warmth beneath your fingertips—makes you ache with affection.

Your mind starts to go into overdrive, then. Wondering if you should say something more. If you should try something more. Like Kaeya had suggested. But the fear of misconstruing the context of Diluc's words—potentially doing or saying anything that will negatively impact your relationship with him—keeps you silent.

Not even a second later, Diluc gives you a small squeeze, and then inches backwards. His head turns to stare at the portrait of his father, his fingertips sliding against your waist before his hands fall back to his side—the hug officially broken.

"I wish you could have met him," he confesses. "I think he'd be really glad knowing I have someone like you in my life."

Still buzzing with nerves, you reach over and grab the cuff of his sleeve. His crimson gaze slides to you, his features soft as he patiently waits for you to voice what's on your mind.

"You should tell me about him," you say, and then quickly add, "if you want to, that is. I'd be more than happy to listen and learn more about him."

Diluc stares at you thoughtfully for a few seconds, before he takes your hand, and leads you to the other end of the room. He starts the fireplace up easily—the orange flames breathing warmth and light into the dimly lit room—the outside world long having gone dark, sunset hours ago.

"Come here," he says, seating himself on the couch. He grabs a nearby blanket while you take the spot beside him, and he's quick to throw it across both his and your laps. As you get cozy, Diluc starts speaking—as if he's been holding onto this for a while, waiting for someone to talk to. Someone he can trust with this precious little part of his soul that holds his past memories of his father.

Before long, you're smiling at his fond recollections. One after another, words spill out of him—details about his father, and impactful stories from his childhood. There's a bit of sadness in his gaze as he tells his tales, but it's overshadowed by the smile tugging at his lips.

You're not sure how much time passes, but eventually, your limbs start to feel heavy. You scoot down father onto the couch, head resting against the armrest, and your feet curled against Diluc's thigh as his soft voice continues filling the room. His words start to blur, your eyelashes fluttering as sleep threatens to overtake you, and you hear him chuckle.

"Am I boring you?"

"Never," you mumble immediately, attempting to force yourself to wake up, but it doesn't work. Sledding this morning sapped a lot of your energy.

"'Like hearing about your dad…"

"Thank you," he responds.

There's a shift, and you feel Diluc exit the warmth of the blanket. The light behind your eyelids fades, the fire being put out, and a moment later, you feel Diluc's arms sliding beneath you.

You want to tell him that you can walk—that he doesn't need to carry you—but the words never form. Tucking your cheek against his chest, you fall asleep to the smell of cologne and firewood, and a pair of lips on the crown of your head.

Notes:

As always, please feel free to leave a review They seriously make my day. I genuinely appreciate everyone who reads this story still, and also everyone who always patiently waits around for an update, even if they're not as frequent as we all (myself included) wish they could be. mwah 💛

Chapter 14: New Years

Notes:

I absolutely adore everyone who comments saying this fic is a huge comfort to them :') and that's why I'm gonna give a little warning.

There's a bit of drama/angst in this chapter. So if you're not feeling that vibe right now, please come back and read the update later ❤️

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The next morning, the winery staff gather to see you all off.

They help pack everything neatly into Diluc's car—dishing out hugs and goodbyes and hope-to-see-you-soon's. Adelinde takes her time with her farewell's—telling Diluc to stay safe, and you and Kaeya to come back anytime. (She also slips a little note with her phone number into your pocket, in case you ever need anything.)

Leaving is nothing short of bittersweet—your gaze plastered on the fading scenery as Diluc's rolls his car up the driveway, and eventually out onto the main road—leaving the winery behind.

The drive home is filled with small talk, which you're grateful for. Diluc's words from last night are still fresh in your mind, and as much as you try and convince yourself to just accept them as they are and move on, it's not that easy.

So, the small talk is a welcome distraction.

Around noon, the three of you stop for lunch. You end up picking some small, sit-down family diner (all of you craving a better meal than fast food), and the cheap, standard-quality meal hits just right.

After eating, you volunteer to drive the last leg of the journey. Focusing on the road and the flowing conversations with Diluc and Kaeya helps to keep your thoughts from wandering, and before you know it, you're back home.

The apartment now seems…even tinier, when compared to the mansion you'd just lived in for a few days, but it's still home.

Together, the three of you unload the car—lugging suitcases and presents up the stairs. Immediately, the process of unpacking begins, and the remainder of the afternoon is spent organizing, doing laundry, and finding new homes for all of your presents.

Around dinner time, Kaeya leaves—dressed in ripped jeans and a half tucked in button-up shirt (you yell at him to put on a thick coat before he goes)—and you can only assume he's headed off to one of the local bars. Today is the start of the slow trickle of students returning to campus, after all. By New Year's Eve, you're sure all the bars will be packed.

Today being his last day off before he's manning the bar for the rest of the year, Diluc also heads out, but to the grocery store instead. You help him put together a small list, and then he's gone, leaving you to your own devices.

Which is, well…

"I love you."

You shake your head.

You're not gonna do this right now.

So, you decide now is a great time to do chores. You'd be smart to clean up now, while you have free time before the next semester starts. Oh, and you still have work this week, now that you think about it…wait, when are you working again?

You get started on laundry after double checking your schedule—tomorrow afternoon, and then the evening shift, and then opening, and maybe you could pick up a shift on the 30th—and luckily, you manage to keep yourself preoccupied for the remainder of the evening.

The next morning, when Kaeya is still locked in his room mid-morning (you assume maybe he's a little hungover), you decide that it would be a great time to clean the bathroom and install that shower rack he gifted you.

So, you hop to it—emptying all the bottles out of the shower, and stripping the bathroom counters bare. You really put your back into it, scrubbing every surface you can find. You're just starting to try and figure out how the hell to install the shower rack when Diluc's voice breaks your concentration.

"I'm heading to the tavern," he says, wincing when the shower rack slips from your hands, tumbling into the basin of the tub. He pauses a few seconds, listening to your defeated sigh, before continuing.

"I'll probably be there until later this evening. Just text or call me if you need to."

"Okay," you respond, sitting back on your knees. You flash him a small smile. "Have a good shift."

He thanks you with a small smile of his own, and then turns and disappears into the living room. After a few beats, you hear the front door open, and then close and lock. Immediately, you release another long sigh.

For a minute, you can only sit there on the bathroom floor in silence—wondering to yourself defeatedly if you'll ever be able to see Diluc normally again. It's not like his words had any other implications, after all…you loved him and he loved you…as a friend, and that should be fine.

So why can't you just leave it be?

A quiet sound of annoyance trapped in your throat, you decide to just get back to work. It takes longer than it should, but eventually you successfully install the shower rack. Now all that's left is to put all the bottles of product back onto the shower rack, which won't be hard at all, except—

Kaeya's bottle of body wash slips from your grasp, knocking into a bottle of your shampoo, and both bottles go tumbling loudly into the shower basin.

You freeze in your spot, praying that Kaeya has managed to sleep through yet another one of your slip ups, but unfortunately, a few seconds later you hear the door to his room creak open.

Slowly, you look over your shoulder, towards the hallway…

And there Kaeya is, dressed in only a pair of sweatpants, annoyance shining clear in his showing eye—the other eyepatch-less, but shrouded behind his bangs.

You force an apologetic smile.

"I'm…really sorry," you say, and then immediately scoot to the side, throwing your arms out to highlight the newest addition to the shower. "But look! I installed the rack!"

Kaeya's eyes shift to the shower, noting that you have indeed managed to install the rack, and a little bit of the annoyance fades from his eye.

"Well, I won't lie. I'm happy you installed it because I didn't really want to," he admits, the corners of his lips quirking just slightly. But then, his gaze shifts to you—noting the sheen of sweat on your face, and the fact that the bathroom has been totally cleaned.

"But…is there a reason you're doing all this now? Knowing you, I feel like you'd rather be on the couch catching up on the Netflix series you missed out on last semester."

"Well…," you respond, turning back around and leaning over the side of the tub to pick up the bottles that had fallen. "I can't disagree. I just thought now would be a good time to get some chores out of the way. Christmas cleaning, you know?"

"Mhmm," Kaeya says, not sounding entirely convinced, but he doesn't push the subject. Instead, he muffles a yawn with the palm of his hand, and turns back towards his room.

"How about you make me breakfast for waking me up so rudely?"

You scoff.

"I'm still trying to finish cleaning our bathroom, and now you want me to make you breakfast?"

You hear a quiet chuckle, and then Kaeya pops back into frame once again. This time, he's wearing a plain white t-shirt, and his eyepatch is securely in place.

"When you put it that way, I sound like an asshole."

A smile tugs at your lips, and you cock an eyebrow at him playfully.

"Well… "

Kaeya rolls his eyes, but can't keep a grin from appearing.

"I swear, between you and Diluc this might be abuse."

"Oh stop," you respond with a laugh, resuming your efforts to finish cleaning up. A second later, you hear Kaeya rummaging around in the kitchen cupboards—likely looking for a mug to put coffee in, first and foremost.

While Kaeya serves himself breakfast, you finally manage to put everything in the bathroom back in its rightful place. Except now…you're in need of a shower.

"I'm gonna shower," you call out into the hall. "That okay?"

"Yeah," Kaeya calls back, but before you can fully get the door shut, his head peeks around the corner. Immediately, you pause.

"I'm gonna be out for the next few days," he says, seeing he has your attention. When you frown, both curious and worried about why, he elaborates. "I just have a bunch of plans. And I know you'd have my head knowing I'm wandering about drunk, so I'll be crashing with some friends who live closer to the bars."

"Okay," you say, a little nervous, but in no position to tell him he can't. Kaeya is an adult after all, he can do what he wants. You just can't help but worry.

"I will be safe," he promises, gaze softening when he sees your lips press together. You sigh.

"I believe you. Just send me a text every so often so I know you're alive, okay?"

"I can do that. Enjoy your shower, stinky."

Once again, he's grinning. You laugh in disbelief, staring after him as he ducks back into the kitchen.

"You know what!" you yell after him. "I take back all my concern!"

"You say that, but I know you. You care too much!" he responds, and you hear him laugh as you poignantly shut the bathroom door.

Reaching for the hem of your shirt, a little pang of guilt hits you—cutting through the amused outrage you currently feel.

"You care too much."

Maybe Kaeya is right.

You feel a tug on your hand, and suddenly your face is against Diluc's chest—his arms wrapping tightly around you.

"I love you."

You do care too much. You care so much. About him, about Diluc, about those three stupid words that have left your heart fluttering for days now. You care about your relationship dearly, to the point you're terrified to ask if there's any deeper meaning in those words. But if you don't, will you ever be able to move on?

Taking a deep breath, you turn on the shower, and continue undressing.

Give it a few more days, you tell yourself. If you still aren't able to let it go, and take Diluc's words at face value, you'll just…ask him.

… maybe.

True to his word, Kaeya disappears from the apartment that afternoon. He sends a group text to you and Diluc, letting you both know his plan. Diluc sends a thumbs up, and in turn informs the group he'll be quite busy as well. Pulling late shifts and going in early to help prep and clean.

At first, you think maybe this will be good. You'll have some time to yourself in between your part-time shifts across the next few days. It'll give you time to unwind. To be lazy, having the apartment all to yourself.

…however, after being around Diluc and Kaeya consistently the last few months, you quickly find that having an empty, quiet apartment all to yourself hurts more than it helps. Despite your efforts to keep yourself distracted in your downtime—cooking meals, doing more chores, watching tv—your mind keeps wandering back to your roommates. Specifically, Diluc. And the more you think about it, the more you feel like you're going crazy.

So, you ask Sara if there are any work shifts you can pick up.

Rightfully, she looks at you as if you're insane, but with other staff back home for the holidays still, she doesn't refuse you.

So, your part time shifts turn into full-time shifts, and suddenly, your days are a lot busier. Which is good. And, you're making more money, so that's a plus.

Except—

"No extra shift on New Years Eve," Sara tells you. "The boss man has decided he doesn't wanna deal with any drunken kids this year, so we're closing up shop at 3pm. I can only schedule you until then."

So, you work, eat, sleep, and repeat—doing your best to keep your mind off any sensitive topics. At least, until 3pm on New Years Eve.

Then, you're once again back at the apartment all alone, your mind wandering to your roommates.

You haven't heard from Kaeya since yesterday, when he texted to let you know he was still alive and breathing. And you assume today is the same case—that he's still out being a socialite, drowning his liver in alcohol.

Diluc you haven't talked with since yesterday morning as well, when you'd bumped into each other around breakfast time. He'd seemed exhausted already, yet had informed you New Year's Eve would be his longest shift yet. From opening all the way until close. Meaning he'd slept in this morning to compensate for the sleep he wouldn't be getting tonight. So, you hadn't managed to see him before leaving for your own shift today.

So…it's only natural to be thinking about them. Because you're worried. And you miss them. And you wonder in what fucking context Diluc meant "I love you"—

You want to scream.

Shedding yourself of your work clothes, you throw on some pjs, an oversized hoodie, and firmly plant yourself on the couch with a big bag of chips and a full bottle of water. You force yourself to be immersed in the new season of The Great British Bake Off, making comments aloud to yourself to just keep locked into the show.

It's not until your phone buzzes around 7pm that you finally allow your concentration to break.

You stare at the message from Childe, taking a long, deep breath.

Honestly, at this point you really do feel like you need a drink…but they're going to Angel's Share…

Grumbling to yourself, you face-plant into the couch.

So what? You're avoiding Diluc now? As if that will help…

Your phone buzzes again, and you lift your head up to look.

Quietly, you laugh to yourself.

Fuck it.

Pushing up from the couch, you stride into your room to find something to wear.

Half an hour later, after catching an uber, you make your way into Angel's Share. The entire place is packed—music blasting, dance floor crowded, and the bar swarmed with people. You're not sure how many times you say "excuse me" trying to weave through the hoards of people, but eventually you manage to spot Childe's tuft of orange hair.

Noticing you, Childe and Lisa wave, and you hurriedly make your way over. However, to your utter surprise—

"Where's Kaeya?"

You had expected him to be here too. He had mentioned to you he'd be hanging with Childe throughout this week…

Childe blinks in surprise, scooting farther into the booth to make room for you.

"Oh? He ditched us earlier. Said something about running to get meds for his hangover. I'm surprised he didn't tell you."

Honestly, you wish he had. Without him here, you feel a little more out of place with this friend group, but…you suppose you know them well enough by now to be social with them. Besides, Childe is the one who had invited you out, not Kaeya. You'll be okay.

"Cutie! It's been too long!" Lisa says, flashing you a charming smile.

"I agree," Zhongli echoes her sentiment, pushing a glass of…something your way. "How have you been?"

Picking up the glass, you take a whiff, and immediately smell eggnog. And rum. Oh boy.

"I've been alright," you respond, tentatively taking a sip of the drink you've been given. When the taste doesn't turn you off, you take a big swig—needing something to calm your nerves.

The group obviously notices.

"Only alright? I figured you'd be great after spending Christmas with your two loverboys," Lisa says, frowning when she sees you curl in on yourself slightly.

You grip your glass a little tighter, taking another swig. You're not ready to talk about this. Not yet.

"I've just been working a lot recently," you say, forcing a smile. "A little tired. But I haven't been out yet for the New Year's festivities, so I wanted to at least make one appearance."

Lisa and Childe don't exactly seem convinced by your half-truth that simply working is the reason you're "only" alright, but Zhongli interrupts before they can push it.

"Well, we're glad that you could join us. I know we've only had a few opportunities to meet before now, but we wholeheartedly welcome you."

His words putting you at ease slightly, you take a deep breath and manage to relax.

"Thank you, Zhongli."

"I'm the one who invited her…," Childe grumbles from beside you, and you can't help but laugh.

"So," you say, pushing your now-empty glass towards the middle of the table. Childe immediately grabs it, refilling it with the alcoholic eggnog mixture they've apparently purchased a pitcher of.

"What about you guys? How's it going?"

Your question unravels a month worth of updates from everyone at the table. Childe goes on about Christmas with his family, and apparently his dozen siblings. He makes sure to name each and every one, although you forget all their names almost immediately.

Lisa informs you that she had a wonderful Christmas with her girlfriend—you didn't even know she had one, what, with how flirtatious she comes off all the time (but you suppose that's just her way of being personable/nice)—and she pulls out her phone to show you a picture of a beautiful blond woman.

Apparently, she's a medical student at the university, and busy doing clinicals for her graduation requirement, so she doesn't exactly have a ton of free time to come out and party.

Zhongli has been doing fine as well. He had spent his Christmas on campus with Venti (you really need to talk to Venti soon and get an update on how the hell he met Zhongli), and a mutual friend of theirs, Xiao. Otherwise, he's been busy preparing materials for classes he'll be helping teach in the upcoming semester.

You drink as you listen, of course—your tummy becoming wonderfully warm and sloshy as the group tells their tales. The tension in your muscles melts away, your mind drifting from those three words that have plagued you for days now, and for a while, you're totally at peace.

Lisa drags you up to dance. Childe disappears to get another pitcher of drinks for the table. At some point, Fischl appears, dragging Mona in along with her.

Hours of the night tick away in their company, your cheeks flushed as you indulge in conversation with everyone. You lose count of how many drinks you actually have, but you're sitting somewhere between tipsy and drunk.

After this dance, you decide, you'll get a glass of water.

"Hey—"

A hand slides against your waist, and with a big smile, you turn around to look at whoever is trying to get your attention. You assume it's Lisa or Childe, considering they'd joined you on the dance floor, and luckily it is—Childe leaning in to talk in your ear over the music.

"I'm gonna go back up to the bar to order more drinks. Wanna come with me so you can see that red head you like?"

He leans back with a grin, fully expecting to see your already pink cheeks flush deeper at the mention of your crush, but instead, he sees the smile drop from your face. Stripped bare thanks to all the alcohol in your system, you nervously bite your lip, and to your utter dismay, both Childe and Lisa notice.

Immediately, they're leading you away by your wrist, towards the open back entrance of the bar, where it's less crowded. Cool winter air blows in through the opening, and it actually feels nice against your hot skin.

"Okay," Childe starts, moving some sweat slicked hair out of his face. "I'm not usually one to pry, but—"

"Is something going on with you and Diluc, sweetie?"

Lisa's question is laced with sympathy, and her concern from you reaches her eyes as she reaches out to grab your shoulder.

You sigh, cupping your palms over your face. You've been trying so hard not to think about this all night, but—

"It's honestly really stupid," you mumble.

"Obviously not, if it's upsetting you," Childe responds, apparently taking this seriously, to your surprise.

"No, it really is, and I wish I could just forget about it."

Lisa gives your shoulder a little squeeze, both of them patiently waiting for you to elaborate. You sigh loudly, feeling your defenses starting to crumble. It's hard, keeping all these feelings to yourself.

"Over Christmas, Diluc told me he loved me. But now I can't stop thinking about how."

With the floodgates open, your words continue tumbling out.

"I mean, I'm thrilled. I've loved him as a person for so long, I'm absolutely elated he loves me too. But obviously you all know I have this stupid crush on him, so even though he finally said it, I want to know—you know—how he sees me. Does he love me as a friend? As more than that? And I keep trying to convince myself just to accept his words at face value and not overthink it but I literally can't stop thinking about it because my stupid heart keeps hoping maybe he meant it in a more than platonic way—!"

You pause to catch your breath.

When you look up, Childe and Lisa are both staring at you. Suddenly, you feel terrible regret for dumping all of that on them, and are half a second away from apologizing when Childe speaks up.

"Well, I can assure you what you're feeling isn't stupid," he says, crossing his arms. Lisa nods in agreement.

"Childe is right, sweetheart. Your feelings are totally valid, and I can understand why you're so frustrated right now. But…in my honest opinion, these feelings won't go away unless you just…ask him."

Dread pings in your chest. Ask him? No way—

"You two are obviously very important to each other. I doubt your relationship would simply fall apart if you asked him how he feels about you."

"Yeah," Childe agrees, nodding sagely. "Just go up to him and say: "Hey, what do you see me as?" and see what he says. Be brave about it, and then you'll either end up dating, or you'll stay friends. At least, until he realizes he does like you. But yeah, there's really only those two paths, and both would be an okay outcome, right? So just rip the bandaid off."

You laugh nervously, eyes darting past them, over the crowd and towards the bar. You can't see Diluc, but you're sure he's there, somewhere.

"You're asking a lot of me here—"

"C'mon—"

Reaching forward, Childe grabs your wrist, and begins tugging you across Angel's Share.

"I'll buy you a shot for extra courage. Now or never, Y/N."

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck—

Childe, apparently an expert at weaving through crowds, makes it to the bar in record time. And of course, there's a spot open right up front—

"What can I—...Y/N?"

FUCK FUCK FUCK—

Your eyes dart upward, finding Diluc. There's surprise written on his face. Obviously he hadn't noticed your arrival, or expected to see you here.

"I need one shot of uh…," Childe glances over at you, not exactly sure what you like, but when he sees you're frozen, he goes with his gut. "...tequila, please."

Despite his gaze lingering on you still, Diluc skillfully reaches over and snags a bottle of tequila, and a shot glass. He pours it right to the top without looking, and then sets it on top of the bar in front of Childe. Immediately, Childe pushes it towards you.

"Y/N wants to talk to you."

Oh, thanks Childe, now there's no way for you to back out.

Cradling the shot glass between your palms, you can't help but feel bad when Diluc frowns in concern. You're about to try and take back Childe's statement—apologize and say it can wait, since Diluc is obviously so busy—but Diluc speaks up before you can say anything.

"Okay. My break is about now anyway."

He starts stripping himself of his apron, and clearing the space in front of him of any bottles. When he's done, his eyes are on you once again, waiting for you to follow him off to the side.

You swear to god—

Gripping the shot glass tightly, you down it in one go—throat burning—and then make your way to the end of the bar. Diluc meets you there, motioning towards the doors that lead back into the kitchen.

"Let's go to the office," he says. Your feet move on autopilot, following after him as he leads you through the kitchen, and back into a private office at the rear of the restaurant. He doesn't bother shutting the door, just closes it enough that the sound from the tavern and kitchen isn't overwhelming, so the two of you can hear each other.

"What's up?"

He's still worried. That's the last thing you want, considering he hasn't done anything wrong. You're just. Making yourself crazy. And you want to run away so badly —you can't lose Diluc—but you…you can't avoid this forever. You just can't.

Fists clenching at your side, heat radiating off your face, you finally meet his gaze head on and ask—

"How do you see me, Diluc? What am I to you?"

By early evening, Diluc is already exhausted. After working days on end, all he wants is to go home and rest for once. Everything feels like it's beginning to blur despite his best efforts to stay focused. Luckily, he can take orders on autopilot for the most part. And that's really all he needs to do for the rest of the night.

The tavern will be closed tomorrow for New Years, he can worry about the aftermath and cleaning up any messes then. For now, he just needs to survive a few more hours. The ball will drop soon enough, and once it has, and people have gotten their messy New Year's kisses out of the way, the crowds will start to filter out, they'll kick out any stragglers at 2AM, and then finally he'll be fr—

"What can I—," a new patron approaches the bar, and he begins to ask out of habit for their order. However, the words die on his tongue the second he spots you standing there. Cheeks flushed, gaze cast aside shyly.

"Y/N?"

He hadn't expected to see you here…you typically hate crowds. He had figured you'd be at home, watching the ball drop cozy in your pjs…

Your eyes slide to him when he calls your name, and Diluc can't take his eyes off of you. Aside from the fact that seeing you is like an oasis in the desert on this hellish night, you look a little…nervous. Why?

"I need a shot of uh…tequila."

For the first time, Diluc notices the man you've come up to the bar with. Childe, if he remembers correctly. Kaeya's friend. Is Kaeya here too?

Despite his questions, Diluc prepares the shot with little thought, placing it on the bar in front of Childe. To his utter surprise, Childe slides it to you.

"Y/N wants to talk to you," Childe says. You fidget with the shot glass, and Diluc hears warning alarms going off in his head. He can see the anxiety rolling off of you. Did Childe do something to make you feel that way? Did Kaeya drag you out to the bar against your will?

He doesn't technically have a break tonight, but—

"Okay. My break is about now anyway—," he's already reaching for the strings of his apron. He moves quickly, tidying up his area—wanting to get you by yourself and make sure you're alright.

You take the shot before he can finish and Diluc tenses with worry.

Tired, and concerned—trying to think over the loud crowd and then thrum of the music—Diluc decides to take you back into the office.

When the two of you finally make it, he swings the door mostly closed, and then breathes a long sigh. His crimson eyes focus on you, and he attempts to come off cool and collected, despite how he really feels.

"What's up?"

Your fingers shake, your hands curling into fists at your sides, and Diluc feels anxiety knot in his chest. Has something happened? He's never seen you like this before. If anyone in the bar did something to you—if Childe or Kaeya forced you to do something you didn't want—he'd kill—

"How do you see me, Diluc? What am I to you?"

His worrying grinds to a sudden halt, like a train conductor pulling the emergency break.

His eyes go wide, and he searches your face for any hint of what this is related to. However, all he finds is frustration, desperation.

If he were in his right mind, he'd probably pause, and ask you why you're asking. He'd properly gather his thoughts before saying anything, considering his answer will obviously hold a lot of weight once he says it. He can't afford to answer carelessly but…he's exhausted. Busy, and exhausted, and suddenly hopeless to make sure you're alright.

So, he decides to say the first thing that pops into his mind. After all, what does he have to be cautious about? He knows his own feelings…right?

"We're…," he looks at your cutely flushed cheeks. The outfit you'd obviously put thought into picking out, considering the way it hugs you and accentuates all your best features. The plushness of your lips, your canine tugging at your bottom lip as you wait for him to provide his answer…

His heart is going a million miles an hour. Why is he suddenly so nervous?

"We're friends."

It's the truth. That's what you are. Friends. Roommates. Someone dearly important to him.

A flash of disappointment passes through your eyes, and he can see it, despite how you quickly blot it out by forcing a smile. A tiny, awkward little laugh leaves your lips.

"We—! You're—"

He's rushing to elaborate before he can fully think of what it is he wants to say. To think of why you might be disappointed in that moment. All he knows is—you're a huge piece of his world. A very integral part in the ever growing puzzle of his life. Without you, he'd be lost. At this point, he can't imagine not having you around. It'd be like…

Like losing a member of his family.

Family.

You're already trying to move on, your words reaching his ears. But he doesn't want to let the moment go.

"That's fine, Diluc. I'm sorry to bring this up when you're busy. I'm glad you see me as—"

"—You're like a sister to me."

The brief second of disappointment you feel when he says "friend" is nothing compared to fucking freight train of disappointment that hits you the moment he says "sister ".

The potential path to ever being more than friends crumbles right before your eyes.

You thought there had only been two choices. Friend, or more-than-a-friend. Never did you imagine Diluc's version of more-than-a-friend would be SISTER.

You have no idea what to say now.

"I…," your voice wavers, and you tuck your head towards your chest. "Yeah. Sorry for interrupting your work. I think I'll head home now."

You duck past him, back into the kitchen. If he calls after you, you don't hear him. You b-line for the tavern exit.

Childe and Lisa, who are waiting near the bar for your grand return, immediately chase after you the second they see your head pop out of the kitchen's double doors. Judging by how quickly you're trying to escape, they can only guess things haven't gone well.

" Sister," you tell them when they catch you in the parking lot. There are tears frozen to your bottom lashes, tiny puffs of fog fanning in front of your mouth as you attempt to get ahold of your emotions. You're embarrassed, and disappointed, and angry—

Lisa volunteers to give you a ride home.

You cry on Lisa's shoulder for a while before you ever make it into your apartment.

She does her best to comfort you—reassuring you that you've done nothing wrong. That you'd had a right to ask. That you can pass off running away as your social battery simply running low.

You know she's not wrong, and you appreciate how she's trying to make you feel better but…

You thank her for the ride, and for all her help, and then head inside.

When you enter the apartment, the TV is on. You kick your shoes off, drop your purse on the floor next to them. Your plan is to simply go to bed, cry some more, and then wake up tomorrow and get a hold of yourself.

It's stupid to be this upset just because your crush— ex-crush , only friend—doesn't like you in the same way. At the very least, he obviously still loves you. And you love him. That hasn't changed. Then why the hell do you want to scream—

"You look nice."

Kaeya's voice catches you off guard, despite the obvious signs that someone else was home.

"Thanks," you grumble, padding into the kitchen to fetch a big glass of water. "Didn't think you'd be here."

"I guess I'm getting older," Kaeya bemoans from where's sprawled out over the couch. He's got a livestream of the ball drop pulled up on TV. Only 8 minutes till midnight.

"After drinking the last few days, I had to tap out early. Figured it wouldn't hurt to spend New Years Eve at home for once."

"Mm."

You take a few hefty gulps of water, hoping Kaeya won't notice anything is wro—

"What's wrong, princess?"

You groan in frustration. Your head throbs. You're not sure if it's from crying, or the alcohol.

"You can stop telling me to flirt with Diluc," you say, biting the words out as you turn to face him. Anger burns hot in your chest, thinking about all the times Kaeya insinuated so surely that Diluc liked you, when—

"Considering he sees me as a sister."

Kaeya's eye gets impossibly wide, then—the male hurrying to prop himself up.

"What?"

He searches your face for any sign of a lie—that you're just fucking with him for the fun of it—but no. You're dead serious. You're…heartbroken.

Fuck, Diluc is a dumbass.

"Aw, Y/N, I'm sorry," he says seriously, suddenly aware of how often he had insisted about Diluc's feelings towards you. Not that he thinks he's wrong. Even now.

Diluc is just…Diluc. Emotionally mature in many ways, but not exactly when it comes to introspection or romance.

"I…honestly just think he might be confused."

You snort a laugh, not sounding very convinced.

Turning, you pour yourself another glass of water from the tap. One to take with you to bed.

"I'm serious," Kaeya continues, not willing to drop it just yet. He's seen the way Diluc acts around you. Has witnessed the absolute adoration in Diluc's gaze when he looks at you. You have Diluc's heart.

"You asked him at Angel's Share? You probably just caught him off guard and he—"

"Kaeya," you interrupt him, throat tight. "Listen. I appreciate that you don't want me to be upset by this, but that's what Diluc said, and I just…need to accept it.

"I mean," you hiccup, and dammit, you really don't want to get all emotional about this a second time—in front of Kaeya no less, but—

"What's so wrong with him seeing me as his sister, you know?"

As much as it hurts you to say that, you know it's the truth.

"I mean, he told me he loved me—"

Kaeya jolts at that, not having known. When had this happened? Is that why you've been acting so weird ever since coming home from the winery?

"—and if he loves me as a sister, that's fine, right? Because I love him too. So I should just be satisfied with the fact that he loves me and sees our relationship as one as close as family…"

Kaeya's gaze softens as he regards you, his heart aching as he watches tears stream down your cheeks. He understands your logic, but…

"You're right, but being logical about it sometimes doesn't make it any easier."

You nod, fists rubbing at your irritated eyes.

He's right. And you're right too.

All that matters to you, at the end of the day, is that Diluc is in your life. As long as he sees you in a favorable light, and the two of you are able to maintain your good relationship, that's what matters. But…at the same time, that logic won't erase the sadness you're feeling right now. The loss of what could have been. The romantic relationship you'd daydreamed about one too many times.

"I ran off," you sob, your pulse thundering in your head, and your knee's wobble. Kaeya immediately crosses the space between the two of you, gathering you in his arms to keep you from falling.

He can smell the alcohol on you. Childe had briefly mentioned the idea of inviting you out to Angel's Share before Kaeya had split ways with the group earlier on this evening, and now he figures you must have gone. Probably intending to drink your emotions away, considering if Diluc's confession had happened back at the winery, you've been holding onto all these confused, pent up feelings for days now…

Your fingers grip the back of Kaeya's shirt, your face burying against his chest. He can feel you shaking.

"What if he hates me now, Kaeya? I cornered him for an answer and then I just ran off when the one he gave wasn't what I wanted."

"Oh, you silly thing, Diluc could never hate you," he assures you, his hand rubbing comfortingly between your shoulder blades.

"He's probably a little confused and worried, but you two will be just fine. Trust me."

You whine, but don't try to refute him. Diluc did say he loves you, after all. You doubt he'd revoke those feelings so easily.

It takes a few minutes, but you finally cry out all the tears you have left. Kaeya holds you the entire time—his body swaying side to side, and his hand soothing up and down your spine.

In the background, the TV counts down the last 10 seconds of the year. You can hear other people in the building and on the streets yelling out the numbers as well—fireworks and celebratory screams ringing out as you finally tick into the New Year.

"You should be out getting a New Year's kiss from some pretty lady," you say, trying to lighten the mood. You finally pull your face out of Kaeya's chest, a tired smile tugging at your lips as you look up at him. Your cheeks are still flushed—likely a product of crying and all the alcohol still floating around in your system.

"You don't need to worry about me," Kaeya tells you in turn, lifting one of his hands to cup your cheek. His thumb brushes over your damp skin, clearing away any remaining tears. "I think I'm glad I opted to stay in for once."

You quietly laugh, leaning into his hand.

"Thank you. For listening."

"Of course," he responds.

His voice is soft, your skin warm against his palm.

"I'll try and talk with Diluc soon," you sigh. "Make sure we're on good terms, so I can…move on."

Kaeya hums. He hopes that Diluc will man up and tell you how he really feels, assuming Kaeya's intuition on all of this isn't totally misguided, which he sincerely doubts, but…

"Y/N?"

"Hm?"

"I'm sure you and Diluc will work things out, but I also know you, and I'm sure you won't be able to move on so easily, so…if you ever need a distraction, I'm here."

You blink at him, innocently asking, "Distraction? What kind?"

Kaeya regards you thoughtfully. The arm he's had wrapped around you shifts—his hand coming to rest on your waist—and you swear, for just a moment, his eye flickers down to look at your lips.

However, you don't have long to think about it, because Kaeya is suddenly leaning in, pressing the softest of kisses to your cheek.

"Any kind of distraction you can think of," he finally answers, his voice nearly a whisper, but you can tell he's serious.

Then! He's leaning back, flashing you one of his classic shit-eating Kaeya grins.

"That was a New Year's kiss I just stole, by the way. Since you were so worried I'd be missing out."

Shuffling around you, Kaeya moves towards the TV. With the festivities over, he shuts it off, and then stifles a yawn—turning towards his bedroom.

"I'm probably gonna hit the hay. But if you need anything, I'm here, alright?"

"Thanks," you respond with a nod, feeling bone-tired yourself. There are still a lot of thoughts buzzing around in your head—that you should apologize to Diluc, that you'll have to move on from your feelings, and that Kaeya has just offered to be a "distraction" (whatever that means)—but you don't have the energy left to think on them too much.

No, the only energy you have left is spent brushing your teeth, tearing your clothes off, and crawling into bed.

You'll deal with tomorrow when you get there.

Notes:

:'))) I fully accept if anyone wants to yell at me. I promise there is still a good 'ol happy ending for our trio in the works, but you didn't think there wasn't gonna be more drama before then...did you? :')

As always, reviews are very much appreciated ❤️

Chapter 15: Bitter Sweet

Notes:

I cannot promise how long this recent motivation to write will last, but in the meantime let's all enjoy another update! 💃💃

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The next morning, you stay in bed for a while, thinking.

Despite the tiny pounding in your head—a product of last night's trip to Angel's Share—you've managed to sleep solidly throughout the night. Which helps a little bit with…processing everything that's going on.

It still hurts, of course. Sister. But…

You sigh, rolling over in your bed to face your bedroom door.

But you should apologize—for the way you acted. Diluc had answered your question honestly, and it had been wrong of you to get upset and run off like that. You'd let your emotions get the better of you and had forced his hand for an answer at an inconsiderate time for him—in the middle of an incredibly busy work shift—and overall, you feel extremely sorry.

It will take time for you to move on. Even now, you still feel a little terrified to see him. But more than anything, you just want to make sure you and Diluc are alright.

Kicking off your covers, you swing your legs over the side of your bed, and reach for your phone.

9:41AM

You need some food. And a glass of water. Maybe two.

Summoning your energy, you shuffle towards the kitchen. You pull the door to your room open, noting that Kaeya's is still closed (he had mentioned feeling hungover yesterday, despite his playful attitude, so maybe he's still recovering…), and then turn towards the main living area of the apartment.

The second you breach the threshold of the kitchen, you pause—a flash of red catching your attention.

Diluc is already awake—standing at the stove, making himself breakfast. There are bags under his eyes. He looks like he needs another half day worth of sleep, and yet he's already fully dressed—shoes on and everything.

For a minute, you can only stare, unsure of what to say. Just seeing him makes your chest constrict. Your heart conjures up a picture of what could have been in your head—walking up behind him, hugging yourself against his back—Diluc's laughter rumbling in his chest before he turns and grabs your cheeks, pressing a sweet good morning ki—

The logical part of your brain stomps out that scenario, before the ache you feel grows any worse.

You're not here to daydream about impossibles. You're here to talk to him as a friend—to apologize.

Diluc turns to grab a plate from the cupboard, his back facing you. He hasn't realized you've been standing there, and you figure it'd be better if you say something before does.

"I'm surprised you're already up and at 'em," you say, your voice quiet, and tone friendly. You see Diluc pause—just for a second, the plate he'd retrieved hovering in mid-air—before he sets it on the counter, and turns to face you.

He flashes you a small smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to actually rest until I know Angel's Share is all cleaned up and taken care of."

His response is followed by a hefty sigh, and you can tell he's exhausted. His hair is messy, his movements sluggish as he drags himself over to the table. Your carefully measured anxiety starts to grow bigger, seeing him like this. Your guilt feels heavier.

Taking a quiet breath, you finally step into the kitchen. You b-line for the cereal cupboard, and then go on the hunt for a bowl and spoon.

"I hope it's a quick clean-up," you say, feeling like now's not the right time to change the topic. To open up about what happened last night.

"You're not cleaning up alone, are you?"

"No," Diluc responds. "Charles is coming in to help, as are a few others. I think we should be done by one."

His voice is neutral, void of any indication of how he's truly feeling. You hum.

"That's good."

Not knowing what else to say, the two of you lapse into silence. You pour yourself a bowl of cereal, quietly taking the seat across from him at the table. His attention is focused on his phone. You know, because you keep peeking at him between spoonfuls of your breakfast, and he hasn't turned his eyes up, towards you. Not once.

The legs of his chair slide against the floor as he stands, his plate empty. He sets it in the sink, and then turns, brushing past you towards the front door.

Your lungs feel tight. Diluc must be upset with you. You've never seen him act this distant.

You hear his footfalls pause somewhere behind you. Hesitation, for a few long seconds. You pray that he'll say something—to open up a conversation about what happened, or to say anything that might give you a better indication of how he's feeling. But he doesn't.

He eventually continues on his path to the apartment entrance. His keys jingle, and you hear the sound of a coat being shrugged on, a door handle turning, and then the apartment door auto-locking shut.

Diluc is gone.

You release a shaky breath you hadn't realized you'd been holding onto, and your eyes start to burn as tears well up. Your half-eaten cereal goes forgotten as you press to your feet—darting into your room before you can even think about what it is you're doing.

All you know is: you can't let him leave like that, if only for your own sake. You think you'll physically be sick if you're forced to sit at home and allow your worries to stew while he's off at work. And as more time passes, it'll just be harder to bring it up.

It's now or never.

You shrug on a hoodie and a pair of sweats at the speed of light—jamming your feet into the nearest pair of shoes.

Miraculously, you manage not to tumble down the stairwell after darting out of the apartment, and when you finally make it to the ground floor and burst out into the frigid winter air, you hurriedly scan the parking lot for Diluc. Unfortunately, his red hair is nowhere to be found amongst the grays and whites of the winter, meaning he must already be in his car—

You spot it immediately—knowing by now the area of the lot Diluc prefers to park. He's already reversing out of his spot, preparing to leave.

You make a mad dash ahead—and end up in front of his car just as he's about to shift it into drive. Luckily, he spots you, his foot pressing hard on the brake to keep his car from rolling into forward. His mouth opens, and you can see the disbelief on his face.

Hot air fanning in front of you with every quick breath, you move around to the passenger side of his car, pulling on the handle. It doesn't work the first time, and Diluc quickly shifts the car into park and unlocks the doors.

Finally, you tug the door open, and slide into the passenger seat of his car. Your face is flushed from the cold, your fingers feeling like icicles—and yet, you don't worry about any of that. Your attention focuses on Diluc.

"What are you doing?" he's already starting to scold, although you can hear the confusion and concern in his voice as well. "You shouldn't jump in front of a car like that. And—and It's freezing out—"

"I know, I'm—I'm sorry. I just—," you shift in your seat, turning to fully face him. Your adrenaline seems to crash, then—now that you're sitting here, with him, trying to find the right words to say.

"I..," your voice comes out quieter, a little more feebly than before, but you don't let yourself shy away from the words you know need to be said. You came out here to try and clear the air between you two—to apologize for the way you acted—so that's just what you need to do.

"I'm really sorry about the way I acted last night. It was wrong of me to bother you when you were busy, and then just run off like that. I feel really bad, and I just…I want you to know that…I'm okay."

You bite your lip, your heart going a million miles an hour.

Even if you're okay (or at least saying that you're okay), that's not the only side that matters here, is it?

"But…are you okay?"

You feel a little bad, then, because it feels like you're pressing him for yet another answer. He'd gotten home late and had woken up early, and now you're basically asking him to reassure you that everything's fine when he probably has barely gotten a chance to think about it at all.

Dammit, you're going about all of this wrongly, again—

"Actually—," you try to backpedal, flashing him an awkward smile. "—you don't need to answer that. I'm sorry—"

"Y/N—"

Diluc's soft voice fills the space of the car, his warm hands finding yours. He cradles your hands between his, and you feel the winter chill start to melt away.

"—we'll always be okay, you don't need to worry about that."

The relief that floods you is instantaneous, and you can't help the tears that flood your eyes.

Diluc must notice, because he grips your hands tighter.

"Of course I'm gonna worry though," you say, the words coming out as tearful laughter. "You're important to me, and I didn't handle the situation right at all. I got drunk and acted shitty and you didn't deserve that—"

"I understand," he responds, knowing all too well the feeling of not wanting to upset someone. You're at the top of his list in that regard, after all. "And I accept your apology. I'm sorry too."

You shake your head, a whine bubbling up in your throat, and a couple tears fly free.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Diluc. It was all me."

Diluc wants to disagree, to say he could have handled the situation better as well, but you're bumbling on before he can get the words out. And honestly, you don't even know if you should be admitting all of this, or if you're even saying any of the right things, but—

"I…I started thinking about when we were at the winery, and you said you loved me. It was the first time you said it, so I couldn't help thinking about it. But then I ended up getting drunk, and started thinking to myself about how exactly you meant those words, and I…well, obviously I cornered you for an answer when you were already overwhelmed at work. And I just—"

You try and free yourself from Diluc so you can hide your tears behind your hands, but his grip refuses to loosen—and you end up bringing both your and his hands to your head, rubbing your forehead against his knuckles as you try and calm yourself down.

"I didn't go about it in the best way, and I'm so sorry. I really love being in your life, and being your friend. I…"

You seem to run out of words then, your piece having been said, but the tears won't stop.

It's all overflowing now—one big, cathartic release you've probably been building up for months. Without realizing it, you may have been putting a lot of your own emotions aside to help keep the peace between Diluc and Kaeya…

As you attempt to reign it all back in, Diluc regards you in silence—his fingers gripping yours tighter, and his chest aching.

He wants to say something right away—his gut instinct to let you know it's all alright, and to comfort you—but he takes a second to think over his words, and what you've said. After all, he'd rushed to respond last night, and had ended up upsetting you, so he doesn't want that to happen yet again.

But speaking of last night…

"You said you loved me…and I started thinking to myself about how exactly you meant those words".

He supposes it's his own fault for not realizing the potential weight those words would carry when he said them, but it had just felt…right. And he doesn't regret saying them, because it's true. He does love you. But…

How?

…what answer had you been hoping for, he wonders? Or had you been hoping for anything at all? Maybe all you had wanted from him was clarification, and nothing more. But then, why had you seemed upset?

Diluc squeezes his eyes shut, taking a deep breath.

You'd said it yourself. That you love being in his life, and being his friend. And at the core of his being, that's how he feels too.

So for now, he'll just stick with that.

"Y/N, look at me, please."

Diluc gently pries his hands away from your face, taking yours along with him. Your tears have subsided, thankfully, but your breathing is still shaky.

He slots his fingers together with yours, resting your hands on the center console separating the two of you.

"You don't need to apologize anymore. I was never upset with you. I've just been…tired, and focused on other things, so I'm sorry if the way I came off this morning made it seem as if we were anything other than okay."

He soothingly rubs his thumbs over the skin of your hand, flashing you a smile small to reassure you.

"I love being in your life as well, and I consider you to be one of my closest friends."

"Okay good," you sniffle, the tightness of your chest finally loosening as your anxiety abates.

"And I still love you," he says after a beat, working up the courage to say those three meaningful words once more. "I won't apologize for saying that."

You laugh, and it's a little wet and ugly, but the sound breathes relief into Diluc nonetheless.

"No take-backs," you joke, and unable to help yourself, you release his hands, and lean forward to hug him. It's perhaps one of the least comfortable hugs you've been in—the center console digging into your side as you wrap your arms tightly around his shoulders, but you refuse to pull away.

Diluc is quick to reciprocate the gesture, his arms wrapping around your back and pulling you closer.

"I still love you too," you mumble into his shoulder, and you feel Diluc chuckle.

"No take-backs," he says, and you can't help but giggle.

Basking in the solace the other provides, the two of you stay in the hug a while.

…At least, until you crack your eyes open and notice someone driving around Diluc's car over his shoulder—a glare directed at the both of you as they go past. It then occurs to you that Diluc is stopped in the middle of the parking lot—likely blocking traffic.

"As much as I love getting hugs from you, I think you need to go," you say, settling back into your seat. Diluc blinks in confusion, and you point to the car that had just scooted around him.

"We're kind of. In the way."

"Shit," he mumbles, realizing you're right. He straightens out in his seat, looking around to make sure no other car is coming his way. You smile a little, fingers finding the handle of the passenger side door.

"I hope the cleanup goes well. Sorry for keeping you for so long."

You pop the door open, getting one foot outside the vehicle, before Diluc grabs your wrist—effectively stopping you.

Surprised, you turn back to look at him, wondering if he has something else to say.

And Diluc feels like there's something that should be said. A nagging feeling in the back of his head—that even though the two of you have talked about what happened, there's something else that still needs rectifying.

Sister .

…is that really how he sees you? His feelings for you seem larger than those that accompany a simple friendship, which is why he'd said it. But was that the right word to use? He's not so sure anymore…

Maybe—

HONK

Diluc blinks out of his thoughts, noticing that yet another car has snuck up on him—a truck, to be exact. Meaning they can't exactly scoot around Diluc.

"Sorry—," he ends up saying, releasing his hold on you. "It's nothing. I'll see you at home later."

"Good luck," you respond, hurrying out of the car. Once the door is shut behind you, Diluc immediately shifts into drive and pulls away. You make an apologetic gesture to the truck who'd been waiting, before turning and heading inside.

As the two of you go your own ways—despite the peace you've made—somehow, you both still end up feeling bitter sweet…

Following your conversation with Diluc, everything seems to fall back into place quite easily. The old dynamic resumes—a playful, light hearted atmosphere returning to an apartment full of friends.

After finally cleaning up Angel's Share, Diluc comes home and crashes in his room for a few hours—leaving you and Kaeya (who had finally woken up), to fend for yourselves. When Diluc eventually wakes up, it's to the smell of dinner.

"I'm telling you—the key is to brown the chicken in the same pot you're making the soup in. It gives it way more flavor."

"I'm not doubting you, princess, considering how good this is. Oh, good morning, Diluc. Care to try some of the chicken noodle soup Y/N magically whipped together?"

Joining you and Kaeya at the kitchen table, the three of you end up chatting for a while. At least, until you remember the new semester starts the next day. Then, you're all prepping material—gathering notebooks, and printing required syllabi so you don't lose points right off the bat.

The magic of holiday break is over…reality starts to set in again.

But! You're determined to start the semester off with a positive outlook.

And for the first few days, everything is great. The three of you go back to balancing classes, work, homework, and everything else. Luckily, the first week is pretty easy, considering in most lectures, all you do is read through syllabi. It's not until Thursday night—Diluc making dinner at the stove, and you and Kaeya lounging in the living room—when things start to go wrong.

"A lot of people on social media are saying classes might be canceled tomorrow," Kaeya says, scrolling through his phone.

You frown, mindlessly searching Netflix for something to watch.

"Why's that?"

"Temperamental weather," Diluc responds from the kitchen, apparently having been listening in. "I guess this area is potentially right on the edge of both a warm and cold front."

"So…basically we'll be getting rain, or snow? And they can't tell us yet."

"As we all know, the meteorologist cannot control the weather, or they wouldn't get it wrong so often," Kaeya responds, making you roll your eyes. "So at this point it seems like they're just issuing a general weather caution."

"It might be nice to have a day off so soon," you say, not realizing how you'd come to regret those words.

The next day, to your utter surprise, you wake up to an email from the university stating the campus is closed. Extremely dangerous weather conditions, apparently.

Curious, you roll out of bed and shuffle over to your window, peeking through the closed blinds.

"Oh…"

Outside, the world is gleaming with ice.

"It rained, and then the front shifted, and brought the cold air in. So now everything is ice," Diluc says when you wander into the kitchen to rendezvous with your roommates. Kaeya is already up and at 'em, nursing a cup of coffee at the table. And Diluc seems to be making eggs for three, knowing your alarm had been scheduled to go off soon.

"Apparently a lot of people have lost their power because of it," Kaeya chimes in, taking a sip of his drink. "It seems we're one of the lucky ones."

Grabbing 3 plates from the cupboard, Diluc begins to divy up the eggs.

"Don't jinx it—," he chides, only half joking, and before he can make it to the kitchen table with breakfast, the three of you hear a screech, a bang, and then immediately, the sound of all the electronics in your apartment turning off.

In disbelief, you all immediately wander over to the nearest window and look outside.

In front of your apartment complex, you see a car with a dent in the side, and a telephone pole laying on the ground.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," Diluc sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. In disbelief, all Kaeya can say is—

"Okay, I really didn't think I'd jinx it."

There's a few seconds where none of you say anything, and you can hear the other occupants of the building through the walls—some people laughing in genuine shock at what has just occurred, while others curse angrily.

Personally, you're not sure how to feel. Without classes, there's no reason for you to go out into the icy world outside, but without power, you're going to be trapped in your apartment all day with nothing to do…

"C'mon," Diluc eventually mumbles, shuffling back towards the kitchen table. "Let's eat breakfast before it gets cold."

More than ever, today, you're extremely grateful that you live with roommates. Because without electronics, you're pretty sure you would have died of boredom if not for Diluc and Kaeya.

After finishing breakfast, the three of you had bundled up, and taken a trip down to the ground floor to assess the situation. As far as you can see, there are people and cars sliding up and down roads and sidewalks—the conditions outside making it completely impossible to go anywhere.

There are other students sliding around the parking lot for fun—banging their knees and elbows on the ground as they slip around on the ice—but your trio collectively agrees the last thing any of you want to happen right now is someone potentially getting injured, so you end up heading back inside.

Diluc accesses the local power companies website as you take stock of the non-perishables in the cupboards. Luckily, you have enough soup, bread, and peanut butter to last a few days. Which is good, because—

"The power company says the restoration estimate for our area is 11pm, but they also have a note on their website saying due to the conditions of the road, it may take longer to get to affected areas and begin working."

Great.

Stranded, and miraculously without homework, the three of you decide to play some games to pass the time. The small stack of board games and card games you have stashed away in your closet are dragged out into the living room, and you play them one by one until there's nothing left to play.

And by then, it's still the afternoon.

Kaeya groans, flopping back against the living room floor.

"I'm starving."

"Make lunch then," Diluc responds without missing a beat, helping you to put all the dominoes back in the tin.

Kaeya makes a sound of annoyance, and you can't help but laugh. Stacking all of your game boxes together, you stand, and turn towards your room. As you go, you brush past the thermostat—the screen blank due to lack of power, but…

It's getting a little cold in here…, you think to yourself. According to the weather app on your phone, it's below freezing outside. You hadn't really considered it until now, but without heat coming from the vents, your apartment is probably starting to decrease in temperature…

Hopefully, it'll be fine though. You'll just put on a few extra layers in the meantime so you don't get chilled throughout the day.

…however, as the day drags on, and the sun sets, the chill of the apartment begins to grow worse. And it becomes apparent that you're not the only one feeling the cold.

"I'm not sure how many more layers I can put on," Diluc mumbles as he steps up beside you. You're working on making dinner for three—a gourmet meal composed of PB&J sandwiches and snack sized chip bags.

Glancing over at him, you note that the top layer of his clothes already looks stretched out—forced to accommodate the other layers he's wearing underneath.

"Yeah, I think I need gloves," you respond, setting the butter knife in your hand aside. "Despite all the clothes I have on, I can't feel my fingers."

You reach over to grab one of the plates, but Diluc intercepts you. He cradles your hand between his own, frowning when he feels the chill of your skin.

Your heart clenches at the contact.

"You really do need gloves…," he says. He gives your hand a little squeeze before stepping back.

"I have a pair, let me get them."

Disappearing into his room, you're left standing there, a sigh threatening to spill from your lips. However, before the sound can worm out of you, another body enters your space.

"Do we have any more spare blankets," Kaeya says, resting his chin on your shoulder. His hair spills down your front, and you can tell he's bundled up as well.

"I thought the cold didn't bother you," you respond with a small grin. Kaeya huffs, reaching past you to grab one of the sandwiches.

"Being outside for a few minutes versus being stranded in an apartment that's hemorrhaging heat since the sun set are two different things."

Honestly, you can't disagree.

Diluc returns a beat later with a pair of gloves for you, and you thank him as he helps fit them over your frozen fingers. The three of you end up eating dinner together around the kitchen table, the overall mood of the apartment obviously turning a little bitter along with the cold.

With darkness overtaking the apartment, you end up relying on your phone flashlights for light—not having prepared for a power outage, considering you had assumed one would never happen…or at least, not in the winter.

As night time rolls around, you divvy up all the blankets in the apartment—preparing your beds for later. Although, with nothing to do, and your phone battery dying, you end up getting in bed early.

…but, sleep doesn't come easily, and neither does warmth. Despite all the layers of clothes you're wearing, and the two extra blankets atop your comforter, you still cannot get warm. It honestly feels like you've gotten so chilled that your body won't put out any more heat.

For a few hours, you flip back and forth, trying to see if there's some secret position that will help you sleep, or if a pocket of warmth will magically appear and swallow you up, but it never does.

You're just about to roll over and scream into your pillow when there's a knock at your door.

You pause.

"Yes?"

The door knob turns, and Kaeya appears in the doorway, looking just as annoyed as you feel.

"Grab your blankets and your pillow. We're going to Diluc's room."

You jolt into a sitting position.

"What?"

"With the apartment deadly quiet I can hear you in here tossing and turning, so I assume you're freezing. I am too. And Diluc has the biggest bed. So grab your blankets."

Without waiting for you to follow, Kaeya turns and disappears. A few seconds later, you hear a muted knock, and then a door opening. Hearing Diluc's voice is what snaps you into action—your socked feet swinging over the edge of your bed as you stand and gather your blankets.

"Listen, I know it's not ideal but you have the biggest bed—"

"You wanting to use my bed isn't the issue here. It's just that—"

You scuttle into Diluc's doorway—wide-eyed and confused as to what's going on—and the two males immediately pause. Diluc's room is illuminated by the light of Kaeya's phone so you can clearly see them.

What's going on? You want to ask, but a sudden chill causes your jaw to seize up, and your teeth to rattle. You grip your blankets tighter around yourself, and Kaeya nudges Diluc with his shoulder.

"Okay," Diluc sighs, "it's fine. Let me go to the bathroom since you woke me up. You two get settled."

You step back as Diluc slips from his room and into the bathroom beside it. You still have no idea what's going on here.

"Why'd you wake him up?"

"The question you should be asking is: did he just say he was asleep? In this ring of arctic hell?"

Kaeya throws the blankets he had dragged from his bedroom across Diluc's bed. He straightens them out, and then holds out a hand, silently asking for what you have. Innocently, you hand your blankets over to him, watching as he layers them atop his own. He then takes your pillow and makes a space for it at the head of the bed—tucked between the two pillows that are already there.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, sweetheart."

With the bed satisfactorily made, Kaeya looks at you, and pats the middle space of the mattress.

"C'mon, this is your spot for the night."

Finally, it all clicks.

If you weren't an icicle—your blood frozen in your veins—you're sure you'd be blushing.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean—"

"You obviously are too cold to sleep, and unfortunately I'm in the same boat. And like it or not, Diluc is a space heater. If we all share a bed, there will be more heat between the three of us, and if we're not freezing, hopefully all of us will be able to sleep."

Well…his logic is sound, you can't deny that. And you'd love to actually get some sleep tonight…

"C'mon," Kaeya says. He reaches over and grabs your wrist, tugging you forward until your thighs bump into Diluc's mattress. "You're in the middle. Don't overthink it."

Not overthinking it is hard when you apparently are going to be taking the middle spot, and will be sandwiched between Diluc and Kaeya.

"Don't want to cuddle Diluc?" you mumble, trying to make light of the nerves you suddenly feel, but nonetheless begin climbing into bed.

It's warm, you realize immediately—Diluc's warmth and scent still lingering in the sheets—and a little bit of your worry melts away at the feeling.

"I'd just prefer to cuddle you, seeing my options," Kaeya responds quietly as he watches you tuck yourself into your spot—pulling the covers up to your chin. He doesn't waste much time joining you, not wanting to stay in the cold longer than needed.

Diluc's bed is only a queen size, so three people sharing the space will be…a tight squeeze, you realize as Kaeya settles in next to you. He does his best to stay in his space—rolling onto his side with his back to you, which you appreciate, but—

Diluc returns, then, pausing in the doorway as he takes stock of you and Kaeya squished into his mattress. Internally, he's torn between cracking a smile, and simply sighing.

Missing the warmth of his bed, though, Diluc only hesitates for a moment before joining. He chooses to lay with his back towards you as well, balancing himself on the edge of the mattress. You tuck your arms into your sides, doing your best to respect their space as well, but…it gets old. Quick.

After a few awkward minutes—your bodies all tense as you attempt to stick the sliver of space you're allowed—you can't take it anymore. Even if you are starting to warm up a little, it will be impossible to fall asleep like this.

"Let's get comfortable," you say, knowing both men are still awake. "I'm fine with physical contact, and I don't think any of us are going to be able to sleep if we just…make ourselves as small as possible."

At either of your sides, Diluc and Kaeya sigh, and immediately start shifting.

"I suppose you're right."

"Thank god."

Diluc rolls to face you, as does Kaeya, and suddenly, it's like trying to fit three puzzle pieces together.

You move first, turning to face Diluc. Your faces feel too close with your pillows on the same level, so you drag yours down a few inches until your face is level with his chest, and then throw an arm over his waist. Diluc seems at a loss for a second—unsure what to do with his arms, or his legs, for that matter—his knees knocking against yours in the new position—but he allows himself to simply…go with the flow.

Gently, he nudges your knees apart with his own, and comfortably slots your legs together. As he figures out the most comfortable placement for his arms (one of them stretching out into the empty space your pillow had previously been), Kaeya makes his move.

Now that he has permission, Kaeya doesn't bother shying away from contact. He wraps his arm around your waist—his palm resting flat against your ribs as he pulls himself closer. You feel his chest curve against your back and the tops of his thighs meet the backs of yours as he conforms to your shape.

Physically, this is the closest—the most intimate—you've been with either of them. On a normal night, you think your heart would be racing a million miles an hour. But right now, all you can think about is the fact that you finally feel warm.

With the heat from your bodies finally generating a pocket of warmth beneath the layers of blankets—tucked between your boys—it doesn't take long for you to finally fall asleep.

(If Diluc unconsciously shifts closer, causing your face to snuggle against his pecs, you certainly don't realize.

And if Kaeya holds you tighter, his nose nuzzling into your hair, you don't notice that either.

And certainly, all three of you are oblivious to the sound of your electronics powering back on in the early morning hours—too cozy to realize that the power has been restored.)

Notes:

I absolutely loved seeing everyone scream after the last update :') Sorry I made y'all scream but I'm also not sorry at all LKJASDJASD
Reviews are always appreciated bc I love knowing what you thought ❤️ in the meantime, in between updates you can find me on twt joonie_beanie 💃

Chapter 16: A Bard's Wisdom

Notes:

Hooray for another update 🎉🎉 I hope you enjoy~

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

As agreed upon, Friday afternoon, Venti shows up at your job like clockwork. You're not actually on shift today, but considering you know he likes the food here, you figure it's no big deal to come in on your day off. Plus, as an employee, you have perks—like being able to snag a booth in the corner of the restaurant, away from other patrons.

"Ah! Like a ray of sunshine on a cold winter day~"

You can't help rolling your eyes, but you smile nonetheless as Venti seats himself across from you.

"It's good to see you too. Speaking of, I believe it was you who stopped coming here last semester, not that Diluc and Kaeya were "hogging me"."

You cock an eyebrow at him, waiting to see what excuse he has to say. Venti had blamed your lack of running into each other during the last few months on your roommates, but after thinking about it, you'd realized your work shifts had never really changed. Meaning you should have run into Venti more, had he continued coming around like normal.

"Ahhhh-hahaha," he laughs nervously, raising a hand to rub at the back of his head. "I may have, um. Accidentally bumped into this famous lyre that they had in an exhibit on campus, and then I had to uh…pay them back for it. After it broke."

You stare at him in utter surprise. You had not been expecting that, at all.

"Venti, why were you even at a place like that? You don't even—"

His lips press together, eyes darting away from you nervously, and it suddenly clicks. You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose.

"Did you get drunk and wander in?"

He flashes you a smile, pretty much confirming that your guess is correct.

"Venti…"

"It's fine!" He says, attempting to steer the conversation onto a new topic as he reaches over and grabs a menu that's tucked behind a bottle of ketchup. "It was only a few hundred dollars, in the end. And I paid it all off! So I'm back to having money to spend. Meaning I can start coming here again!"

Already knowing exactly what he wants, Venti doesn't spend more than a few seconds looking over the menu, before he sets it down and waves one of your co-workers over to take his order.

"I'll have the ratatouille special please! And a latte."

"I'll take a grilled cheese and some fries. Thanks."

Timaeus flashes the two of you a small smile before he heads off to give the kitchen your orders. Once he's gone, Vent places his elbow on the table, leaning forward to place his chin in his palm. He cocks an eyebrow at you, smiling.

"So, my dear, I think you owe me some life updates. I heard through the grapevine that you ended up spending the holidays off at Diluc's mansion."

You have to assume "hearing it through the grapevine" means he had heard something from Zhongli, who had heard something from Childe, who Kaeya had probably made a remark to about his plans for the break. Speaking of—

"By the way, how do you know Zhongli?"

The two seem so different, you still can't believe they're close…

"Oh, him? I was playing a little show in the student union outside the bookstore, and Zhongli happened to be nearby. He wandered over and made some comment about how my music sounded like "melodies of days gone by". I personally thought that was a little weird, but after talking with him, I realized he was an interesting fella. So, we started hanging out more, and now here we are."

"I think you're both old souls…," you mumble, causing Venti to laugh.

"Honestly, I think you're right. But enough about me~"

Venti grins like a sly little cat, focusing his attention on you once more.

"How are you?"

You're tempted to roll your eyes. Instead, you take a sip of your water and say, "by that, I'm guessing you mean: what's going on with you and your roommates?"

Venti huffs, sitting back in his seat.

"Well, I care about you more than them, but yes. I would appreciate an update. The last time I saw you was at Kaeya's birthday party, and at the time you'd just helped them finally mend the rift in their relationship. It seems like a lot has happened since then."

You don't know the half of it, you want to say, but merely hum. The sound doesn't come across very playful either, which Venti immediately picks up on.

"Oh? So something has happened?"

You lean forward and rest your cheek on your palm, your other hand flippantly waving around in the air as you give Venti an abridged version of recent events.

"Well, Kaeya and I did go to Diluc's home for the holidays. It was fun and I met his staff and overall it was a great time. Except on our final day there, Diluc and I kind of had a moment together, and he told me that he loved me, and I proceeded to freak out and over analyze what he meant. So I was stressing myself out once we came back to campus, and I ended up confronting him on New Years Eve at Angel's Share to ask him how he saw me, to which he answered "sister". So, I've been getting over that recently. But, aside from that, things are pretty much back to normal. Kaeya and Diluc are on good terms again, so the apartment is more peaceful, which is nice."

"Here's your latte—"

Timaeus shows up just as you finish talking, leaning over the table to set the steaming latte in front of Venti—the short male completely forgetting to say "thank you", too busy staring at you in slack-jawed shock.

"Woah, woah, woah, woah—wait—"

"If you're gonna comment about the "sister" thing I don't really want to talk about that anymore," you say with a heavy sigh, trying to remain neutral about it, so your heart doesn't start aching again. "Diluc and I talked the next day, and we're on good terms, so that's good enough for me."

Venti doesn't exactly believe it—that things as they stand are truly "good enough" for you, or even the fact that Diluc considers you to be his "sister", apparently—but because you are clearly trying to avoid thinking about it more than you need to, Venti lets it slide. Instead, he asks—

"Did you end up seeing Zhongli on New Year's Eve then? I heard he was actually planning to go out, which is a shocker. Childe's had some influence on him."

You laugh a little, grateful that Venti isn't pushing it.

"Yes, I saw Zhongli at Angel's Share. Childe is actually the one who invited me out. I went because I was expecting Kaeya to be there too, but he wasn't. It was still a good time though."

Finally picking up his latte, Venti takes a small sip, sighing delightfully as the flavor and warmth washes over him.

"I'm glad you had fun. Where was Kaeya, though? He doesn't seem the type to miss out on a chance to get drunk."

You can't help smiling at that.

"I thought the same thing, but he'd been out partying for a few days before that, and I guess he finally felt shitty enough to call it. He was actually at the apartment resting when I got home that night. He kind of…let me cry about Diluc to him."

You can still remember how warm Kaeya had been—how nice it had felt to simply be held and comforted. It'd…been a little embarrassing to be seen in such a vulnerable state, but Kaeya had handled it well.

"He actually even offered to help distract me, which was nice of him."

Venti, who had been mid-sip, pauses at that.

"Wait…how did he say it?"

You're not exactly sure why that matters, but—

"He just. He said if I "needed a distraction", he'd be there. I tried to get him to elaborate but when I asked his response was "anything you can think of", so—"

"And what were you two doing when he said that?"

You notice then that Venti has been leaning forward this whole time, completely engrossed in what you're saying. You furrow your brows, feeling a little skeptical.

"Uh…I had just finished having a breakdown, so he was holding me still. And he leaned in and kissed my cheek after he said it, but that's just because he's a little shit and wanted to steal a "New Year's Kiss", since I had teased him about not getting one since he was staying in."

Timaeus appears once again—timing impeccable—as he shuffles over to deliver your food. However, you'd be blind to miss the way a grin has spread on Venti's face, the braid-adorning man thanking Timaeus in a sing-song voice once all the plates have been set on the table.

"Alright," you say, eyes narrowed as you stare at Venti. You pick up a fry, shoving it into your mouth. "What's with that dumb look on your face?"

"Oh, my darling~" he says, smile stretching even wider, like the Cheshire Cat.

"You do realize Kaeya's offer sounds pretty DTF-y, right?"

You're glad another fry hasn't made it into your mouth yet, because if it had, you'd be choking on it.

"What?" You bark out, a gut reaction. Kaeya? DTF? With you?

"I really don't think he meant it that way."

"I dunno~," Venti responds, finally taking a bite of his meal. He's still smiling even as he chews, and you can't help huffing.

"No, I'm serious. I mean—that's just how Kaeya is, y'know? He's a tease—"

"Sounds like foreplay to me," Venti mumbles, waving his fork around. His words cause heat to rise on your face.

"Venti!"

Your friend laughs, leaning back in his seat.

"I'm just being honest, my dear. Obviously I'm not as close to Kaeya as you are, but based on an outsider's first impression, it seems like he might be interested."

"He just—," you struggle to find your words, then, your mind struggling to even deal with the suggestion that Kaeya's offer of a "distraction" may have encompassed something more… physical.

"I don't know. He's always been a little handsy, but I think that's just…how he is. And maybe because he's comfortable around me. And the teasing—he's just a little shit. We're like that to each other, it's kind of a part of our dynamic, at this point."

"Which is perhaps why he offered. Or, well, I guess he didn't offer anything sexual outright, but you know what I mean."

He takes another bite of his food, yours going untouched—too many thoughts suddenly going through your mind.

Sexual. Never once have you even considered the possibility before now. You'd never deny that Kaeya is handsome. And obviously, you are comfortable around him. Hell—the other day you'd literally fallen asleep with his arms around you. Albeit the power outage had been a unique situation and the three of you had needed to get close for heat-sharing purposes, but still.

If offering himself up as a distraction does include sex, that's…

Intimate.

And you're—you're…

"Ah-ah," Venti tsks. He reaches over and steals one of your fries, effectively knocking you from your thoughts.

"Hey!"

"Punishment for where I could tell your mind was about to wander," Venti says, popping the fry into his mouth. You deflate a little, embarrassed that he'd been able to tell, and Venti leans in—a serious look in his eyes.

"Listen, if you'd let me, I'd put my face in your boobs right now."

"Venti! "

He laughs as you cross your arms protectively over your chest.

"Sorry, sorry~ What I meant to say is, there's no reason for you to start worrying about if you're "good enough" or anything like that. You're beautiful, and I say that sincerely, so don't let your thoughts stray towards those dark places. Regardless of who you choose to be with in life—whether it be friends, partners, or otherwise—you're always enough."

You sigh. He's right, there's no point in psyching yourself out even more. It'd just make things worse.

"Didn't think I'd hear this wisdom from you, but…you're right. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, I won't push this topic too much more because I know you're already dealing with some other uncomfortable emotions due to recent events, but," he takes another sip of his latte, his gaze softening as he regards you. "I'm just telling you honestly. I think Kaeya's words may have been insinuating something. If you're interested, it might be worth asking him about it."

"I'll…think about it…," you respond, finally picking up your sandwich. The conversation topic ends there, a few beats of silence engulfing your booth as both you and Venti eat your meals. Then, Venti coughs a little and says—

"I'm thinking about buying a lyre for myself."

"Oh, Venti…"

Your walk home from the restaurant is spent in silence—music blasting in your ears as you attempt to drown out any intrusive thoughts. But despite your best efforts, it doesn't really work. After all, how are you not supposed to think about it?

Your brain has already replayed the scene of Kaeya comforting you on New Year's Eve three times in the last 10 minutes. Before now, you'd never thought too much about the placement of his hands—the way he'd been holding you, or his palm cradling your cheek, his voice whispering in your ear—but…fuck. Now you can't help wondering if you'd been blatantly unaware of some deeper intention.

But…when he'd first moved in, he'd thought you and Diluc were together. All these months, he'd kept teasing you about how much Diluc liked you. Clearly he had thought your and Diluc's relationship would pan out—turn into something more—so there's no reason any of his playful actions or words until now would have had any other meaning.

…unless something has changed?

You make an annoyed little sound in the back of your throat, trudging quicker up the sidewalk.

Maybe Kaeya had just said something like that in the heat of the moment. He was a flirt, after all. You know how much he'd gone out to socialize last semester—leaving the apartment all dressed up, knowing damn well he looked good. You have to imagine that despite never bringing anyone back to the apartment, he's had a few hookups since moving in. So, maybe it's not too much of a stretch to assume—if there was any sexual offer in being a "distraction"—that he'd only said it because it was New Year's Eve, and because there was alcohol still in his system.

You sigh, your apartment complex finally coming into view.

It's been almost three weeks since your and Diluc's heart-to-heart, and while you're finally starting to feel a bit better about it all—that being friends with Diluc forever is absolutely, perfectly fine with you—would you even be ready to try something else?

You shake your head, rummaging in your purse for your keys as you take the path towards your building.

Now you're just getting ahead of yourself. And the last thing you want to do is have your thoughts start spiraling out of control, like they had after coming back from the winery.

Honestly, the wisest thing to do would be to just man up and ask Kaeya outright. Get it out of the way. A "hey, about your offer to be a distraction, were you implying something there, or not?". He's pretty easy going, after all. It probably wouldn't be as catastrophic as other…sensitive questions you've asked lately.

But while you are wise, bravery tends to come and go, and right now, you're not sure you're feeling particularly brave.

After entering the building, you climb up the nearby staircase to your floor.

It would definitely save you a lot of potential stress, though, if you asked him sooner rather than later…

Sticking your key in the door, you turn the handle and pry the door open, stepping inside. You kick your shoes off on the landing, taking your headphones out and putting them back in their case as you pad into the apartment.

However, just as you're passing through the main room, you spot movement off to your side, and pause.

In front of the open fridge door, Kaeya is currently crouched down, frowning at the empty drawers inside.

"Didn't we just go grocery shopping?" he asks, knowing you're there. You glance over at Diluc's room, the door to which is open. He's not here.

"Uh, if by that you mean the grocery shopping Diluc did when we came back from the winery. Three weeks ago."

Kaeya clicks his tongue. Standing, he closes the fridge and grabs the half-eaten loaf of bread on the counter. Clearly, he's settling on a sandwich he really doesn't want.

"I guess I'll go shopping after this since I have the time…," he mumbles. As he starts to make his sandwich—retrieving the peanut butter from a nearby cupboard—you can't help but…watch him.

Now would be a good time to ask, seeing as it's just you and Kaeya in the apartment. But…what if you're wrong? You really can't stand the thought of having another tense situation with one of your roommates. You just need to keep maintaining the peace…

But if you do, will you ever be happy? At what point do you start considering what you want?

"I can feel you staring, princess. Something on your mind?"

Ah, shit.

You feel blood rush into your face. Right, you've been looking at him this whole time…

Taking a deep breath, you attempt to remain cool despite being caught. As much as you want to leave it be, you don't think you'll be satisfied if you do. You need Kaeya to clarify.

"Do you remember New Year's Eve?" you ask, your eyes still following Kaeya as he moves over to snag a bag of chips from atop the fridge—finished PB&J sandwich in his grasp.

"Mhmm, how could I forget?"

Right, you'd had a breakdown…

"Well…I remembered that you offered to be a distraction for me, and—," you feel a jolt of nervousness, but you push through it, "…I guess I was just wondering…what kind of distraction were you talking about?"

Kaeya doesn't even hesitate with his answer.

"Whatever kind of distraction you want it to be."

He's not even looking at you as he says it—too busy frowning at his chip options. Not finding anything he wants, he huffs and grabs a can of soda from the fridge instead.

Still standing in the same spot you've been since walking in, it takes your mind a second to catch up to what he's said.

When it finally sinks in, you can't help but scowl.

"That doesn't really answer my question."

"I believe it does," Kaeya responds coolly. With his lunch finally put together, he moves to sit at the kitchen table. He's just about to take a bite of his sandwich when you speak up again.

"No, it really doesn't. A "distraction" could be taken in so many ways. I just want to make sure I'm not misinterpreting what you're saying—"

"You wouldn't be able to do that, because there's no chance to misinterpret the meaning when anything is on the table," he cuts you off, his gaze finally finding yours. He looks calm—like an open book, with nothing to hide—and it catches you off guard, seeing him so serious for once. You suppose you're grateful he's not teasing you when you've gathered all your courage to ask him but…this side of him is a little off putting. Because if he says that, then that means…

"Anything…?"

Kaeya, who has somehow managed to eat a majority of his sandwich in the few seconds you've been quiet (how do guys eat so fast? ) takes his final few bites and swig of soda before answering.

"I offered to be a distraction, and I'm leaving it up to you to decide what kind of distraction you'd want me to be," he says. Pushing up from his chair, he tosses his plate in the trash, and then steps closer to you. You almost want to run, when his eye catches yours once more.

"But if you need me to spell it out, then yes—fucking could also count as a distraction."

Your heart thunders in your chest.

Shit.

Venti was right.

"How did you know that's what I was wondering about?"

You mumble the question, too curious for your own good. Kaeya smiles a little, and reaches forward, ruffling your hair.

"You're blushing, sweetheart. Figured you probably wouldn't be all flustered if you were only trying to ask if it meant we could go out to eat, or watch Netflix together."

Fuck, this is so embarrassing…

"You're not offering because you feel bad for me, right?"

You can't help but ask. The last thing you want is Kaeya offering something like that just because he feels bad that his childhood best friend just broke your heart a little bit. You'd never want anyone to offer to distract you—especially physically—out of pity.

"I would never do something like that," Kaeya replies, his hand dropping back to his side. He shoves it into his pocket, leaning over slightly so he can catch your gaze once more. Once he sees he has your attention, he speaks again.

"When I offer something like that, it's because I'm open to it. Interested, even. So don't go thinking that. You're my roommate. My friend. And as much as I hate being mushy and sentimental about stuff, I do care about you. Which brings us back to—no, no pity here."

Well that's a relief, at least…but still. Kaeya has just brought an offer of sex to the table. That's…a lot to process.

"There's no rush to decide if it's something you want, though."

Kaeya steps away, then, moving towards the front door. You watch him as he locates his shoes, shoving them onto his feet.

"And if it's not, it's no big deal," he continues. "You could erase this conversation from your mind if you wanted to. Things are never so serious with me, you know that."

He flashes you a smile as he says that last bit, and you feel a bit of the tenseness in your body release. Despite the current topic of conversation, he is still Kaeya. Someone you've grown close to, someone you trust…

Someone you want to fuck? Shit, that's a new one to ponder…

"Don't stress yourself out about it, princess. My offer to be a distraction was meant to help, not hurt, so remember that, alright?"

Shrugging his jacket over his shoulders, Kaeya reaches for the apartment door, but pauses.

"Need anything from the store?"

"Food," you mumble in response, causing him to quietly laugh.

Pulling the door open, he gets one foot out into the hall before he turns back, looks you in the eye, and says, "seriously, no pressure". And then, he's gone, the door clicking shut behind him.

Helpless to all the thoughts roaming around in your head, you cover your warm face with your palms, and lean against the wall beside you—sliding down until your ass hits the floor.

No pressure, you think, trying to calm yourself down—but it's hard to do so when suddenly you're recalling all the times Kaeya has ever put his hands on you.

Fuck.

Despite the initial racing of your mind and your heart, you do end up taking some time to think things over. Well, the time you take is actually due to a few upcoming tests you have to cram for. Trying to shove your head full of knowledge doesn't exactly allow your brain much room for thoughts about any distractions.

Nonetheless, at night, when the day is finally coming to an end, you do allow yourself to think about recent events, just a little bit.

With every day that passes, it gets easier to stop reliving your conversation with Diluc on New Year's Eve. Not that the tiny ache in your chest you feel every so often will be going away any time soon, but still. Things are feeling better. You are feeling better. Which leaves you thinking about Kaeya's offer.

You have no doubt he'll have nothing against you if you say no—or even if you decided to never bring it up again. But…the more you think about it, surprisingly, the more you find yourself wanting to go and talk to him.

Because despite everything going on, you can't help thinking that having something physical with someone might be nice. And if you were going to have a relationship like that with anyone, it'd have to be someone you trust.

Like Kaeya.

So, you can't really help it when you find yourself wandering across the hall to Kaeya's room one night.

His door is closed, but you can see light underneath it—hear the quiet hum of music inside the room. Plus, it's still only 9pm, there's no way he's asleep yet.

You raise your hand to knock, but pause for a second, looking over towards Diluc's door. It's open, the room inside dark, just like the rest of the apartment. You and Kaeya are the only ones home right now, Diluc not expected to be back home for a few hours, since he's working the closing shift tonight…

Anxiety starts to mount as your hand hovers, but you take a deep breath—your eyes shifting back to look at Kaeya's door.

Finally, you knock.

"Come in."

It only takes a second for him to answer, and you cautiously let yourself into his room.

You find Kaeya on his bed—propped up against the wall, with his phone in his hand. At your entrance, though, he looks up—watching as you take a step into the room and slowly close the door behind you.

When you don't say anything, simply staring—your hands still behind your back gripping the door in case you change your mind and decide to run—Kaeya cocks a curious eyebrow.

"What can I do for you tonight, lovely roommate of mine?"

"I…have been thinking."

"Congratulations."

"Oh, you're such a—"

Kaeya's already grinning, proud of his smartass response to your nervous declaration, and you can't help but narrow your eyes at him. Although, he can tell there's no real anger behind it.

Shifting in his spot—sitting up a little higher against the wall—Kaeya pats the space on the mattress next to him.

"C'mon. If we're gonna talk, let's do it comfortably. I don't bite."

"I'm waiting for the "unless you want me to" follow up," you immediately respond, only hesitating for a second before you take a step towards his bed to join him. Kaeya laughs at your comment, watching as you crawl onto his mattress and settle yourself next to him.

"I'm trying to be nice, believe it or not."

"So you know what it is I wanna talk about?"

"I have a feeling," he says. He sets his phone off to the side, his gaze settling somewhere across the room. "But I could be wrong."

He doesn't supply you with any guesses beyond that, and you assume that's because he's still giving you a chance to change your mind. A last minute chance to substitute in a different topic, before you step into sensitive territory.

You take a deep breath.

"So, you wanna fuck?"

"I do like sex."

You huff a little, tempted to roll your eyes.

"I just—I meant. You want to have sex with me?"

The hint of disbelief in your voice is what causes his gaze to finally slide to you. He raises his eyebrow, laughing a little as he speaks.

"Is that hard to believe? You're a pretty woman. And you live in the room next to me."

The grin that slides onto his face causes you to scoff (despite the butterflies that dance in your tummy unbidden at the word "pretty").

"Oh, so is accessibility a factor?" You shoot back, a hint of a smile tugging at your lips. Kaeya quietly laughs.

"It definitely wasn't the reason that I offered, but I suppose it would be an upside if you decide this is the kind of distraction you want, yes."

This time, you do roll your eyes—keeping yourself from reaching over and giving his leg a tiny smack. Seeing that Kaeya is apparently willing to answer all of your nerve-induced questions, you decide to keep them rolling.

"So…why did you offer?"

Kaeya hums, hiking his leg up and planting his foot on the mattress, so he can rest his arm on his knee.

"Because in my opinion, sex is meant to be something fun to pass the time. And because of that, I've found it makes for a good distraction. At least when it feels nice. And with me—," his grin spreads wider, flashing you some teeth.

"It always does."

You won't deny that Kaeya has made your heart flutter many times since you've gotten to know him. With how much of a flirt he can be—and how lowkey desperate you are for affection deep down—it makes sense that more than once, his actions or words have pulled a reaction from you.

But here, now, talking about sex —those butterflies feel so much more intense.

"You're so cocky…," you mumble, breaking eye contact as you fail to come up with any better response. Kaeya chuckles, but doesn't bother denying your words. In fact, he doesn't say anything—simply stays silent, waiting to see what else you may have to say.

He's being patient with you, you realize.

"Are you getting anything out of it, if we do?"

You can't help but wonder. He'd offered to be a distraction for you because it'd be helpful to you to get your mind off things. But then, what does Kaeya get out of it?

"Well," he says, "I'd be getting my rocks off."

You can't stop the little laugh that worms its way out of your throat.

"Really?" you finally face him once more, his eye immediately finding yours—holding your gaze. He smiles as you continue.

"That's all?"

"I don't know what you're expecting me to say, sweetheart. Like I said before, sex is something I find fun, not to mention pleasurable. Is that not a good enough reason?"

"So you're not in love with me then?"

You ask the question with a tiny grin of your own, not feeling as nervous thanks to Kaeya's unabashed, open answers. For a second, Kaeya actually looks shocked by your question—his eye going slightly wide—but then, he spots the teasing look on your face, and laughter bubbles out of him.

"Now look who's being cocky," he says, knocking his knee into yours. He waits for your laughter to die down before he speaks up again.

"My offer is basically friends with benefits. There would be no romantic feelings involved," he explains calmly. You nod, mulling over his words. When you're quiet for a little too long, Kaeya adds in—

"Of course, you can still always say you're not interested, and I won't hold that against you."

"I know," you respond immediately. Because you know that Kaeya has been nothing but honest and understanding with you this entire time, which you sincerely appreciate.

"And honestly…I am, kind of, interested," you say, feeling heat flood into your cheeks at the admission. Your body has already been telling you during this conversation that it's something you want. Or, want to try, at least, considering your gaze keeps straying to look at the sliver of chest peeking out from the v-neck shirt he wears, or the veins that track down his forearms, and into his hands.

Kaeya is an attractive male—one you feel comfortable around, and one that you…would be interested in having physical relations with, the more you talk about it with him. The only issue—aside from the inkling of guilt buried deep in your chest, and the familiar, bitter sweet ache you've been feeling for the last few weeks—is—

"I just. I'm. Not very…."

Experienced.

You've had sex only a handful of times before now, and you've never really. Hooked up with anyone that you weren't going on dates with, or trying to pursue, at least.

Meaning, between the two of you, there's probably different levels of experience when it comes to sex, and hooking up. And considering you know that could be a turn off for some people, you just want to let him know before anything actually happens—

"That's perfectly fine," Kaeya responds, understanding what you're getting at without you having to say it. "We can start slow. Try it once if you're interested, and you can decide after that if you'd wanna do it again."

At this point, he's making it hard for you to think of any reason to say no.

"Then…," your heart gallops inside your chest, excitement and nervousness mingling as you look Kaeya in the eye and say—

"I think I'd like to try."

For a moment, Kaeya's quiet—a flash of surprise passing over him, as if despite his confidence in his abilities, he had never expected you to actually accept his offer. But then, he's grinning again—his hand reaching out and grabbing your wrist.

In a blink, you find yourself pulled on top of him, your thighs straddling either side of his lap. Unable to help it, your face flushes brighter—your blood pressure surely spiking as one of Kaeya's hands ghosts across your hip, moving to settle on your waist.

"If I do anything you don't like—," he says, his other hand moving to cradle your cheek. His thumb brushes against your lower lip, cerulean eye half lidded as he finds your gaze. "—just tell me, and I'll stop."

Oh fuck.

You open your mouth to respond, but words elude you. The change between the calm, understanding Kaeya you'd been conversing with until now, and the bold, confident Kaeya you're now facing has thrown you through a loop.

Kaeya must realize this too, because he breathes a laugh—his fingertips dragging through your hair as his palm settles on the back of your neck. He gives you a small tug to see if you'll resist, and you don't, allowing him to slowly drag you closer, until your chest is pressed against his, and your noses are nearly touching.

"I'd like a verbal acknowledgement, sweetheart."

You can feel his breath on your face—smell the scent of his conditioner, and the fragrance of his cologne. His thumb draws circles against your waist through your t-shirt, and unconsciously, you shift on his lap, thighs flexing as your heart frantically pumps blood through your body—heating you up all over.

"Somehow, if you talk like that it makes me want to bite you," you mumble. Kaeya smiles, his gaze lowering to look at your lips.

"You can do that after you answer."

God, he's so—

"I will tell you to stop if I need to," you whisper, your fingers finding purchase in his shirt—gripping onto him tightly as he responds, "good", and then drags you in to seal the deal with a kiss.

Notes:

:3c

U KNOW I HAD TO DO IT TO 'EMMMM

(Does this count as a cliffhanger? KLAJSDKJASD anyway as always please feel free to leave a comment i love reading them)

Chapter 17: The Distraction

Notes:

I've actually never written any smut for Kaeya despite the many ideas I've had, so...I guess this is my first official Kaeya smut :^)

That being said, I haven't written smut in so long, so I hope it's enjoyable for all :')

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

When you had admitted you'd like to try something with Kaeya, you hadn't assumed that it'd happen so quickly. You had assumed, perhaps stupidly, that the conversation would end once a decision was made, and you'd leave his room and that would be that. Maybe, later on, you'd actually hook up.

So, ending up on Kaeya's lap, his lips on yours—tongue teasing at the seal of your mouth to see if you'll let him in—is causing your head to spin.

It's been so long—too long—since anyone has touched you like this. That certainly must be the only explanation for the way arousal quickly fans to life deep in your tummy—mixing with a nervousness you can't quite shake.

Yet, despite any trepidation, Kaeya seems to be an expert at leading you along. His fingers knead at the back of your skull, relieving some of your tension while also keeping you close—the first, soft kiss he had pressed into you slowly morphing into something hungrier.

Your eyes flutter shut, and you find yourself going with his flow—your lips parting—head tilting to the side to better accommodate him as the kissies become open-mouthed.

You have no doubt that if he pushed and pried a little harder, he could have you drowning in him in no time at all. But instead, he seems to be sticking to his word—savoring the moment, and allowing things to move at a pace you're comfortable with.

He waits until your fingers relinquish their grip on his shirt, your arms moving to encircle his neck instead, to slide his tongue against your own. Embarrassingly, the action evokes a small sound from you—one that is promptly swallowed up, but doesn't go unnoticed. Because Kaeya is quick to do it again—the wet sound of kisses filling the intimately small space between you.

You can feel the heat radiating off your face as the languid kisses drag on, and you realize you can taste him on your tongue. He tastes like—

"Beer," you mumble, your eyes cracking open so you can send him a little glare. Kaeya bites your lip, hoping to distract you, but he ends up quietly sighing when you pull away and begin scanning his room for the offending bottle.

"One beer isn't a big deal, sweetheart," he says, your palms moving to press against his shoulders as you sit even farther back—craning your head around so you can see his desk. There, as you expected, you spot the empty glass bottle.

"You are seriously an—ah!"

Your words are cut off by the feeling of Kaeya's mouth on your neck—his teeth nipping at your skin. Your nails dig into his shoulders, instinctively trying to push him away considering he'd caught you off guard, but Kaeya doesn't budge. The arm he has wrapped around your waist holds steady—keeping you firmly on his lap as he drags his tongue over the bite mark apologetically.

However, as soon as he does so, he feels you shiver.

"Sensitive?" he asks, and you can hear his grin. Embarrassed by your body's instinctive reaction—because yes, you are a little sensitive there—you decide to try and get back at him. Releasing your grip on one of his shoulders, you slide your hand to the back of his skull, and curl your fingers into his hair, giving it a little tug.

However, the action only causes Kaeya to groan—the guttural sound muffled against your neck, which causes even more goosebumps to rise on your skin.

Well shit, that backfired—

"I can't tell if you're egging me on or trying to get me to stop."

Kaeya's lips brush against the shell of your ear, and you swallow harshly, a whine caught in your throat as he ducks back down, his tongue dragging up the column of your neck. After a beat, you feel his lips suction on patch of skin near your jaw, and—

You give his hair another small jerk.

"Not where anyone can see," you mumble.

It's not that you mind hickies. Hell, waking up to find little hickies and bruises on yourself can be quite enthralling, even, but…

Before your mind can stray to the thought of exactly why you don't want any marks out on display, or exactly who you'd need to hide them from, you're distracted by the feeling of Kaeya's hands slipping beneath the hem of your shirt—his warm palms settling against your bare waist.

His eye finds yours, and he smiles.

"Well, if you want me to leave them where no one will know, you may need to take this off."

His hands hike higher up your sides, inching your t-shirt up your torso, and god—you may seriously go into cardiac arrest soon, with how fast your heart is beating.

However, the arousal steadily pooling between your legs emboldens you, and you raise your arms, staring at him.

"Go on then."

Kaeya doesn't hesitate—gripping the hem of your t-shirt as he pulls it up and over your head. You're not sure where he discards it, too busy shivering as the air from the room ghosts over your freshly revealed skin. Although, you don't even get a chance to think about covering yourself, because Kaeya is quick to cup your tits—squishing them together.

"No bra. You came here prepared," he says, ducking forward. His tongue flicks across one of your nipples, and you can't help the breathless gasp that leaves you. Your fingers once again find purchase in his hair when he suctions his mouth on your tit—his tongue lapping against one of your nipples, while his finger idly rolls against the other.

"I was getting ready for bed. That's the only reas—on!"

Your voice pitches as Kaeya gently tugs at your nipple with his teeth, and unconsciously you grind down against his lap, feeling hornier by the second. Your action, however, causes Kaeya to groan.

You quickly realize that he's hard—his cock straining up against his sweats, positioned right beneath the apex of your thighs. A bit cheeky, you grind down on him again, this time noting the feel of him. Without the barrier of clothing, you bet your pussy would be rubbing the length of his shaft, getting him slick with the arousal that's surely leaking out of you—

"Fuck, sweetheart."

He gives your chest a pointed squeeze, his voice gravelly as he speaks the words into your skin. His hips roll up against yours while he continues to mouth at your breasts, and you meet him halfway—little whines worming past your lips as he continues sucking and biting hickies where no one but him should see.

"Kaeya—," you eventually pant, your head swimming with need. He's got one hand gripping your ass through your pajama bottoms, the other splayed between your shoulder blades, keeping your chest arched into his mouth. Your nipples are already sensitive and swollen from all the attention he's been bidding them, and with your bodies still grinding together, you're—you need more.

"Kaeya," you say again. You cup his face with your hands, and his eye flutters open, his pupil dilated as he stares at you. Giving him a gentle tug, you guide him up away from your chest, your lips meeting in a heated kiss.

"Shirt off," you tell him in between kisses, making him laugh. He sits back, watching as you cross your arms beneath your breasts, pouting at him.

"It's only fair."

"You just wanna see my tits," he responds with a grin, but nonetheless grabs his shirt and tugs it off. As soon as he does, you reach your hand forward and grope him.

"Why are they so soft…," you mumble, giving his pecs a squeeze, and Kaeya can't help laughing again. However, before you think to do it again, Kaeya's arm is wrapping around your waist—the room spinning around you as he expertly changes positions.

When everything settles, you find yourself properly straddling him, Kaeya's back flat on the bed. His hands settle on your hips, and he rolls his clothed erection up against you once more.

The reaction he receives—an embarrassed hitch of your breath, your palms settling against his chest for support as he throws you off balance—makes his dick ache. It's rewarding, the fact that he can see how horny you are. How much he has managed to rile you up.

"When was the last time you got off?"

Kaeya's question is one of pure curiosity. He'll make sure to properly prep you either way, but—

"I…," you hang your head, your hair shielding your face from his view.

"Last summer…"

Before you moved into the apartment with Diluc.

You'd been scared for some reason that the quiet hum of your vibrator would somehow escape the four walls of your room, and had decided to give yourself some time to feel more comfortable in your new living quarters, since you hadn't felt that desperate at the time. But then, Kaeya had moved in, and with his room just across the hall…plus, things had just gotten so busy in general…

"Fucking hell, Y/N," Kaeya says, honestly baffled. "Really?"

"Yeah," you respond, face aflame. There's not really any reason to be embarrassed about it, but for some reason, saying it aloud makes you feel so silly. You could have used some stress relief last semester…

"I wonder how fast I could make you cum. It'd probably be pretty easy considering."

"Kaeya!" you admonish. He smiles, giving your hips a pointed squeeze.

"What? Honestly, if you take those pants off already, I bet you could cum just grinding your pussy on my thigh."

His vulgar words go straight to your cunt, but…he's probably right. With how long it's been, and how needy you are, you wouldn't doubt that it's possible.

"I…"

I want more than that, you want to say. Getting off on his thigh would be a nice little challenge for a different day, but you're too desperate to entertain the idea right now.

"Will you…," you glance back down at Kaeya, your gaze shy, and your hips wiggling in his hold.

You're finding it hard to banter anymore—your mind wandering every time you attempt to conjure up a playful response.

"Just. Touch me more. Please."

Hearing the word please from you in this setting causes Kaeya's jaw to clench, his cock throbbing as he watches you. All flushed and pretty, sitting atop him, half naked and too pent up to consider being a brat.

He truly wants nothing more in that moment than to strip you down and sit you on his cock. He's sure you'd make such a pretty sound, and your pussy would be so fucking tight, but—

"Baby, c'mere."

Kaeya wraps an arm around your waist, his free hand cupping the back of your head. He drags you into another round of kisses as he slightly adjusts your positions—hiking you a little higher up his body, until he's got just enough room to comfortably reach—

You gasp, feeling his fingers brush against the wet lips of your pussy. You'd been so distracted by his mouth that you hadn't even realized his hand had ventured beneath your pajamas.

"So messy," he says, smiling against your lips as he teases two of his fingers between your slick folds. He traces the length of your cunt, his smile growing wider the second he bumps into your clit, and a whine is ripped from your throat.

Almost unconsciously, you jut your hips back against his hand, searching for more friction.

Kaeya bites your lip.

"I was planning to finger you open and leave that needy clit of yours alone for the time being. Do you think I'm being too mean?"

He's teasing you, but it's an honest question. If you say yes, he has no issue rubbing your clit until it's oversensitive and you're spasming beneath his touch—cumming all over his hand, but…selfishly, his dick is so hard it's actually starting to hurt.

"That's fine," you respond breathlessly. The pads of his fingers drag at your entrance, and you push your hips back, practically begging him to press them inside of you already. And he doesn't make you wait any longer—starting with one finger to test the waters, and quickly switching to two.

The sensation of his digits inside of you—stretching you out—sets your nerves on fire. For as shy as you had felt when all of this had started, you can hardly hold back now—too horny to worry about anything as you begin to fuck yourself back onto Kaeya's fingers.

He groans into your mouth, letting you work yourself open on him. The kisses exchanged between the two of you quickly dissipate into heavy, needy breaths—your hands planting themselves on the mattress on either side of Kaeya's head as you sit up—using the leverage to force his fingers deeper inside of you.

The position practically offers him your breasts, and he pops one of your tits into his mouth—giving it a hard suck. At the same time, he raises his free hand and takes a handful of your ass. But not before smacking it, of course.

The blow is lessened by the fabric of your pants, but you still gasp—your walls clenching down around Kaeya's fingers. He resists biting down on your nipple to control himself, instead shifting uncomfortably beneath you as his cock weighs heavily against his thigh.

God, he wants to fuck you.

"Kaeya," you pant. Your body stills. "I…I think I'm good."

He unlatches his mouth from your chest, giving your ass another small squeeze.

"Really?" he asks. He wants to be a gentleman—suggest that maybe adding a third finger first would be safer—but he can't find it in himself to say the words.

He'll push in slow—give you time to adjust. He just—needs to be inside of you.

"Yes," you respond, sitting back. You move off of him, thumbs hooking beneath the waistband of your pants. As you start to peel the piece of clothing down your legs, Kaeya decides to not waste any time.

Scooting to the edge of the bed, Kaeya kicks off the last layer of his own clothing while reaching into his bedside table. You watch him with baited breath, taking in the sight of him—his cock curving up towards his abdomen, and precum leaking from the slit.

The condom he retrieves from his dresser is quickly unwrapped—Kaeya rolling it on without any unnecessary preamble. He holds himself at the base as he turns to face you, and you see him breathe deep, his gaze dragging down your body before settling on the space between your thighs.

You don't bother trying to hide yourself, knowing there's no point. In fact, seeing the way Kaeya's throat bobs while he stares at you, you decide to egg him on a little—ever so slowly spreading your legs apart.

His eyes darken, and he places a knee onto the mattress, his free hand reaching forward and wrapping around your ankle. With one swift tug—and a squeal from you—he drags you closer to the edge of the bed.

In the next beat, he's kneeling over you—your thigh plush in his grip.

"Seems like you may have been teasing me just then, sweetheart."

His voice is low, his eye on yours. He forces your leg up towards your chest, and your tongue darts out to lick your lips.

"I would never," you respond breathlessly, your fingers fisting in the sheets beneath you as Kaeya nestles the head of his cock between your folds. Your pulse is loud in your ears, the anticipation palpable.

Kaeya laughs, purposely flicking his cock against your clit to hear the precious sound it elicits from you.

"Somehow, I don't believe that."

Honestly, Kaeya would love to mess with you a little more—rile you up until you're squirming and begging—but today, he doesn't have it in him. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, he's just as needy as you are.

His grasp on your thigh tightening, Kaeya finally nudges his cock inside of you. Your breath catches, hands instinctively flying to his shoulders—bracing yourself as he begins to press deeper. Kaeya's words from earlier—to tell him to stop if you need to—flash through your mind, but he enters you so carefully that there's no need for you to think about saying them.

"Fuck," he pants, watching as his length slowly disappears inside of you. Your cunt is so tight, but you take him so well—accepting him inch by inch until you're completely stuffed, his hips flush with yours.

"Kaeya—," you breathe, your fingernails digging into his flesh. Your pussy is already trembling—unused to the sensation of being full after such a long time. But god, does he feel good.

"Move."

Sweat beads on Kaeya's brow, his muscles straining to keep himself from rutting into you.

"Are you sure?"

The last thing he wants to do right now is hurt you. And you'd said yourself it's been a while since you last did something like this, so—

You cup his face, staring him straight on. Your cheeks are flushed, your hair a mess, and when you part your lips and say, "I'm sure" with no ounce of hesitation, Kaeya's last shred of self-control flies out the window.

His free hand grabs your other thigh—using it for leverage and subsequently forcing your legs farther open as he begins grinding his dick inside of you.

The moderate rhythm he quickly settles into—his cock dragging between your walls deliciously with each thrust—makes you feel light headed. Your skull cranes backwards, pressing into the mattress, and you fail to stifle the desperate whine that builds up in your chest.

Every inch of you already feels impossibly sensitive, but when Kaeya adjusts his angle every-so-slightly and manages to brush against that sweet spot inside of you, you honestly think you might start crying.

You bite your lip to quell the tears threatening to build, but a wanton groan still escapes you—your pussy clamping down around Kaeya's cock.

Immediately, his pace falters—his fingers digging harshly into your skin as he takes a shaky breath.

"Sweetheart," he practically growls, and he'd laugh at the way your cunt responds by tightening up again if it weren't for the fact that he'd nearly cum just now. Hell, he's usually got a bit more endurance than this…

"Don't do that. I'm already pretty close."

"I can't help it," you respond breathlessly. You brush a few strands of hair out of his face. "You can—I mean. I don't mind if you need to c—"

"Ah ah—," Kaeya cuts your words off—catching your wrist. Wordlessly, he guides your hand down the length of his body, until he's pressing your own fingers down gently against your—

"Mnn—!" you choke, muscles spasming as Kaeya forces your fingers to rub circles into your clit. He has to resist cursing as your walls once again clamp down around him, but luckily, he adjusts after a second, even managing to quietly laugh at the sight of you practically falling apart beneath him.

Without the friction against his cock—if he just stays still for a minute, and resists the urge to grind inside you—he should be able to hold off a little longer.

"Listen," he says, still helping to guide your fingers. Your gaze meets his, and his eye creases as he smiles at you.

"When you're in a relationship with someone, it's okay if you give them permission to cum before you, since if you're dating them, hopefully they're not a piece of shit who won't follow through and help you cum afterwards. But when you're just hooking up, you make sure that bastard is getting you there first. Because who knows if he'll put in the effort after emptying his balls."

You lick your lips, trying to get your tongue to work. The sensation of Kaeya forcing you to rub your own clit is only making it that much harder to focus.

"Are you saying you won't help me cum, then? If I let you cum first?"

"We both know I'm a gentleman," he immediately responds, and if you weren't distracted by…everything else happening at the moment, you probably would have rolled your eyes.

"However, I think you deserve to cum while you're stuffed full of cock, hmm? After this self-induced sex sabbatical you've been on. So—"

He gives your thigh a squeeze.

"—I was thinking you could be a good girl and rub that needy little clit of yours while I fuck you. Do you think you'd be okay with that, sweetheart?"

Kaeya's grip on your hand loosens, no longer putting any guiding pressure on your fingers, yet you dutifully keep moving them on your own.

"I'm fine with anything—," you pant, realizing how wet you are, exactly, as you hurriedly swipe your fingers across your clit. "—as long as I cum."

"Good girl," Kaeya praises, his gaze roaming your body as you continue your movements—steering yourself closer and closer to climax. His hand finds its way back to your thigh, a hiss leaving him as he unthinkingly adjusts himself—causing his cock to shift inside of you.

The friction you're both granted in that moment is heavenly, and you whine in disappointment that he doesn't continue to move—the muscles in Kaeya's torso flexing as he forcibly stills himself.

"No—please," you whimper, wiggling your hips. "Move again—"

"I—"

"I'm close already, so please," you tell him. Your fingers are already starting to shake against your clit. If Kaeya just moved already, then you're sure you'd—

Weak to begging—especially from you—Kaeya decides (for his own sake too) to take your word for it, and finally starts thrusting into you again. Instantly, Kaeya curses—his pace a bit faster and rougher than before.

Your cunt feels positively heavenly—clamping down on him tighter with every passing second. And god, you're fucking soaked—the sinful sound of sex so clearly audible within the four walls of his room. He can hardly believe you're actually here, getting fucked on his cock, looking like you might cry.

"You feel good, sweetheart?"

You're quick to nod your head, your fingers still frantically swiping against your clit.

The tension in your belly has grown so tight thanks to the way he's grinding into you, but seeing Kaeya like this—so disheveled, his brows furrowed and desperation written clear on his face as he chases his own orgasm—it's the nail in your coffin.

"Kaeya," you whine. Your legs fight against his grip, your free hand fisting in the sheets. Your body goes taut, and Kaeya knows.

"Cum," he grunts, his pace starting to falter. "Make a mess on my cock."

His words serve to be the catalyst—a heady groan ripping from your throat as your orgasm finally crests. Your brain turns to mush, pussy spasming as the pleasure spreads throughout your body.

The whole time, Kaeya continues fucking you open, his movements turning sloppy as your cunt milks his cock.

"Fuck," he curses, thrusting deep and staying there. He cums while fully seated inside of you, your pussy continuing to tremble around him, even as the euphoria of your orgasm slowly fades away.

The room stills—you and Kaeya simply attempting to catch your breath. The hand that had been between your legs falls to the mattress beside you, your eyes fluttering closed as weariness begins to settle in.

Above you, Kaeya takes a deep breath, his jaw clenching as he slides out of you—the friction making his cock feel overly sensitive now that the deed is done.

He makes quick work of the used condom—momentarily alighting from the bed to toss it in the small trash bin beside his desk. And when he turns back to the mattress, planning to rejoin you, he finds that you've flipped onto you've flipped onto your tummy—your face buried in your arms.

Kaeya takes a moment to admire your ass before asking, "you alright?"

You nod, making an affirmative sound.

Kaeya breathes a quiet laugh, his fingers ghosting over the curve of your ass and up your spine as he crawls beside you. His sheets are bunched up at the end foot of the bed, but he untangles them—lightly tossing them over you, and covering his lap as well.

"You sure? You can tell me if something is wrong."

"Nothing is wrong," you quickly respond, finally raising your head. You hug the covers to your chest, rolling to face him. A blush dusts your cheeks.

"It was. Really good. I just…the dirty talk," you say, eyes shifting away, and Kaeya can't help but laugh.

"I'd ask if that means you didn't like it, but I know you did."

Obviously. Based on the way your body responded to each and every word that had come out of his mouth. That's why you're feeling a little shy now. Because everything had felt so damn good.

"I won't say anything," you respond, rolling onto your other side. "Don't want to make your ego any bigger."

Kaeya's smile widens, and after a second, you speak up once again.

"You enjoyed it too, right?"

You assume his answer is yes, considering his spiel in the beginning about how sex is just something fun—something meant to pass the time and leave both parties feeling good—but you want to make sure.

"Absolutely," Kaeya answers. Honestly, he wouldn't even be against going a second time. As long as he rests for a short while he's sure he could get it back—

A flash in the corner of his vision cuts off his line of thought, and Kaeya turns to find his phone wedged between the bed and the wall. He'd set it down when he'd started talking to you earlier, and obviously had lost track of it…

Reaching over, he saves the device before it can get sucked down any farther. Despite a few missed notifications on his screen—a few texts from friends, and SNS alerts—Kaeya's attention is on the time.

While it's still not extremely late…it'd be better not to push it.

Diluc walking in on anything is not something he wants to deal with right now.

So, Kaeya opts to settle in next to you instead. He wraps an arm around you—hugging you just beneath your breasts—his chest settling against your back.

You hum.

"I didn't take you as the type to enjoy cuddling."

Kaeya's lips brush against your shoulder.

"Honestly, I'm starting to think you see me as some sort of monster."

You giggle, wriggling a little closer to him. Kaeya chooses not to comment about how doing so causes your ass to grind against his pelvis.

"You're not," you quietly respond, your eyes fluttering closed. "I guess I'm just…learning more about you today."

This is a side of Kaeya he had never planned on you seeing or experiencing. Actually…the more he thinks about it, the more he realizes he had never intended for you to see anything past the mask he wears.

But now, here you are—probably one of the closest people in his life to date—someone who he's opened up to more than almost anyone. And all because you'd been nosy about his and Diluc's relationship, and had wanted to help both of them so badly.

Honestly, you're too sweet to them…

"I could say the same to you," he mumbles, pressing another soft kiss into your skin. "Now I know how wet you get from dirty talk—"

"Oh stop—," you cut him off, trying to reach around and smack him. You fail unfortunately—your arm getting stuck in the sheets, and Kaeya chuckles as your arm flops onto the mattress in defeat.

A peaceful silence settles, and Kaeya can't help but notice the way your breathing gradually slows.

"...are you falling asleep, sweetheart?"

A tired grunt is your only response. Kaeya laughs, unfurling his arm from around you. He scoots to the edge of the bed, looking around for both of your discarded clothes.

"C'mon now. Let's get you to your own bed."

You sigh, feeling completely unmotivated. You barely have enough energy left to sit up and tug your shirt and pants back on when Kaeya tosses them on top of you.

Kaeya dutifully covers himself up as well, but doesn't bother putting a shirt back on.

"I'm going to take a shower," he says, grabbing your hands and helping tug you to your feet.

It would be wise for you to take a shower too, but you don't have it in you. Maybe in the morning.

"Just let me brush my teeth before you hog the bathroom."

Kaeya nods, holding back an amused eyeroll as you waddle around him and into the hall. He follows after you, scooting around you in the bathroom to turn on the shower tap and let the water warm up. When he disappears back into his room a moment later, mumbling about something he needs to grab, you shut the bathroom door.

"Hey—"

"I have to PEE."

You can barely hear anything over the sound of the running water beside you, but you swear he laughs.

When you're finally finished with everything you need to do, you step back into the hall. Kaeya is waiting there.

"Good night, sweetheart," he says, petting a hand over your hair—smoothing out some fly-away strands. You take a step forward, smushing your face against him. Kaeya's about to roll his eyes and tell you to go to bed already when you firmly wrap your arms around him.

"I appreciate how you handled everything," you tell him, your voice quiet. You're not unaware of how understanding and patient he's been with you tonight.

"I just wanted you to be able to enjoy yourself," he responds, his palm cupping your cheek. He guides you backwards, just enough to give himself some space to lean down—his nose brushing against yours.

"And obviously—," he whispers, and for a second, you think he's going to kiss you.

"—you did. So, if you're ever interested in doing it again, you know where to find me."

With a wink, Kaeya pulls away and steps into the bathroom—closing the door behind him.

You stare after him, feeling dazed for half a second. Then, you huff in annoyance, shuffling into your room while saying, "I should have bitten that bastard when I had that chance".

Notes:

FINALLY I AM FORCED TO CHANGE THE RATING OF THIS FIC TO E

It feels kinda weird since a majority of the fic is not E, but I must abide by the rules.

Anyway 👀👀👀 please feel free to leave a comment I would love some reactions/feedback

Chapter 18: Moving Forward

Notes:

I broke my streak of updating every two weeks but at least im still updating, right? 😌

Also I was overjoyed to see all the people keyboard smashing in the reviews of the last chapter 👀 I'm glad yall enjoyed it :3c

Now, we continue on!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

You don't regret what you've done with Kaeya.

It was fun, and you'd felt comfortable, and had enjoyed it. But waking up the next morning to the sound of Diluc's muffled voice beyond your door…it causes ugly guilt to bubble up inside of you.

And you know there's no reason you should feel guilty, but…

You sigh, burying your face in your pillow.

You spend a long while within the safety of your room—adjusting to the soreness of your muscles, and making sure there are no signs of last night on your showing skin. You try to mentally reassure yourself all the while, but it doesn't go as well as you want it to.

The thought of "Diluc doesn't like me like that anyway so it's not like it should matter" is met with the thought of "but if he does see me like a sister, then will he get pissed if his best friend slept with me?", which then shifts into "it's none of his business who I sleep with anyway. How would he even know that it's Kaeya?". And then "he is our roommate, and we did something like that behind his back" and—

Realizing you're only serving to drive yourself insane, you finally cut off your spiraling thoughts. You'll have to leave your room at some point and face him. Plus, your tummy is rumbling and you need to pee, so you can't stay here forever.

So, for the time being, you decide to simply…act like nothing has happened.

It's just another day—totally normal, and you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Finally, you open your door and step out into the hall. The first thing that reaches your ears is the sound of Diluc and Kaeya bickering.

"You'll live for a few days."

"These things can be quite expensive, Diluc. And besides, how could you possibly expect me to go out looking like this? I can barely see."

"That…what? How would you see worse without the eyepatch? I know that eye still works."

You had been planning to go to the bathroom first but…you decide to put your bladder's needs aside for the moment—too curious about the conversation happening in the kitchen.

"Ah, our lovely roommate can settle this for us. Y/N—," Kaeya notices you the second you step into the room, immediately dragging you into their current debate. "—do you really think I can walk around like this?"

He turns to face you, both him and Diluc occupying chairs at the kitchen table. You'd likely have started to wonder if the reason he's wearing a sweatshirt this morning is because you'd left scratches on his skin that he's trying to hide, but that train of thought screeches to a halt the second he fully faces you and you're met with two perfectly healthy looking blue eyes.

You stare at him in shock, mouth agape.

"See," Kaeya says, dramatically sighing. "Look at her reaction. I'll scare the general public."

Diluc's face scrunches in annoyance, but before he can snap back at Kaeya's claim, you're stomping up to the kitchen table—taking Kaeya's face between your hands. His eyes widen in surprise.

You move his head from side to side, absolutely befuddled. You'd literally just had sex with his man, but you're only now learning about what's under his eyepatch?!

"You wear an eyepatch just because you have a little scar?"

Literally, the only thing you can see out of place around that eye is the slightly jagged, but well-healed scar that cuts through his eyebrow and upper and lower eyelid.

Kaeya sighs, brushing your hands away.

"While the scar can be unsightly, it's not just because of that."

Reaching up, he gently pinches his fingers against his cornea, removing the contact lens that you hadn't even realized he'd put in.

When he looks at you once more, you're faced with one azure, and one golden eye.

Once again, you find yourself at a loss for words.

"I had an accident when I was a kid, and in the wake of the surgery I underwent to fix my eye, my iris slowly started to change in color. Even the doctors were befuddled, but it is what it is."

"So…you wear your eyepatch because you…don't want people staring?" you ask, unable to look away from him. Seeing him like this is mesmerizing…so you'd understand if that's why Kaeya keeps it hidden. Considering right now you're probably acting how every other person would if they saw a handsome man with starkly heterochromatic eyes walking down the street.

"I suppose that's part of it, yes," Kaeya admits. "But, the main reason is that prescription color contacts are expensive. As are custom eye patches."

He turns to pointedly stare at Diluc. The red head sighs.

"It's your own fault for leaving your eyepatch on the counter next to the garbage."

"I didn't think it'd accidentally get swept into the can and taken out with the trash."

"If it was that important to you, why did you leave it there to begin with?"

"I mistakenly left it there after my shower last night when I came to get water. Again—didn't think it'd somehow jump into the can."

They start glaring at each other, then, and you're tempted to rub your temples. You're still in the process of waking up and now you're dealing with the shock of Kaeya's bare face, and two stupidly arguing boys.

"Okay children," you say, causing them to immediately forfeit their staring contest—instead choosing to look at you in offense that you'd just referred to them as children.

"Do I need to tell you to say sorry to each other so we can move on?"

"I already apologized," Diluc responds with a quiet huff. Kaeya shrugs his shoulders.

"I don't think I have anything to apologize for."

Diluc rolls his eyes, and honestly, you nearly do as well.

"How long will it take you to get a new eye patch?" you continue on, not wanting them to start arguing again.

You have no idea how custom eye patches work, or even eye patches in general…you've seen the white medical eye patches people wear after having surgery, but Kaeya's isn't like that. It's nicer—leather, maybe.

Kaeya hums thoughtfully.

"A few days, probably, depending on the shipping. I just need to find a seller online who has one I like."

Well, that seems easy enough.

"Alright, we're good then, right? Kaeya orders his eye patch, and in the meantime, I promise you won't scare anyone."

Kaeya sighs, pressing up from his chair.

"I suppose you're right. I think I have enough contacts to last the next few days."

"I can buy you a few more," Diluc says, catching Kaeya's attention. "I did throw out your eye patch, even it was an accident—"

Kaeya waves him off.

"Don't worry about it. I would have needed to buy more eventually anyway."

With the current conversation pretty much wrapped up, Kaeya makes a b-line for the bathroom—the contact he'd taken out still carefully perched on his finger. Seeing him walk that direction, you suddenly remember that you have to pee.

"Ah—!"

You chase after him, sliding into the bathroom doorway.

Already standing in front of the mirror, he pauses and looks over at you. A tiny smirk graces his face.

"Here to kick me out again?"

His question causes you to pout, but you don't say anything. Instead, you simply watch Kaeya as he leans in towards the mirror and cautiously puts his color contact back into his eye. He blinks a few times to make sure it feels right before reaching for a bottle of eye drops—squeezing a few into his eye, which makes you cringe a little.

"I can't believe you never told me about what's under your eyepatch…"

"You never asked," he responds easily, and honestly you want to choke him. Just a tiny bit.

"You know, sometimes you can tell me your little secrets without me having to ask you first."

"He's bad at that," Diluc chimes in from the kitchen, overhearing your conversation. Kaeya rolls his eyes, yelling up the hall in response.

"When you start being self aware of your feelings, we'll talk. Until then, you don't get to judge me."

In the kitchen, Diluc scrunches his face, not quite understanding what Kaeya means. And when Kaeya doesn't get any response, he shakes his head.

You quietly cough, reminding him that you're still there—waiting for the bathroom to be free. He perks up.

"Oh, right."

He takes a step forward, preparing to shuffle around you so you can have your privacy, but he pauses. You stare at him curiously, and he lifts his hand, his fingers brushing your hair behind your ear.

You nearly startle, wondering exactly what he's doing when Diluc is in the next room, but he only leans over and glances at your neck for half a second before saying "just making sure" and finally exiting the bathroom.

You instinctively shut the door behind him, and then wander over to the mirror above the sink, glancing at your neck to see if anything is out of the ordinary. But, you don't notice anything.

"Ah," you mumble, feeling a little warm as you realize he must have been checking to make sure he hadn't left any hickies on your visible skin.

Usually Kaeya's touches don't bother you. You'd gotten so used to how he was always a little handsy and teasing with you, and knew that those gestures didn't mean anything. Simply Kaeya being playful with you. But now…

You sigh.

You're going to have to get used to these changes in your dynamics with Diluc and Kaeya…

Luckily, It's actually not as hard as you expect it to be.

Kaeya doesn't bring up that night, nor does he seek you out about having sex again. Which ironically makes you worry that perhaps he hadn't enjoyed it as much as he'd claimed, but then you remember his words—"We can start slow. Try it once if you're interested, and you can decide after that if you'd wanna do it again"—and realize he's likely waiting to see what you want to do.

Essentially, the ball is in your court.

And as for Diluc…

You suppose everything is fine. Ever since you had made up, the dynamic between the two of you seems to be the same as always. Meaning you shouldn't be worried about anything but…

An inkling of guilt about what you're doing with Kaeya still lingers in the back of your consciousness.

You convince yourself it's only because Diluc is your roommate, and you're hiding something from him, and leave it at that.

Because hey—as long as you're good at keeping that secret, it'll be perfectly fine, right?

Wiping your hands on your pants, you sigh and step up to the kitchen window, gathering the ready dishes for one of your tables.

It's already been almost a week since that night, and everything has been standard. Which is good.

Kaeya had gotten his eyepatch in the mail yesterday, and as a celebration, he'd gone out tonight with Childe and a few others to one of the bars in town. You'd gotten so used to seeing him without his eyepatch over the last few days that honestly, seeing him wear one again was almost more surprising.

In your pocket, your phone begins buzzing, but you don't notice—too busy smiling at your customers as you deliver their food to their table.

And Diluc is same old, same old. He's on the closing shift at Angel's Share, so you assume he'll be home late. Meaning you might actually get the apartment to yourself tonight…

You start wondering if any store on your way home would have any bubble bath ingredients for you to pick up when your phone starts buzzing again.

Once more, it goes unnoticed.

You check in with a few of your other tables—dropping off checks and offering refills, before Sara calls for you.

"Y/N!" she says, motioning you over. She's standing behind the register, the restaurant's landline phone held to her ear.

You hurriedly shuffle over, assuming maybe someone wants to place a to-go order, and Sara's too busy at the moment to take it down. However, when you put the phone to your ear and ask "how can I help you?", you're only met with a question in return.

"Is this Y/N?"

You blink, frowning at the phone. It's a little weird someone would be asking for you specifically, but…

"Yes, that's me."

"Oh—hi. This is Charles, from Angel's Share. Um, Diluc had a small accident tonight—"

Your heart violently drops into your stomach.

"—and he's asking for you. He wants you to come drive his car home, I think—"

"He can't drive?" You ask, wondering how injured Diluc is. With each passing second your worry grows in intensity.

"Well—"

"You know what—I'm just. I'm coming now."

You hang up the phone—your body moving on its own as you rush to the back of the restaurant and begin stripping off your apron.

"My roommate got injured at work," you tell Sara when she walks up to you, obviously curious about the situation. Her eyebrows raise in surprise, but she looks at you with sympathy, patting your shoulder.

"Got it. Just text me later if you think you won't make it in tomorrow."

"Thanks," you respond, grabbing your things. And with adrenaline pumping, you dart out the back entrance.

Your lungs are burning when you arrive at Angel's Share 5 minutes later, having jogged the whole way there.

You'd managed to reason with yourself on the way over—surmising that if Diluc was seriously injured, you'd probably be getting told by his coworkers to meet him at the hospital—but still. You're stressed.

So, you waste no time lingering out in the mild winter air. You barge through the tavern's doors and b-line for the bar, assuming that's the quickest way to talk to someone (considering you don't see Diluc's mop of red hair anywhere).

"I'm looking for Diluc," you say without preamble, startling the male who had been looking down at the bar top. "I got a call from—um—"

"Charles," the man supplies. "That's me. I can take you back to the office."

You sigh with relief, thanking him (although you're sure, after New Year's, you could find the way to the office by yourself).

Setting the rag in his hand down, Charles exits from behind the bar and leads you back through the kitchen and to the office at the rear of the restaurant. He knocks on the door as he opens it, letting the person inside know he's coming in.

"Y/N is here," he says as you squeeze past him and step into the room. Your gaze immediately finds Diluc, who is sitting at the desk, a bag of ice pressed against his shoulder. His hair is loose from his ponytail—messy looking, and strands sticking together. And his white t-shirt is darkened with—

"It's not blood," he says with a sigh, apparently seeing where your thoughts were going. "It's ketchup."

Well that's a relief, but—

"What happened? Are you okay?"

You approach his side, crouching down next to him. Diluc removes the ice pack from his shoulder, attempting to shift his position, but jolts—a hiss leaving his mouth. You quickly grab the ice pack, pressing it back to his shoulder.

He watches you, feeling bad about the amount of concern you're showing for him.

"I'm fine, I promise. A food runner bumped into me—hence the ketchup on my shirt and in my hair—and that caused me to both spill and slip in the drink I was walking over to a customer. When I hit the floor, I put most of my weight on my arm, and my shoulder popped out of the socket."

Your jaw drops in shock. Popped out? Shouldn't you take him to the hospital then?

"It went back in after a second," he reassures you. "So it's nothing serious. I just can't move my arm very well right now due to the swelling in my shoulder, so I wanted you to come take my car home with you when your shift was done."

He emphasizes those words while looking at Charles, who is still lingering in the doorway. The bartender holds up his hands, laughing awkwardly.

"I didn't exactly get the chance to say that. She was very worried about you and hung up on me."

"So what? You were just gonna sit here for—," you glance around the room for a clock, finding one above the door. It's only 8:30.

"—4 more hours? In pain? Waiting for me to come after my shift? You're so dumb I swear—"

Diluc blinks in shock at your words.

"Y/N—"

"C'mon," you say, pressing to your feet—still holding the ice pack to his shoulder. "I'm taking you home now so you can rest. I assume you don't need him, right?"

You glance over at Charles, and he shakes his head.

"No, ma'am. We'd love it if you got him out of here."

Diluc narrows his eyes at his coworker, who simply snickers to himself and finally departs from the office doorway. Diluc takes a deep breath, placing his hand over your own on the ice pack. However, when you see he's got a good grip again, you pull away—instead moving over to the nearby coat hooks, where you see his jacket hanging.

You reach around in his pockets, finding both his wallet and keys.

"Did you bring anything else?" you ask, slinging his jacket over your arm. Diluc shakes his head. He plants his feet firmly on the floor, standing slowly to make sure he doesn't jostle his shoulder too much.

"No, that's all. Let me show you where I parked."

Apparently not too worried about the outside temperatures, Diluc allows you to hug his coat as he leads you out the back entrance of the building, towards where the staff park. You spot his car after a few seconds, and scramble for the key fob to unlock the doors.

"I'm sorry to make you worry. And that you had to leave work early because of me," Diluc says as he slides into the passenger seat. You take a deep breath, putting the key into the ignition.

"You don't need to apologize for anything. I wouldn't have been able to stay at work knowing you'd been injured anyway."

You reverse the car out of the parking spot and carefully pull onto the road—heading towards your apartment.

"Seriously though, Diluc," you sigh. "I remember you threw your back out a few months ago lifting a keg. Now you're dealing with an arm injury. I'm going to force you to quit your job soon."

Diluc quietly laughs.

"I suppose you're right. I'll try and be more careful."

Still full of worry, you're tempted to sigh again, but hold it in.

After a few minutes, you finally pull into a spot in front of your building, and exit Diluc's car. The ice pack he's still nursing his shoulder with is already half water, and you make a mental note to refill the ice cube trays in the fridge that you know are empty.

The trek up to your apartment is quiet, and the two of you enter through the door together. Although, you immediately head into he kitchen—pulling out the empty ice trays.

Diluc silently watches you as you work—taking the trays over to the sink, filling them with water, and then carefully placing them back into the freezer.

When that's taken care of, you turn to face him. Your eyes roam over his head and torso, taking in his messy state.

"...I think I might have to cut your shirt off," you say regretfully. Diluc's face immediately contorts with displeasure, and you swear you can hear his thoughts.

"You can't lift that arm at all right now—"

"But—"

"And your shirt is covered in dried ketchup. That shit is not coming out, Diluc. Just sacrifice the shirt."

He practically pouts, tugging his shirt. However, after a moment of internal debate, he seems to agree with you that his t-shirt is indeed a lost cause.

"Well this sucks," he says flatly. You can't help but laugh, digging around in a nearby drawer for a pair of scissors.

"It does. Let's just…get you all cleaned up so you can properly rest, okay?"

Scissors in hand, you approach Diluc.

Focused on your goal more than anything, you don't pause to think about what you're doing. You simply grab the hem of his shirt, pulling it taut and positioning the scissors.

Diluc doesn't move—taking measured, shallow breaths as he watches you slowly cut a path up through the fabric.

In no time at all, the scissors are at the collar of his t-shirt, and you snip it carefully—blinking in surprise when the shirt immediately falls open—revealing his torso.

For a moment, you and Diluc are frozen. Then—

"Pfft—"

You stifle a laugh, turning away from him slightly. Blood rushes into Diluc's ears, his skin turning hot.

"What?"

"I dunno—it just. The shirt falling open was like a bad strip show act."

You really don't mean to laugh. You're still concerned with getting Diluc comfortable and resting, but…man. How are you supposed to ignore a scene like that? Diluc's shirt falling open—revealing his toned torso while he stands there looking at you dumbly.

Despite how hot he is, the whole situation is so un-sexy it's funny.

"Should I be trying to make it more appealing?" he grumbles, attempting to shrug the remaining scraps of his shirt off. You shake your head, reaching forward to help him. Your fingers unthinkingly skim his hot skin as you rid him of the shirt.

"No. You can't really be appealing anyway when you're injured and reek of booze and ketchup."

Balling the stained fabric in your hand, you walk over and toss it in the trash. Once that's done, you wipe your hands on your pants and say—

"Ok, shower time."

Diluc blinks.

"Is it that bad?"

"Yes," you confirm, pressing your lips together. "You don't smell good. And on top of that, I can see your hair is…sticky."

Diluc sighs, his head hanging back.

"Fine," he says, turning towards his bathroom. "I'll shower then."

"Well, hold on. Let me help—"

You take a step after him, and Diluc freezes, turning to look at you. There's a strange look on his face, his cheeks flushing slightly.

"You want to shower with me?"

You stop in your tracks, embarrassment rocketing through you as you realize oh. It had definitely sounded like you'd been implying that.

"Wh—! No! No, I just—" You take a deep breath, rubbing your hands down your face. "Your hair is so long and thick, you know? I feel like you won't be able to properly wash it with just one hand. So I was basically offering to. Help you wash your hair, if you're comfortable with it."

Diluc eyes you for a second, still a little unsure, but you see his shoulders relax at your clarification.

"Like washing a child," Diluc comments with a quiet laugh. You echo him, smiling a little as your heart finally begins to calm down.

"More like a salon appointment, but. Will you let me then? I promise to not rip too much of your hair out."

He rolls his eyes, motioning for you to follow him as he finally steps into his bathroom.

"Yes. My shower head is detachable. I think that will help."

Nodding, you scuttle after him—waiting patiently in the bathroom doorway as Diluc leans over and turns the tap on. It warms after a few seconds, and Diluc eyes the tub skeptically, wondering what's the best way to do this.

"Mmm…here," you grab a dry towel from the nearby rack. Folding it over a few times, you place it over the side of the tub, like a little head rest. "Why don't you sit on the floor and lean over? I'll grab a pillow from the couch you can sit on. Otherwise, if you stand in the tub, I think…you'll end up getting your pants soaked."

Diluc quietly hums, figuring you're right.

"That works."

While you rush to get a pillow for him to use as a seat cushion, Diluc gathers the products you'll need to wash his hair. And soon enough, the time has come—Diluc leaning his head back against the edge of the tub while you sit next to him on the closed toilet lid, shower head in your hand.

"Ready?" you ask, feeling just a tad nervous.

"Ready," Diluc confirms, adjusting his position slightly—his injured arm carefully resting in his lap.

Moving the stream of water, you start from his ends, and slowly make your way up towards his roots. His hair grows longer as the water washes away his natural wavy texture, and you stare in awe at how his hair pools against the basin of the tub. It really is so long.

"When was the last time you cut your hair?"

You can't help but make casual conversation as you work. Diluc's crimson gaze slides over to you, watching as you reach for his bottle of shampoo.

"I get the ends trimmed every few months."

You hum, pouring a handful of shampoo into your palm.

"So, are you going for a Rapunzel look, or?"

Diluc chuckles, but the sound gets stuck in his throat at the feeling of your fingers coasting through his hair. You begin lathering the product against his scalp, making sure to coat his roots, and it only takes Diluc a few seconds to relax—his eyes fluttering shut.

"I've been maintaining this length for a while. I don't think I want to let it get much longer."

"Makes sense," you mumble. You gently massage his head, unable to help it when your gaze drops to his bare chest—watching as it rises and falls slowly, clearly content with what you're doing.

A smile tugs at your lips.

Grabbing the shower head which you had set down, you begin washing the shampoo out of Diluc's hair. A comfortable silence settles, and you continue washing Diluc's hair until the water coursing towards the drain is clear and free of suds.

Then, you once again set the shower head aside—reaching for his conditioner instead.

It smells like Lavender.

"Do you think I should cut my hair?"

The question comes as you're in the middle of working the conditioner into the ends of his hair.

"I think women around the globe would scream and cry if you did."

Diluc's chest shakes as he laughs. He peeks an eye open, noticing that you're smiling.

"That wasn't the question."

"I think you should do what you want with it."

"Hmm. So if I took a razor and gave myself a buzz cut—"

"Okay—wait. No buzz cut. Ever. I don't care if you decide to have short hair one day, but giving yourself a buzz cut would be a waste. It's forbidden."

"Forbidden," Diluc repeats, amused. "Got it. No buzz cuts."

"Good boy," you say, grinning a little when Diluc cracks his eyes open to glare at you. You can only laugh.

Once his lengths and ends are thoroughly coated in conditioner, you let it sit for a few minutes—making small talk all the while. And you have to admit, it feels…good…to be interacting with Diluc like this. Not overthinking things.

Just…friends.

Reaching for the shower head, you finally rinse the conditioner out of his hair.

With his mane now soft, smooth, and smelling much better, you grab another towel. Collecting his hair, you gently squeeze out any excess water.

"I think you can stand now," you tell him.

Glad to be off the floor, Diluc does so—pressing to his feet. He reaches over and grabs a small bottle of leave-in conditioner from beside the sink, and then places it next to you, along with his hair brush.

You blink at him. Or, at his back, rather, considering he immediately turns so his hair is in front of you.

Ah, he…

For a second, you debate teasing him. I offered to wash your hair, Diluc, not brush it. But…knowing he must want you to do it—offering himself up like this—you decide not to say anything.

Without a word, you begin brushing the product through his hair. When you hit a knot, you work through it slowly, and when all the snags are gone, you gently scrunch his hair—giving it a little bit of its texture back.

"You're good at this," he comments, his voice warm as he turns to face you. You smile.

"Thank you."

Glancing down at himself, Diluc sighs.

"I guess I should rinse off too. But my hair—"

"Hold on—"

Turning, you dash to the other side of the apartment and grab a claw clip from your dresser.

"—I think this should work."

Gathering Diluc's hair, you twist and maneuver it until it's successfully held by the clip—his back now bare and his hair safe from the risk of being washed yet again. (Speaking of, has he always had those muscles in his back…?)

"This does, indeed, work," Diluc says, checking himself out in the mirror. He's never used a clip like this before.

"Right? What would you do without me?" You make a pompous gesture—flipping your hair over your shoulder.

You expect Diluc to roll his eyes, but he doesn't. Just stares at you for a second with a soft gaze, and a smile to match, and—

"I'll…let you rinse off then. Since I don't think you want me helping you out of the rest of your clothes. I mean, if you do need help maybe I can get Kaeya to come home since y'all are both guys, but—"

"No! No—that," Diluc covers his face with his hand, and you notice he's blushing. Immediately your face heats up as well.

"I'll make it work. Don't worry."

"Okay," you nod, and take a step back. "I'm home, of course. If you need me."

"Thank you," Diluc says, and with that, you excuse yourself from the bathroom and shut the door behind you.

Well…all in all, that could have gone worse, right?

Despite a few awkward moments, you'd managed to be in Diluc's company without feeling regretful, or guilty, or anything of that nature. Which is…great! Because now you can truly start to move forward.

For once, you actually feel positive about where your relationship with Diluc stands.

Now, you just need to figure out how you want to proceed with Kaeya. But! You're not too worried.

Surely, everything can only get better from here.

Notes:

A little bit of a fluffier chapter, but I adore fluffy chapters too :') And I hope you do as well 😌

If you feel like sharing your thoughts, please leave a comment!💕 I always love reading them.

Chapter 19: A Party

Notes:

Hello! I am so speedy. An update in 1 week, can u believe it.
(If you follow me on twt you probably saw this chapter was actually done 3 days after the last one bc I was in the zone for once, BUT. Can't update too fast right ;p )

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Kaeya taps the pen in his hand against the surface of his desk, his attention wandering from the papers in front of him that still need to be graded.

On his laptop, the calendar is pulled open, the month of February laid out before him, and he can't help but feel that time is passing quicker than expected.

In just a week, the University will be closed for "winter break". Which is just fancy wording for a long weekend, considering the "break" only consists of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

But hey, an extra day is an extra day. Now to decide what to do with it…

Well, really, there's only one answer.

Well, that's a bust. So…who else could host?

Kaeya's not close enough to Zhongli to ask him such a favor. Plus, Zhongli is technically a teacher at the university, which means making him the host may not be the best idea. And while Mona and Fischl share an apartment, he can only imagine how chaotic it is. (He's heard Mona complain about Fischl's abundance of props and costumes before, and Fischl complain in turn about Mona's mountains of books and other trinkets).

Lisa is a good option, but…if Kaeya recalls, Lisa's girlfriend is currently studying for MCAT's. So hosting a party at her place likely isn't in the cards.

He supposes whoever is available could always just meet up at a bar, but they already do that regularly…it'd be nice to have a more intimate get-together for once.

Kaeya sighs, tossing his pen aside. In the background—his door slightly ajar—he hears you and Diluc chatting about what to make for dinner.

A lightbulb clicks on above his head.

"We've got chicken thawed. And tortillas in the fridge. Why don't we have shredded chicken tacos for dinner?"

"Hmm, that works for me, but I'm not sure if we have any taco seasoning. Let me look up a recipe online, I can probably make some from scratch with the spices in the cupboard …"

"Ah, my dearest, introverted roommates," Kaeya says as he enters the room, you and Diluc both curiously looking his way. He pulls a chair out from the kitchen table and seats himself down—resting his chin in his palm as he smiles at you both.

"How would you feel if we hosted a party?"

"A party?" Diluc echos, already skeptical. He deals with chaos on a normal basis at the tavern, so it's not strange that the first image he sees in his head when he attempts to picture the scenario is noise complaints from building management and a trashed apartment.

"Just an intimate little get together," Kaeya clarifies. "Probably…10 people including us? Or a little more or less. Nothing like a frat party, I promise."

Well, personally you're already pretty well acquainted with the people Kaeya hangs out with. And while it's still a little nerve wracking inviting people into your personal space, you think it will be okay as long as the group isn't too large.

"I suppose if it's people you know and not random people from the street, that would be fine," Diluc concedes, crossing his arms. You hum.

"I agree. Wouldn't hurt to have one party at our place. And if it goes wrong, we can just ban you from ever having another one."

Diluc nods sagely.

"Exactly."

Kaeya holds his smile, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

"I'm sure it will go just fine," he says, standing from the chair. He stretches his arms over his head before turning back towards his room.

"I'm thinking it'll be next Friday night, but I'll let you both know the details later once I see everyone's availability. Also, let me know when dinner is ready—those chicken tacos sound good."

With that, Kaeya disappears back into his room to continue grading papers. You and Diluc glance at each other.

It's clear you're both a bit nervous about having a bunch of people—who will likely be tipsy, if not drunk—in your apartment but…hey. Maybe it will be fun?

As it turns out, Kaeya does end up scheduling the party for Friday, sending out a mass text that reads "Friday, 7pm, BYOB" with the address and apartment number tacked on.

As the day draws closer, he assures you and Diluc that nothing special needs to be done before the party, but caring about the state of the apartment, the two of you spend Friday morning tidying up—putting extra blankets and pillows away, making sure the sink is clean, and toilets are scrubbed. Kaeya helps out with what little things are left when he realizes what you and Diluc are up to, but honestly. Don't you two know this is a college party, not an open house?

In the early afternoon, the three of you pile into Diluc's car and take a trip to the nearest grocery store—picking up a few basic munchies for people to pick at. Kaeya also sends out a text to those he has invited, saying that bringing something to share is appreciated, but chips and pop will be available.

And then…it's a waiting game.

Being a little nervous, you distract yourself with what scant homework you've been given during the break—figuring that getting ahead won't hurt, considering you don't know if you'll be in working order tomorrow.

You don't plan on getting wasted, of course, but. Just in case.

"I doubt anyone will actually show up at seven," Kaeya says at 6:45, as Diluc gathers a few large bowls from the cupboards to put snacks in. "It's the culture to be fashionably late, you know? I'd guess the first person will show up at 7:30."

At 7:01, there's a knock on your door.

You and Diluc immediately turn to Kaeya, who looks stunned. But, not wanting to leave whoever it is waiting in the corridor, Kaeya immediately goes to let them in.

"Hello," Zhongli greets as soon as the door is open. There's a pleasant smile on his face, and a bottle of wine in his grasp. "I apologize for being late."

Kaeya forces himself to laugh.

"You're actually right on time. I'm…shocked."

Kaeya steps aside to grant Zhongli entrance, and Zhongli wastes no time walking inside. His golden eyes widen in surprise when he sees that he's the first to arrive.

"Where is everyone else?"

"I'm sure they'll be here soon," you assure him, ushering him into the kitchen. "Do you want a glass for your wine?"

You and Diluc end up making small talk with Zhongli while Kaeya shuffles into the living room—opening spotify and finding a good playlist to use as background noise.

And sure enough, the next knock on the door doesn't sound until 7:29.

"Oh, cutie!" Lisa greets you when you meet her at the door. She pulls you into a tight hug. "It's so good to see you again! Now let me in so I can see where you live with those two boys. I want to see your room too."

A couple minutes later, at 7:35, the next guests arrive.

"I, Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, descend upon this land by the call of fate an—!"

"Oh, give it a break," Mona groans, stepping around her. "If you talk like that, no one will be able to understand you! Oh, you must be Diluc. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

7:48

"Well hello there, my darling! I was so glad when you extended Kaeya's invite to me. I do love a good gathering, and especially one with booze!"

Venti flashes you the two bottles tucked under his arms. Wine and…soju?

"Of course, I made sure to bring some to share. Care to show me to your fridge?"

Smiling, you step aside to let Venti into the apartment, and shut the door behind you. From his spot leaned against the kitchen counter, Kaeya silently notes that everyone he'd invited has arrived.

Meaning, there should be no one else knocking at the—

Knock knock knock

Kaeya pauses, his eyes curiously sliding towards the entryway. Not realizing he isn't expecting anyone else, you excuse yourself from helping Venti, and scurry back over to the door.

Upon opening it, you're greeted with two unfamiliar faces.

"Hi!" the shorter of the two females immediately greets, smiling brightly at you. "This is where Kaeya lives, right? Oh! I'm Amber, by the way. And this is Eula."

She holds her hand out, motioning to the person standing beside her. With her arms crossed over her chest, Eula inclines her head to you.

"The invitation was extended to us," Eula explains.

By who? You're about to ask, when a pair of breasts squish into your back.

"Amber, Eula! I'm glad you found this place easy enough," Lisa says, smiling at them as she hugs her arms around your shoulders.

"Yeah! I'm so psyched about getting to meet new people!" Amber says, skipping into the apartment when Lisa tugs you to the side to give them room to enter.

"Thank you for having us!"

As Amber and Eula join the rest of the crowd in the main area, Kaeya quietly walks over, cocking an eyebrow at Lisa. She releases you, pouting at him.

"Oh, come now, Kaeya. Don't give me that look. I am sorry for inviting two more people without letting you know in advance, but I promise they won't wreck the place."

Kaeya sighs, brushing his hair back.

He would have appreciated a heads up, but…he had told you and Diluc about 10 people, and with Amber and Eula's addition, there are now exactly 10 people inside the apartment. So, as long as no other new faces show up, there shouldn't be any issue.

"No worries," Kaeya assures her, and with a pleased smile, Lisa goes to find her invitees.

Noticing the look on Kaeya's face, you stare at him in amusement.

"Know them?"

Kaeya rolls his eyes, wrapping an arm around your shoulder and dragging you back towards the kitchen.

"I do now. But there's more important things to focus on here—like the fact that you don't have a drink. Let me make you one."

You watch as Kaeya grabs a solo cup, a jug of orange juice, and a bottle of vodka. When he hands the drink to you, you take a tiny sip.

"Hm…not overly strong. I'm surprised."

He grins.

"Well, after last time I realized your tolerance isn't as strong as mine. Don't want to get you tipsy too early in the night."

Kaeya winks at you, picks up his own drink which he'd set aside, and then goes off to mingle. You decide to join Mona and Fischl on the couches, and give Diluc—who is sitting at the kitchen table making conversation with Venti and Zhongli—a supportive pat on the shoulder as you go.

There's a solo cup in front of him—the liquid inside purplish in color—but you know it's not wine. Just grape juice.

"I'll keep myself sober," you remember him saying days prior, when Kaeya had officially announced the party. "Just in case anything happens, or anyone needs a ride home."

"You can just say you don't want to drink, Luc."

"...hmph."

Settling yourself on the chair adjacent to Mona, you ask her how she's been. She assures you she's doing well for the most part, but her "Venus retrograde is transiting her 5th house and it's squaring her natal Jupiter, so things have been a little rough lately".

…obviously, hearing that, your response is "what does that mean?", which then sends Mona off into a little lecture on natal charts and how there are planets and signs and houses, and…well. You don't get much of it, but hearing her passionately talk about it all is captivating nonetheless.

And besides, listening to Mona talk—even if it's about things you don't quite understand—is still easier than trying to figure out what the hell Fischl is saying…

"Where I hail from, my companion holds dominion over star and sky across three universes, and the souls of the mighty, fallen in battle, rest in the shadow of his wings. His full name is Ozvaldo von Hrafnavins, and one should add that the penalty for mispronouncing his name is to have one's tongue torn from one's mouth. However, as I am a princess and you are one who has my favor, you may simply call him—"

"She's talking about her pet bird," Mona whispers in your ear, sounding exasperated on your behalf. You nod, taking a long sip from your drink, which causes Mona to giggle.

"Hey—!" Fischl whines, noticing Mona's laughter. Her cheeks tinge pink. "Don't laugh at me! I mean—! Ahem. How dare thee mock I, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung—"

"Oh please, Fischl," Mona responds with an eye roll, grabbing her own beverage. "I was not poking fun at you. There's no need to chastise me. Y/N is just struggling to understand your theatrical vocabulary, so I was translating for her"

The alcohol clearly beginning to get to Fischl, she breaks character again.

"Hmph! Maybe you should all take an acting class at the University then! It's not my fault if you can't understand me."

"Oh, who has the time for that—"

"You should make the time—"

As the two begin to bicker back and forth, you find yourself a little grateful when you hear a faint knock at the door over all the chatter.

Excusing yourself, you bring your drink with you as you hurry to the apartment entryway. You didn't think anyone else would be coming, considering the crowd that has already gathered, but…you suppose one or two more people won't hurt.

You pull the door open.

The smile on your face immediately drops.

In the hallway, there's not one or two, but (you take a second to count all the heads you see) SEVEN people.

"Um, h-hi," the boy in front greets, his blond hair messy. Beside him, there's another male who has the longest silver hair you've ever seen—a necklace of teeth dangling in front of his chest.

"I'm Bennett, and this is Razor. I…think we're in the right place? Amber invited us. Well, Amber invited me, but Razor wanted to come too, so—"

"Oh! Actually, Amber invited me too," someone else speaks up, and you search for the voice—finding a shorter female after a second. Her hair is green, and two males flank her sides.

"We're just accompanying her since this is her first house party," one of the men comments, smiling at you. "Hopefully you don't mind."

"Since the two of us are technically uninvited guests, we made sure to bring a variety of alcohol to make up for it," the other man says, holding up his arm on which a hefty bag full of bottles is carried.

"And I was invited by Zhongli," one of the last two girls comments, flashing you a playful grin. "Well, actually—he didn't invite me. But I saw him put it on his calendar the other day and I thought a party sounded fun, so here I am!"

"Hu Tao!" the girl beside her scolds, looking embarrassed. "If you weren't invited, you shouldn't have invited me!"

"Oh, don't worry, Xinyan~ It's fine, right?"

The question is directed at you, who is currently the guardian of the doorway—the one who gets to decide if all these newcomers get to enter the apartment, despite being complete strangers to you.

This amount of people is…way more than you bargained for, but…everyone seems nice enough? And besides, turning them all away at once is way too nerve-wracking for you to think about, so—

"Sure, yeah. Come on in."

Forcing a smile, you step aside—officially granting them all access into the apartment.

And so—seven new people join the fray.

As the newly arrived guests (if you can call them that) enter the main area, you hear Amber loudly greet her friends. Hu Tao also loudly greets Zhongli, whose typically calm voice you can't quite hear over all the noise, but you have to assume he must be surprised considering Hu Tao had openly admitted that he hadn't even formally invited her…

A smidge overwhelmed by all the new faces, you keep your spot in the entryway, leaning your back up against the door as you close it. Drink still in hand, you decide to finish it off.

Just as you're taking the final sip—the alcohol pooled at the base of the cup burning your throat as it goes down—you hear Diluc's voice.

"Sorry, please excuse us for a second."

Glancing up, you spot Diluc walking towards you, Kaeya trailing a step behind him. You can see the annoyance on Diluc's face.

"I thought you only said it would be ten people including us, " Diluc says, narrowed crimson eyes locked onto Kaeya. Stepping up beside you, Kaeya sighs.

"Listen—I'm sorry, okay? That was my intention. I didn't think my friends would invite their friends."

Diluc's face scrunches even more as his annoyance grows, and you take a deep breath.

"Why don't we just…make the best of it, okay?" you force yourself to smile, trying to keep things positive. "Like Kaeya said—he didn't know. And if things start to go awry, we can just tell people they need to go. But hopefully that won't happen. Everyone seems pretty nice, so. Let's just try and have some fun?"

Kaeya nods his head, holding up his drink as a toast to your words.

"Y/N's right, let's see how it goes."

"Fine," Diluc agrees. He rubs at the back of his neck, trying to alleviate the tension. "Let's get back."

While hosting seventeen people in a 1200 sq ft apartment is a bit of a challenge, it ends up working out.

With her group of friends having arrived, Amber takes advantage of the fact that you left your bedroom door open and drags them all inside—creating a private little area for all of them to chat. Considering the group opts to sit on the floor and that they don't go out of their way to touch any of your things, you suppose you don't mind.

With Amber, Bennett, Razor, and Collei off doing their own thing, Collei's…guardians? Friends? Are left to their own devices. So, they wander into the kitchen to grab drinks and talk with Zhongli, who somehow has something informative to say no matter the subject of conversation.

In the living room, the coffee table has been taken over by Mona—tarot cards spread over the table's surface as she gives Venti a reading. Behind them, Xinyan, Hu Tao, and Fischl are posed on the couches—talking animatedly about music, theater, and everything in between.

And in Kaeya's room, the man himself, along with Lisa and Eula, are lost in a conversation of their own.

Diluc joins them for a short while at Lisa's insistence, but wanting to keep a better eye on the apartment, Diluc ends up excusing himself to go back to his spot in the kitchen instead. More comfortable with his vantage point from the table, he allows himself to get looped into Zhongli, Cyno, and Tighnari's conversation—the topics a bit more…practical, and to his liking.

And you? Well…wanting to be a good host, you end up hopping from group to group—making sure everyone is doing alright.

The first few hours waste away like that—you moving from room to room, getting lost in conversation with whatever group you find yourself in the company of. Despite your initial worries, everyone ends up being really nice, which you're entirely grateful for.

The atmosphere—combined with the drinks you've had, and the heat from all the bodies in your apartment—makes you feel warm, and contented, and—

"Oh."

You glance over at Cyno, who is standing in front of the refrigerator—an empty ice tray in his grasp.

"It looks like you're out of ice."

You know, despite all the preparation you'd done, you would have thought you'd remember to buy a bag of ice…

Although, you also hadn't accounted for there being this many people.

"Why don't we go grab some?" Tighnari suggests, pushing up from the kitchen chair he'd been occupying. "One of the party stores nearby should have a bag."

"Sounds good," Cyno nods, planning to accompany him. Frowning, you step forward, ready to tell them they don't need to go to all that trouble, but Kaeya beats you to it.

Having emerged from his room to make another drink, Kaeya stops them.

"You two are guests, and you already brought a few bottles of booze. Thank you, by the way. I can go grab some—you stay here."

Tighnari raises an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? It's no big deal for us to go. And besides, you're the host."

Kaeya flashes them a smile, assuring them it's fine, but—

"Actually," you pipe up, suddenly remembering where you've seen ice recently. You catch Kaeya's gaze. "There's an ice machine in the apartment complex's gym. I noticed it the other day. I can just take the tray over there and refill it."

Without waiting for anyone's response, you walk over to the freezer, grab the empty ice tray, and then start towards the door.

"It'll only take a few minutes. I'll be right—"

"Well hold on there, sweetheart."

Kaeya stops you with a hand on the top of your head.

"I don't want you going alone. I'll come with you."

You pout at him.

"Why? I can do it."

It's just getting ice…

"I can tell you're a little tipsy," he says, noting the flush of your skin, and your dilated pupils. He doubts anything would happen to you on the short trek to the complex gym, but still.

"Better to be safe than sorry, right?"

You sigh. You can't argue with that.

"Make sure Diluc is ok holding down the fort for a few minutes," you say, waving Kaeya away. Kaeya rolls his eyes, walking over to where Diluc is perched near the coffee table—trying to make sense of Mona's divinations. (Honestly, how can the stars say anything?)

"Y/N and I are gonna go grab ice from the machine in the rec room," Kaeya whispers to him, leaning over his shoulder. "You gonna be okay for a few minutes?"

"I manage a bar," Diluc responds flatly, glancing over at him. "I'll be fine."

Right. Diluc seems to be coping well—treating the party like the tavern to make himself feel better. But, whatever works, right?

Making a short detour into the kitchen, Kaeya grabs another container—figuring the more ice you and he can get in one trip, the better.

"How many drinks have you had?" you ask him as the two of you step into the hall, heading towards the stairwell. Kaeya places his hand thoughtfully under his chin.

"Enough to make me feel pleasantly fuzzy but nothing more?"

"Ah, so you're not even counting," you respond, breathing a laugh. Kaeya pulls the stairwell door open for you, allowing you to enter first.

"What about you, hm? How many drinks did it take to get you like this?"

You glance over at him, pursing your lips.

"...is it really that easy to tell I'm a little tipsy?"

"Your skin is flushed, and I can see it in your eyes. Plus, you've been mingling freely and haven't been overthinking what's going on, so. I can only assume there's enough alcohol in your system that your inhibitions have been stripped away. Even if just slightly."

You huff. As long as you're not staggering on your feet—which you're not —you suppose it's not too big a deal that your level of inebriation is noticeable. At least, to someone you're close to.

"I've had three drinks," you finally reveal, making it to the bottom of the stairs. You take a turn to the left, heading up the hall which leads towards the building's shared amenities. Keeping pace at your side, Kaeya hums.

"Not too shabby. I'll make you another when we get back."

You laugh.

"Trying to get me drunk?"

"Of course not," Kaeya responds, although you see the twinkle in his eye. "Just trying to keep you feeling warm inside. It's cold out, you know?"

Reaching the end of the corridor, you push open a door that leads to the outside—the complex's gym a short walk away, in a separate building next to the outdoor pool.

Despite the weather being fair, and the outdoor temperature resting above freezing, the feeling of the cool night air is still enough to make you shiver. In the few seconds it takes you to cross the sidewalk and make it into the next building, goosebumps have risen on your skin.

"Wow, there actually is an ice machine in here," Kaeya muses as the two of you step inside, as if he didn't believe you. You narrow your eyes at him, but don't comment—simply sticking to his side as he walks over and places the container in his hand beneath the machine opening.

You can feel the warmth from Kaeya's body even from a few inches away, and you glance around the small gym area, noticing that no one else is here. Well…if it's just the two of you, then…

Stepping forward, you wrap your arms around Kaeya and press yourself into his back. His eye widens in surprise at the contact, and he glances over his shoulder at you.

"You're warm," you mumble into his shirt, nuzzling your nose between his shoulder blades. Kaeya breathes a laugh, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Oh? And for a second I thought you missed me."

It takes a moment for the meaning behind his words to soak in. The two of you see each other on a daily basis so there's no reason you would miss him , but…the intimacy you shared with him? Well…that's different. Especially now, when there's alcohol in your veins.

Pressing onto your toes, you make yourself tall enough to reach Kaeya's ear—your lips skimming his skin as you whisper—

"Hm, maybe I did."

Your arms loop tighter around him, and he's helpless to note the way your breasts press into his back—your lips trailing across his neck and causing his hair to rise. Your tongue teases at his hot skin, and you allow your hands to wander—one sliding down his torso, towards his belt line, while the other inches up, finding his pec.

You feel him jolt when your finger skims against his nipple through the fabric of his shirt, and your lips curl into a proud smile.

"Sensitive," you tease him, echoing the words he'd told you all those weeks ago, when he'd first had you in his bed. His chest rumbles—releasing a sound that's akin to a disbelieving laugh. And if it weren't for the fact that Kaeya's bucket of ice begins to overflow—cubes dropping one by one down onto the carpeted floor—you're sure he would have retaliated.

Instead, you're left scrambling to untangle yourself from him—taking a step back to give him room as he hurriedly pulls his container away from the machine. For a couple beats, the two of you can only stare helplessly at the array of ice cubes melting into the floor.

Then, Kaeya sighs.

"Go on and fill yours too," he says, kneeling down. "I'll clean this up."

You watch him as he begins gathering the spilled ice, but do as he says nonetheless—turning the machine back on. As it begins spitting ice into the tray in your hands, you can't help but feel like the moment has passed. Which is…a little disappointing, honestly.

You never had gone back to Kaeya to officially tell him you were interested in hooking up again (a conclusion you'd come to after careful consideration over the last few weeks). But…after touching him like that, you suppose you should make your intentions clear.

"Hey, Kaeya, I—"

Your words catch in your throat—replaced by a breathless gasp as cold fingers slide beneath your shirt against your bare skin.

"Kaeya!" you shriek, nearly dropping the container in your hand. He chuckles, his face nuzzling into the crook of your neck.

"What? You thought I'd just let you tease me and get away with it?"

He presses soft kisses against your skin as his hands slip beneath the wire of your bra—the garment shifting out of place as he finds your nipples. He rolls them between his fingers, the chill of his skin (thanks to the ice cubes he'd just picked up), causing them to grow harder and more sensitive than they already are.

Fuck, you think, instinctively shifting your hips back—your ass rubbing into his groin. You didn't think he'd go right for your tits…

"Ah, you're grinding on me? Can I take that to mean you missed me then?"

You can hear the grin in his voice, his hot breath fanning against your ear. Arousal fans to life in your gut.

"Unfortunately—yes. And I was actually about to tell you I'd be interested in hooking up again before you—mm—so rudely interrupted me."

Kaeya hums, one of his hands leaving your chest. He reaches forward and grabs your wrist, successfully pulling you away from the ice machine before your container also begins overflowing.

You both stare at the ice for a moment, remembering what it is you're supposed to be doing. You really should be getting back, but…

Kaeya snatches the tray of ice from your hands—setting it off to the side where he'd momentarily discarded his own. You turn to ask him what he's doing, but when you do, he cages you against the machine—his knee slotting between your thighs and grinding into your pussy.

The gasp that leaves you is swallowed by his lips, his palm cupping your jaw as he kisses you. Heat scorches through your veins, and you wrap your arms around his neck—drawing him closer.

Your cognizance fades—everything becoming muddled with arousal. All you know in that moment his hand on your hip, his tongue slipping into your mouth, and—

The door to the room opens with a loud click, and the moment shatters.

You and Kaeya jump away from each other, but with the ice machine being in direct sight of the door, you've already been spotted.

"Hi…," the stranger who had entered greets, a friendly smile on her face. "I'm…sorry to interrupt. I just was walking by and happened to see you both in here, and figured I should warn you. My roommate and her boyfriend did the same thing and building management fined us, since, you know, there's cameras in the common spaces…"

She points to the corner of the room, and you and Kaeya notice for the first time that there is indeed a camera installed there—pointed right at you.

"So…yeah! Um. Before things get too far, you might wanna. Find a more private space to continue…have a good night!"

Having given her warning, she quickly disappears back into the night. Embarrassment causes blood to rush into your face, and you shield yourself behind your hands, wishing you could disappear.

Kaeya sighs, brushing a few strands of hair out of his face.

"C'mon," he says, grabbing both your ice tray and his. "Let's get back then. People are probably waiting for ice."

"Yeah…," you agree, taking a step towards the door. "Okay."

Together, you and Kaeya meander back into the main building, silence stretching between you. Your heart is still going a million miles an hour—mortified that you'd been spotted by another resident getting hot and heavy with someone in a common space.

"I'm never drinking or making a move again," you mumble, wishing you could scream. Beside you, Kaeya rolls his eyes.

"Oh, please."

You pull open the door to the stairwell, and he enters first. You step in after him, but blink in surprise when your face nearly rams into his chest.

"Listen," he says, leaning down to your eye level. "Just come find me the next time you're horny and we're home alone."

He pauses for a second, like he's simply going to leave it at that, but then he turns, starts up the stairs, and mumbles—

"Because now I have blue balls…"

When you openly giggle at his admission, he turns back and grins at you. Like the fucking Cheshire Cat.

"And I'm sure you'll be stuck in wet panties for the rest of the night too. Huh, sweetheart?"

Seeing your face contort in shock, Kaeya happily continues on his way. You chase after him, face flushed, but say nothing.

I mean, how can you? Considering he's right…

With the ice having been successfully retrieved, the party continues on without a hitch.

Needing a fourth player, Cyno manages to rope Diluc into being his partner for a few rounds of cards—Tighnari and Zhongli going up against them. Kaeya finds himself opposite Mona at the coffee table, the astrologist insisting that she give him a reading despite his claims that the stars probably don't have anything to say to him. And while you're tempted to eavesdrop on that conversation, you don't get the chance to.

Lisa drags you off to talk—wanting to catch up (or, rather, see how things have been going with Diluc and Kaeya since the last time you saw her). You let her know that things with Diluc are fine, but carefully leave out any details of your hook-up with Kaeya, wanting that to be a secret for just the two of you to keep.

The hours drag on, and after a while, your eyelids start to feel heavy.

Excusing yourself from your current conversation, you decide to peek into your room.

Of course, Amber, Bennett, Razor, and Collei are still spread across your floor, talking animatedly. You were hoping you'd be able to rest in your bed for a second, but…you don't want to accidentally ruin the good atmosphere by flopping in your bed. That'd probably make them think they need to leave…

Hm…

Glancing around, you search for a spot you'd be able to rest for a moment. And on the opposite side of the apartment, you spot the perfect opportunity.

Around 1am, people slowly begin trickling home.

Collei leaves first with Cyno and Tighnari, already half-asleep and being carried on Cyno's back. Bennett and Razor follow after, assuring Diluc they'll be fine walking back to their on-campus dorm when he offers them a ride.

Hu Tao and Xinyan are the next to leave—dragging Zhongli along with them, since Hu Tao is insistent he give them both a ride home. Xinyan apologizes on their behalf for showing up without a proper invite, but thanks Kaeya anyway—telling him they had a great time, and that she also loved his choice in music!

Amber and Eula go next. Having had a lot of fun, Amber expresses to Kaeya that she'd love to be able to meet everyone again soon. Eula steps aside to thank Diluc for the drink he'd made her earlier in the evening, saying she'll have to come by Angel's Share to get one of his drinks again.

Second to last—needing extra time to gather the cards she'd brought along— Mona and Fischl say their goodbyes. Fischl attempts to keep up her royal facade as she bids the remaining people adieu, but under the influence of alcohol, her words make even less sense than usual. Diluc and Kaeya's heads spin just listening to her.

"I believe it's best that I drive us home tonight…," Mona sighs. "Fischl, where are your keys?"

As Mona fishes around in Fischl's bag, Kaeya steps forward and grabs Fischl's shoulder—seeing her sway.

"I think I'm going to make sure they get to the car in one piece," he says, glancing over his shoulder at Diluc, who nods his approval—also having noticed Fischl's unsteadiness. "I'll be right back."

Kaeya exits with the two girls, leaving Diluc alone in the kitchen with—

"It would have been a shame to not finish my final glass of Dawn Winery's special edition wine," Lisa says, dragging her finger against her lower lip as he sets her now-empty glass aside.

"It was nice of you to share that bottle with everyone."

"Luckily, I have access to more," Diluc says with a polite smile, which causes Lisa to laugh.

"I hope you enjoyed yourself, despite the crowd," she says, stepping around him. "It was a lovely gathering, in my opinion."

"The amount of people was more than I bargained for," Diluc admits. He follows her to the door, watching as she grabs her coat. "But…yes, I suppose there were also some enjoyable moments."

"Good," Lisa responds, her eyes creasing as she smiles. She grips the door handle, tugging it open.

"Have a good night. And tell Y/N to text me if she ever wants a female to talk to. I was planning on telling her myself, but I haven't been able to find her…"

Shrugging her shoulders, not too worried about it, Lisa excuses herself. Diluc, however, is left standing there in surprise.

How could he have overlooked the fact that he hasn't seen you recently? Where the hell would you have gone?

His chest constricting nervously, he wanders back into the main area of the apartment, glancing around.

Both bathroom doors are open, meaning you're not passed out on the toilet, at least…but you're not in your room either. Or Kaeya's, when he checks it. And obviously, he would have spotted you if you were in the kitchen or living room, so…where the hell are you?

Starting to worry that perhaps you'd gotten drunker than he'd realized and wandered off into the night, Diluc strides across the apartment towards his bedroom—preparing to grab his shoes and coat. However, just as he's about to grip the doorknob, he notices that his door is ajar.

Not having wanted anyone in his private space this evening, he'd been smart enough to close the door to his bedroom before anyone had arrived. But now, it's no longer closed.

Frowning, he cautiously swings the door open. Light from the rest of the house floods through his doorway, and immediately, he spots a lump in the middle of his bed. It takes him a few seconds to realize that the lump is you.

Relief flooding him, Diluc can't help but chuckle—his gaze softening as he regards you.

He doesn't want to wake you up when you seem to be sleeping so peacefully, but…he also wants to make sure you're okay. It doesn't seem like you to just disappear in the middle of a party without a word.

Making his way to the mattress, Diluc seats himself on the edge, calling out to you quietly.

"Y/N."

He gives it a few seconds, but there's no response. Your eyes stay firmly shut—his covers gathered around your face, so your eyes and forehead are all he can see.

"Y/N…," he tries again, gently shaking your shoulder.

This time, your eyelids flutter open.

It takes your eyes a second to focus, your blurry gaze roaming around until you spot Diluc sitting beside you.

"Ah, shit," you mumble, raising a hand to rub at your eyes. "What time is it? I…I just wanted to rest for a second, I didn't mean to fall asleep…"

Your words come out slurred, and your movements lethargic. And yet, Diluc can tell you're not drunk. You're just…exhausted. Likely due to a combination of the late time, and the alcohol in your system.

"It's past one," he responds, his hand rubbing soothing motions against your shoulder through his sheets. "Everyone went home. We saw them off."

"Ah, I'm…such a bad host," you groan, trying to find the energy to raise yourself up, but it's nowhere to be found. You can't bring yourself to move from Diluc's bed.

"You're not," he assures you. "And I'm sure everyone would understand you falling asleep early. It happens to everyone."

You grunt in response, your eyelids struggling to stay open.

"I don't think I can get up," you admit after a moment. Diluc lets out an amused breath, having figured as much.

For a second, he debates letting you stay where you are. It wouldn't be too much of a disturbance to him personally, sharing the bed with you, but…considering he's still planning on waking up early in the morning to exercise, he doesn't want to impede your sleep.

"I'll help you get to bed," he says.

"Mmm…I can…walk…," you argue, feeling guilty, but your body never moves. Diluc resists the urge to laugh.

"It's fine," he whispers, peeling the covers off of you. "Let me help you for once."

Whatever rebuttal you may have had never comes—sleep overtaking you once again. In the silence, Diluc easily maneuvers you into his arms, your cheek resting against his chest as he carefully carries you out of his room and across the apartment.

Despite the group of people who had been occupying your room for a majority of the night, your room is still spick and span—your bed included.

It takes a second for Diluc to figure out how to move the covers back while still holding on to you, but he works it out. And soon enough, you're all tucked into your own bed—Diluc pulling the covers up past your chin, just how you like.

"Goodnight, Y/N," he says, brushing a few hairs away from your face. His palm settles on your head—just for a moment—and you lean into his touch, taking a deep, satisfied breath.

His heart skips a beat.

"I see you found our roommate."

Diluc jolts ever so slightly at the sound of Kaeya's voice behind him. Turning, he finds Kaeya leaning against your doorframe.

"She apparently went off to find a place to rest and ended up passing out in my bed," Diluc explains, moving to exit your room. Kaeya steps aside to let him out, and Diluc flicks your bedroom light off, closing the door behind him.

"That would explain it. I was wondering where she went off to."

Diluc makes a sound of agreement, moving back into the living room and kitchen area. There are still bottles, cups, and snacks everywhere…

"I'll clean up in the morning," Kaeya promises, already putting a few of the temperature sensitive snacks back into the fridge. Diluc doesn't exactly enjoy the idea of letting the apartment be messy all night, considering at the bar, things are usually clean before he clocks out, but…

"That's fine. But Kaeya?"

"Hm?"

Diluc stares at him wearily.

"The next time you want to host a party, make sure only the people you invited are the ones showing up."

Kaeya sighs.

"Got it…"

Notes:

Party chapters are always a lil challenging to write bc there's a million things that I could potentially be focusing on, but I wanted them to have a party since it's college 💃

I hope that you enjoyed, and as always I always love reading your reviews 💕

Chapter 20: A "Secret Admirer"

Notes:

Hello!

Welcome to another installment of the dumbass trio.

I don't want to spoil the contents of this chapter, but I do want to put a TW here just in case.

TW: this chapter does involve a character in the story being drugged. But I promise it turns out alright ❤️

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Lately, you can't help but feel that things have actually been going well.

Your classes this semester have been challenging at times, but manageable overall. You'd passed your midterms with ease—with the appropriate amount of studying, of course. And with the semester now officially halfway done, you find yourself coasting through the month of March.

Following the party, you had ended up taking Kaeya's advice—going off to find him on a night when Diluc hadn't been home. He'd teased you about your decision, which had ended up with you finally (and rightfully) biting him.

Of course, doing so had only served to make his dick harder (masochist, you should have known), and so, you'd spent the first hour or two of your night confined to Kaeya's bed.

("Fuck, sweetheart," he grunts, one hand gripping the plush of your ass, and the other tangling in your hair. On your knees for him, he guides your pussy back onto his cock—a wet, smacking sound filling the space between your bodies every time he thrusts forward to meet you.

The little whimpers and moans from your lips…the sheen of sweat on your soft skin—the glimmer of arousal that messily spreads across your pussy and thighs, well…let's just say the sight of you makes it easy for him to get it up a second time.

A second time which you don't expect.

"Kaeya?" you ask in surprise when he rolls you on your back—settling himself between your legs, with a brand new condom wrapper trapped between his teeth. He smiles at you, the tips of his fingers ghosting up your skin, between the valley of your breasts, and finally settling on your throat. The weight of his cock sits heavy on your lower stomach, and he can feel your pulse racing beneath his fingertips.

"One more round," he says.

"I don't know if I can—"

"I'll make you cum again. Don't worry."

And it's embarrassing how easily he does. His fingers gripping your throat, his mouth whispering filthy words in your ear. You end up cumming harder than you did the first time—clamping on Kaeya's cock so tight that for a second he forgets the "no marks" rule and sinks his teeth into base of your neck—muffling his groan against your skin as his orgasm is ripped from him.

You scold him once your brain finally starts working again, and Kaeya apologizes, saying he'll buy you cover-up if you need some.)

Ahem.

Aside from your newfound and finally official fwb relationship with Kaeya, things with Diluc have been going good as well. You often find yourself cooking meals and watching shows together. And while you're still not totally…over it. You're getting there.

(You've come to terms with the fact that forcing yourself to get over your feelings for Diluc won't actually help. You have to move on at your own pace—and while sometimes it's hard to do that, considering the little pangs of regret and longing you get whenever Diluc is looking particularly handsome, or is staring at you with a soft gaze he seems to never use towards anyone else. You're…trying your best. And that's all you can do.)

So! With midterms done and everything else going well, you find yourself to be in a good mood as of late.

Which is why, when your good friend Venti messages you asking you to come out to one of the local bars, you end up saying yes.

And so, a few days later you find yourself stepping into the Yanshang teahouse. Despite being called a teahouse, there's a full bar off to one side of the room—many college students lined up to get drinks.

Venti had told you Zhongli and another friend would be coming, but…when you glance around, you don't find any familiar faces. So, you decide for now you'll just find an open table, and let Venti know where you are.

After securing a table a short ways from the stage, you pull your phone out and text Venti. He responds only a minute later, saying he's in the back tuning his lyre, and that he'll be out soon to hang with you until it's his turn to go on. Oh, and Zhongli is en-route, so his other invitees will also be here soon.

Shrugging off your coat, you drape it over the back of your chair and grab the drink menu that's been left on the table. You haven't had a drink since Kaeya had thrown his party a few weeks ago, so you figure there's no harm in cutting a little loose tonight. To celebrate Venti's performance.

"Here you are—"

You blink in surprise as a glass is set down in front of you. The liquid inside is orange—garnished with a cherry.

"I didn't order this," you immediately say, turning to face the waiter who had delivered the drink. His dark hair is slicked back away from his face, a pair of glasses resting on the bridge of his nose.

He smiles at you.

"You have an admirer tonight," he says, nodding his head over to the bar. You look past his shoulder, scanning the length of the bar, but there's no indication of who this "secret admirer" could be. Everyone seems to be minding their own business—no one looking your way.

"I hope you enjoy," the waiter continues on, winking at you, and then turns and walks away before you can think of anything else to say.

Alone at the table, you're left staring at the glass in front of you.

You're a little…hesitant, since you've never received a drink at a bar from a mystery admirer before. Honestly, you're a little flustered at the idea that some random person apparently found you attractive enough at first glance to buy a drink for you, but…since no one is approaching you, and there's really no obligation tied to the drink…

You pick up the glass, stirring the liquid inside, and take a small sip.

It's sweet, and fruity—and the alcohol is fairly strong.

Smiling to yourself, you have another taste—happy that you won't be wasting any of your own money on an overpriced beverage tonight.

With Venti still nowhere in sight, you pull out your phone—entertaining yourself with the newest items on your SNS feeds. By the time your friend finally finds your table ten minutes later, your drink is half gone.

"Hey, Y/N—!" Venti calls out happily when he spots you. You stand to greet him, and the two of you share a big hug—smiling at each other.

"You seem in high spirits," you comment, reclaiming your seat. Venti seats himself across from you, resting his cheek in the palm of his hand.

"I am! This is the first time I'm going to be performing with my lyre since I got it, and I'm really excited."

He grabs the drink menu, scanning through it as he talks.

"I'm planning on singing this song—"Soldier, Poet, King". It was popular online a while ago, but I'm really hoping the people in the bar will catch on and sing with me."

"Oh! That one—! I've heard it!" you say, in the middle of taking another swig of your drink. Seeing you know what song he's talking about, Venti perks up.

"Right?"

"It's so good," you agree, nodding your head. You open your mouth to elaborate further—say something about how the first time you heard it, it was stuck in your head for weeks—but the words don't make it out.

The bar tilts on its side—your head feeling a little fuzzy.

You try to blink yourself out of it, frowning at the feeling. There's no way you're already drunk, right? This is your first drink…

"You good?" Venti questions, noticing your pause.

"Yeah," you respond, attempting to laugh it off. The room straightens out, and you decide to zero in your attention on Venti—doing your best to ignore the fog that's slowly creeping into your brain.

"There must be a lot of alcohol in that drink," he jokes, peering over the menu at your nearly empty glass. "What did you get?"

"I actually don't know," you admit, swirling the ice around. "Some waiter brought it over to me—said I have a "secret admirer" who decided to buy me a drink."

Venti audibly gasps, wiggling his eyebrows at you.

"Ooooo~! A secret admirer~ I hope I'm still at the table when that person decides to show themselves."

You laugh a little, rolling your eyes. Once again, you poise your lips against the rim of your glass—downing the remainder of the drink.

"I don't know if they exist to be honest. The waiter motioned towards the bar when he dropped it off, but no one was looking my way when I checked. Wouldn't they be waiting for my reaction if they bought me a drink and were trying to flirt?"

The smile on your lips wavers as Venti begins to respond—your heart pounding heavily in your chest. The fog in your head thickens, and it takes you a second to hear the words that Venti is speaking.

"That's true…but maybe they're just shy! You never know. Maybe they'll buy you another drink and make a move then—"

"Oh, you had a friend with you after all?"

You turn your head to find the owner of the familiar voice, and once again, you find yourself face to face with the same waiter from before. However, the smile on his face looks forced…his eyes narrowing at Venti when your friend speaks up.

"Oh? Is this another drink from her "secret admirer"?"

The waiter laughs, and you notice that he does indeed have another drink in his hand—filled to the brim.

"Ah—yes."

He extends his arm forward, moving to set the drink in front of you. Your vision swims yet again, and you dig your fingers into your thighs, trying to snap yourself out of it.

What the hell is going on?

Venti hums.

" Well , I think this secret admirer should show themselves already—"

With the drink only an inch off the table top, a hand flies out of nowhere—grabbing the wrist of the waiter. Startled, the waiter immediately drops the drink—the glass shattering on the floor.

You hear Venti gasp, but the next words spoken don't come from him.

"If you're looking for her secret admirer, look no further, because it's him."

The voice is gruff, and angry, and when your vision finally focuses, you find a short male standing beside the waiter—gripping his wrist painfully tight.

"Xiao?!" Venti says in shock, looking from the spilled drink on the ground, to his friend, and back again.

"Zhongli didn't spot either of you when we walked in, so we decided to sit at the bar and wait," Xiao explains, tightening his death hold when the waiter attempts to yank his arm free.

"I happened to notice that this guy was acting suspiciously. He would come to the bar to pick up a drink and then mix it before ever taking it to the customer. Probably because he's got GHB or some other date rape drug stashed in his apron pocket that he's mixing into the drink of the patrons that look like easy targets."

Hearing that accusation, the waiter tries even harder to flee. Xiao's grip is unrelenting.

Date rape drug?

You jump to your feet—your chair clattering backwards. Despite the panic that's quickly spreading through your body, everything seems to be moving so slowly.

"Y/N?"

The concern in Venti's voice is so thick, and you're sure you'd be able to see it painted on his face if it weren't for the way the room starts spinning again.

You'd finished that whole drink—a spiked drink. Shit.

You try and take a step towards the bathroom—wherever that is—figuring you should try and puke up what's left in your stomach, but you only succeed in tripping over your own feet. Luckily, before you can hit the floor, two hands catch you beneath your armpits.

"Y/N—"

Oh, you know that deep voice.

"Zhongli," you respond, leaning into him when he drags you back to your feet. Your eyelashes flutter, your heart still racing, and perhaps because you're overwhelmed or have ingested a hefty dose of drugs, or both—from that point on, your brain stops processing what's going on.

"I'm surprised you stayed in tonight."

Diluc's eyes follow Kaeya as he stands from the couch—moving into the kitchen to find something to snack on.

On the TV is some documentary Diluc had picked. Having been intrigued by the topic, Kaeya had opted to join him, and until now, they've mostly been watching together in silence.

Kaeya snorts a laugh.

"What? I can't just stay home sometimes?"

Diluc hums.

"It's just unlike you."

Sighing, Kaeya pulls open the door to the fridge. He grabs a jar of pickles and stares at it for a moment before putting it back.

"Listen, I have some assignments I need to catch up on, okay? Graduation is right around the corner—I have to make sure I'm not accidentally flunking out of the final courses I'm taking…"

Ah, right…both Diluc and Kaeya will be graduating at the end of this semester…

"...if you have things you need to be doing, why are you watching TV with me?"

Kaeya narrows his eyes, turning to face Diluc. He's about to ask if it's illegal for him to take a break and simply relax, when a knock at the door interrupts him.

Immediately, both he and DIluc pause. They share a look, and it's clear to them both that they're not expecting a delivery, or any guests.

However, Diluc decides he'd better go and check. Just in case.

Peeling himself off the couch, Diluc walks over to the apartment door and pulls it open.

"Hey, uh—"

His eyes fall to Venti, who has just spoken. There's a pained smile on his face, and he's looking at Diluc nervously.

"So…there was an incident at Yanshang—"

Hearing the name of the bar, Diluc immediately recalls what you'd said to him before leaving earlier that evening.

"Venti is performing at the open mic night at a local teahouse tonight. Yanshang, I think? I'm gonna go support him so I'll be back late."

When Diluc had expressed…interest about whether you'd be alone or not when Venti was off performing, you'd assured him Zhongli and another one of Venti's friends would be keeping you company.

But—now Venti and Zhongli are standing in his doorway, and you're nowhere to be found.

Thankfully, before Diluc can start to panic, Zhongli shifts, and Diluc finally notices that you're being carried on Zhongli's back—your arms wrapped loosely around his neck, and your body slumped against him.

A bit of his worry subsides, seeing that you're with them, but…his gut is telling him something is wrong.

"Is she drunk?" he asks, stepping aside to allow Zhongli and Venti into the apartment. Zhongli walks inside first—careful to avoid bumping into anything as he carries you into the living room. Kaeya, who had wandered back over and reclaimed his spot on the armchair, silently watches as Zhongli sets you down on the couch.

You immediately flop over onto your side, prompting Kaeya to raise an eyebrow.

Venti and Diluc enter the room after Zhongli, and Diluc crosses his arms, still waiting for an answer to his question.

Zhongli and Venti share a look.

"Well," Zhongli takes over, clearing his throat with a cough. "Unfortunately, Y/N—"

"I got DRUGGED."

All eyes turn to you, watching as you push yourself up onto your arms. There's a pout on your warm face, and it's clear you're upset.

However, you don't bother elaborating, instead flopping your upper body back down onto the couch when the strength in your arms waver—leaving the group of men to continue the conversation alone.

"She got drugged?" Kaeya echoes in disbelief. He abandons his seat as he moves to join the other three where they're standing. Venti sighs.

"One of the waiters at the bar was secretly spiking the drinks he was bringing to people. He gave one to Y/N under the pretense of it being from a "secret admirer". None of us realized the drink was spiked until she'd already finished it."

"A staff member," Diluc scoffs. He crosses his arms, his fingers drumming impatiently against his skin.

He's not even sure what emotion to focus on right now. The overwhelming concern he feels for you, or absolute rage he's failing to reign in when he thinks of the employee who had spiked your drink.

Don't places vet people before hiring them anymore? He'd never let anything like this happen at Angel's Share—

"I can't let this go—," Diluc grunts after a long pause, interrupting Venti, who had been answering Kaeya's question about the timeline of events. He turns on his heel and heads for the door.

"—I have to go down there and make sure that employee is persecuted—"

"Diluc," Zhongli calmly steps in. He reaches his hand out and nabs Diluc's wrist in the nick of time, stopping him from storming out of the apartment.

"Xiao stayed behind and is taking care of it. Trust me when I say Xiao has no tolerance for this kind of thing as well. Management was talked to and the police were called before we ever left the bar to bring Y/N home. And Xiao stayed behind to give the police his statement. It will be okay."

Diluc clenches his jaw. He's glad to know the situation is being properly taken care of, but…it irks him to no end that this happened in the first place. That one of the people he cares about most was taken advantage of like this.

"We've already done everything we can," Venti chimes in, seeing the rapid rise and fall of Diluc's chest. He flashes Diluc a smile.

"So, what you can do now is stay home and take care of Y/N until the drugs wear off. Yeah?"

Diluc takes a deep breath.

"Fine," he acquiesces.

With the situation explained and you safely back home with your roommates, Venti and Zhongli silently agree that it's time for them to take their leave. However, before Venti can formally wrap the conversation up—there's a sniffling sound in the background.

When Diluc and Kaeya shift their gazes over to the couch, they find you huddled up in the corner, your hands messily wiping against your cheeks to clear away the tears falling from your eyes.

"I'm sorry," you say, your voice quiet and fragile. "I should have been smarter. I didn't mean to get drugged…"

"Oh, princess—," Kaeya starts to say, preparing to go and comfort you, but Diluc beats him to it. He rushes to your side without hesitation, kneeling on the floor in front of you.

Feeling at this point that they're intruding, Venti and Zhongli head for the door. Kaeya sees them out—his attention lingering on you and Diluc as he exits the room.

"Y/N," Diluc says, his hand resting on your knee. He gives it a little squeeze, attempting to draw your attention.

"This isn't your fault, I promise."

You sob, your voice thick with regret as you respond.

"I just—I accepted that stupid drink and didn't think anything of it…"

"The drink was brought to you by an employee," Diluc reasons with you, his thumb rubbing soothingly against the fabric of your jeans. "Not some random bar goer. You had no good reason to suspect the drink had been spiked."

You sniffle again, struggling to stop more tears from falling, and Diluc's heart aches.

"Y/N—"

You intake a shaky breath, curling in on yourself like you're about to break down. Diluc panics, not wanting to see you any more upset.

"Sunshine, please, look at me."

His palm finds your cheek, and your tear stained eyes peel open, glancing down at him. He forces himself to smile—wanting to reassure you.

"You couldn't have known. I'm just glad you're home safe."

You cup his hand with your own, leaning into his touch.

"But…you looked so angry when you guys were all talking…"

"I was mad at the person who drugged you," Diluc explains. "Not at you. Never at you."

Relief washes through you, and you extend your arms towards him. Realizing what it is you want, Diluc wastes no time gathering you into his arms.

He hugs you tightly—one of his hands cradling the back of your head. Your fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt, your nose nuzzling into his long hair, and he unconsciously presses his lips to the crown of your head.

In the silence that settles, Diluc notices the sound of someone entering the room.

He turns his head, his crimson gaze sliding to Kaeya. Kaeya stares back for a moment, before he turns into the kitchen and grabs a cup from the cupboard. Once it's full to the brim with water, he walks into the living room and seats himself on the couch beside you.

Feeling the cushion dip, you gently detach yourself from Diluc—your attention turning to Kaeya. He holds the glass out for you.

"Looks like we're gonna have to look after you tonight, princess. So, first step is getting some water in you."

Wiping away the last string of tears that fall from your eyes, you obediently reach out and take the cup from Kaeya. You drink half of it down in one go—cradling the cup between both of your hands.

When you're done with your water for the time being, Kaeya takes it back, placing it on the coffee table. Diluc taps your knee with his knuckle.

"How are you feeling?"

You slump back against the cushion behind you.

"Mmm…like…I'm not in control of my body. And I don't like it," you admit, frowning. "Zhongli had to carry me home 'cause my legs stopped working…ah. I wonder if they work yet—"

Too curious for your own good, you grip the arm of the couch and push yourself to your feet before either of your roommates can stop you. Immediately, the three of you get the answer to your question, which is: no, your legs don't work yet—that becomes clear as soon as you sway and nearly collapse forward onto Diluc.

Luckily, Kaeya is quick to grab your wrist—tugging you back towards him and the couch. Your ass bounces safely against the cushion when you fall, and the upper half of your body flops over into Kaeya's lap.

Diluc and Kaeya both sigh in relief.

You blink a few times to stop the room from spinning.

"Whelp," you say, grabbing Kaeya's thigh and pushing yourself into an upright position. "Guess not…"

"What if," Diluc begins to suggest, finally standing from his spot on the floor. "We just get you into bed, so you can rest?"

"No," you respond immediately, pouting at him.

"And why not?"

"'Cuz I'm hungry."

Diluc takes a deep breath, his gaze sliding to Kaeya. Kaeya stares back.

"You're hungry too, right?" Diluc says, motioning towards the kitchen. "You were looking for a snack before."

Kaeya smiles innocently.

"I could eat."

Diluc resists the urge to roll his eyes. Considering he could honestly use a moment to himself to cool off, he supposes he doesn't mind going for a ride to pick up food.

"What do you want, Y/N?"

"McDonalds, please," you respond instantly, flashing him a big smile. "I want fries. Lots of 'em."

Diluc quietly chuckles. "Okay. And for you?"

"My regular," Kaeya says, and then adds in, "thanks. I'll make sure to keep track of our roommate while you're gone."

Diluc nods his head, and then heads for his room. He grabs a light coat, along with his keys and wallet.

"Call me if anything happens," he tells Kaeya seriously, lingering in the threshold of the living room. Kaeya waves Diluc off.

"I know, I know. Don't worry."

It's hard not to…, Diluc thinks, but nonetheless takes his leave. Once the apartment door has opened and shut, Kaeya faces you once more—

…and finds you trying, and failing, to tug your sweater over your head.

"What are you doing?" he asks, cocking an eyebrow.

"Hot," you respond immediately, your head trapped inside your sweater. "Help."

Kaeya notices the reason you're struggling so much is because your sweater is tucked into the waistband of your jeans, and you seem to have forgotten.

Reaching over, he tugs your sweater free of your pants. Finally, you manage to wrestle your sweater off—tossing it onto the ground beside you.

You're still for about three while seconds—sitting there in only a tanktop and jeans—before you decide that's not enough. Your fingers fiddle with the button and zipper on your jeans, and Kaeya blinks in surprise.

"Still too hot?"

"No, but I hate—," you kick your legs, trying and failing to shed yourself of your pants, "—jeans . Want them off."

Kaeya is about to point out to you that 1. Your shoes are still on, and 2. You're about to strip yourself in the middle of the apartment, but then you try to stand again. And, of course, your balance is still off.

"Woah there—," he jumps to his feet and grabs you by the waist, steadying you as you begin to teeter. Feeling his hands on you, you glance up at him.

"Tired of real clothes. Pajama time," you declare.

Turning in his hold, you take a step towards your bedroom. Without saying anything, Kaeya switches his grip to your upper arms, holding you as if you were a baby learning how to walk for the first time.

He can't help but laugh at the mental imagery.

"What?" you ask, hearing him.

"Nothing," he responds. "Let's get you to your room so you can get your pj's on."

A minute later, Kaeya manages to get you seated on the edge of your bed. He plans on leaving you alone to change, but…you're really struggling…

You manage to get your tanktop off easy enough, but everything else…not so much.

Despite having taken your bra off thousands of times, it seems you're too inebriated right now to correctly undo the clasps. And you've already given up on getting your jeans off, considering your prior attempt, so.

You groan—flopping back against your mattress.

Kaeya places a hand on his hip, sighing.

"Do you need help, princess?"

"I'm trapped," you respond, utterly serious, and Kaeya rolls his eyes.

Kneeling down, he starts on your shoes. He tugs down the zipper on the side of your boots and frees them from your feet, your socks following right after.

Expecting him to make some smartass comment about you having stinky feet, you push yourself up on your elbows—readying yourself for a comeback despite the sluggish feeling in your brain, but…Kaeya stays silent.

He moves on to your jeans, his fingers hooking beneath your waistband, and you watch him as he works—tugging the fabric down to your hips. They get stuck at your ass considering it's still planted on the bed, and you gather all your strength—managing to lift yourself up a centimeter off the mattress.

Kaeya chuckles.

"Thank you, sweetheart."

Now past the biggest obstacle, Kaeya finally manages to shuck your jeans free of your legs. Leaving you sitting there in only your undergarments.

He stands up with a quiet grunt.

"What drawer are your pajamas in?"

"Top left."

After retrieving a t-shirt and pair of shorts, Kaeya returns to your side. He tells you to lift your arms and you obediently do so, making it easy for him to slip the shirt on over your head. The shorts are a little more challenging, considering you have to lift yourself up again for him to fully slide them on, but you manage—your arms shaking the whole time.

"There," he says, patting your knees. "You're all ready for bed—"

Having knelt down on the floor to help get your shorts on, Kaeya attempts to stand, but you speak up, causing him to pause.

"Bra," you tell him, moving your shoulders uncomfortably. Kaeya cocks an eyebrow at you, as if to say "you really can't get that yourself?" And you pout.

"I tried. I can't get it," you tell him. "I want to. But—I'm just—"

Kaeya can tell the more you try and explain, the more frustrated you get about your current state of uselessness. And he doesn't want you to start crying and apologizing again for accidentally getting drugged.

"Okay," he says, cutting you off. He scoots closer to you, his hands ghosting against your waist as he ventures beneath your shirt. You shiver at the sensation, but Kaeya does his best to ignore your reaction. He finds the clasp of your bra with ease, undoing the hooks.

You sigh in relief, and Kaeya can't help but smile—tugging the straps down your arms until you're finally free.

"Thank you," you tell him. Your fingers comb through his hair, and he looks up at you, noting that despite changing clothes, your face is still a little flushed.

He cradles your cheek against his palm.

"You're warm"

You shake your head.

"It's just 'cuz I drank a little bit. I'm okay though."

"Good," he says.

Kaeya tucks a strand of hair behind your ear, his other hand gripping your thigh as his body unconsciously leans up towards you, his gaze lowering to your li—

The front door opens with a noticeable click.

Kaeya jolts backwards, his eye going wide.

He stares at you for a moment, looking perplexed, and you blink back at him.

"What?" You ask.

He shakes his head, hurriedly getting to his feet.

"Nothing, c'mon."

He pulls you up, bracing your arm over his shoulder and grabbing you by your waist, allowing you to lean into him to support yourself as the two of you exit your room.

"Fries!" You cry out happily when the two step into the living room. Diluc is already there, emptying the food from the McDonald's bags in his arms onto the coffee table.

He glances up at the two of you when he hears your voice, his eyebrow cocking when he notices that your attire has changed.

"She was adamant about pajamas," Kaeya explains with a sigh, dropping you off on the couch. You immediately reach for the biggest sleeve of fries, assuming they're yours. "But considering her inability to walk in a straight line right now, I had to help her get to her room."

Diluc makes a sound of understanding, plopping himself down beside you on the couch. You immediately ask him if he bought anything for himself, and he assures you he did—grabbing a small fry, and cheeseburger from the table.

Kaeya eyes the remaining food on the table, assuming it's his. However, he doesn't grab it.

Stretching his arms over his head, he says, "I've been trapped in the apartment most of the day. I'm gonna go get some fresh air, then I'll eat."

Diluc frowns at him slightly, wanting to argue that his food will get cold, but he supposes they do have a microwave.

"Alright," Diluc acknowledges, and with a small nod of farewell, Kaeya grabs his phone, and a jacket, and heads to the front door. Too busy eating your fries, it takes you a good few minutes to notice that Kaeya isn't sitting in the living room with you and Diluc.

"Where'd Kaeya go?"

"He went for a walk."

You blink at Diluc dumbly. "Oh. Why?"

"He wanted to."

"Hmm."

Slumping back into the couch cushions, you continue eating your fries. Diluc silently watches you out of the corner of his eyes, noticing the way your eyelids grow heavy with each passing minute.

It doesn't take long for your grip on your fries to falter—the sleeve sliding down into your lap.

Diluc gently taps your thigh.

"Do you think you're ready for bed yet?"

"Maybe," you admit.

Diluc sets his food wrappers to the side. He stands in front of you, offering you his hands. You take them, but despite Diluc trying to tug you to your feet, you still flop backwards onto the couch.

Now that you're tired, you don't have any energy left to even attempt walking.

"Can you just carry me?" you whine. "You're strong. I know you can do it."

Diluc breathes a laugh.

"Are you sure you don't just like being carried places?"

Regardless of his teasing words, he still leans down and scoops you into his arms. You lean your head against his chest, hearing the steady beat of his heart.

"It is handy having my own personal Diluc to carry me around," you admit with a smile, causing Diluc to laugh yet again.

"You're spoiled," he says.

"You spoil me," you argue, still smiling at him as steps into your room and sets you down on your mattress. You're quick to throw your covers aside—managing to wiggle yourself beneath them.

You still don't feel the greatest, but…you're hoping by the time you wake up in the morning, your brain and body will feel back to normal.

"Thank you," you mumble, glancing up at Diluc. He flashes you a smile.

"Of course. Do you need anything else?"

"Um…," you move your legs against your sheets, feeling how cold they are. "Could you grab me an extra blanket?"

"Sure," Diluc nods, glancing around your room. "Where would that be?"

"In the closet," you respond, "top shelf."

As Diluc walks over to your closet and grabs one of your spare blankets for you, you continue mumbling to yourself.

"I'd get it myself but I couldn't even walk to my dresser to get my pj's earlier…"

Hearing that, Diluc pauses—just for a split second—your blanket suspended midair in his grasp. Then, he continues what he was doing, returning to the side of your bed and spreading the blanket on top of you.

You sigh contentedly.

"If you need anything, just yell for me or Kaeya," Diluc tells you quietly. You nod, your eyelids fluttering shut.

"Got it. 'night, Diluc."

"Good night, Y/N," he responds.

He doesn't bother lingering, instead heading to your door and flicking the light switch off as he goes. Once the door to your room is closed behind him, he stands in the hallway for a second, his eyes staring off into space, before he shakes his head, and continues on his way.

The next morning, you wake up with a headache—stumbling out of your room and into the bathroom to take care of your aching bladder. You down two ibuprofen while you're on the toilet, and then enter the kitchen in search of a fresh glass of water.

Two pairs of eyes slide your way as soon as you enter the room.

"What happened last night?" you ask them, your voice rough thanks to your dry throat.

"I remember Zhongli carrying me at the bar, but after that, things get fuzzy…it's really weird. I've never not been able to remember things…"

Diluc and Kaeya share a look.

"Venti and Zhongli brought you home," Kaeya says, sipping his coffee.

"We took care of you until you fell asleep," Diluc adds in, flashing you a small smile. "And the man who spiked your drink was arrested."

"Good," you scowl, stomping over to the sink. You snatch a glass from the cupboard.

"I can't believe I got drugged…I didn't cause you guys any trouble, right?"

Sipping your glass of water, you turn to face them, your eyebrows knit together with worry.

Both boys think back on the events of the previous night. Helping you walk everywhere had been a little inconvenient, sure, but…

"No," they chorus.

You sigh with relief, oblivious to the McDonald's in the trash, the way you'd been comforted, and the pajamas you now wear.

"Okay, good."

Notes:

me: *subtly trying to drop lil character interactions or moments that don't blatantly spell out anything but will maybe have ppl like ️ ️*

Writing this story is honestly so fun for me 💀 i love writing character progression AHSKDAKJSDHa like writing a slowburn/chapter fic is a lot of energy/effort but the payoff is always so good (imo)

ANYWAY! Another chapter down :3 thank you for reading, and please feel free to leave a comment ❤️ I promise I read them all

Chapter 21: Sleepover

Notes:

I'm sorry about the time that has passed since the last update :')

I moved out of my house bc my mom's boyfriend was supposed to be moving in, and then they broke up, and then one of my cats died, so a lot has been going on to say the least LMAO.

But! My plan is to try my best to keep writing roommates until the very end! So even if updates take a while, please know I have no plans to abandon this story.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Being awoken by a phone call on a Saturday morning, after waking up to alarms the past 5 days to get to class on time, is the last way Kaeya wants to start his day.

Even if it is already 10AM.

He'd been out late, okay? He deserves to be able to sleep in.

So, obviously, Kaeya decides to not answer. Whoever it is, they can try him again later.

Except, later comes about 5 seconds after his phone ceases ringing from the first call.

Whoever's calling him is persistent.

Groaning, he rolls over and blindly feels around his nightstand for his phone. He finds it, but only after knocking over an empty water bottle.

He doesn't even bother to look at the ID.

"Hello?"

His voice is rough, still thick with sleep.

"Kaeya," the person on the other line greets, and Kaeya frowns, rubbing at his eyes.

"Albedo?"

"Oh, did I wake you? I thought you'd be up by now."

"It is the weekend," Kaeya grumbles in response. He rolls onto his side, holding his phone to his ear.

"Right. Well, I was actually calling because Klee and I are on our way over–"

Kaeya hums, Albedo's words not quite registering yet.

"-based on the navigation, we should be there in about–"

"Wait, what?"

Kaeya's definitely awake now–jolting into an upright position on his bed.

What does he mean they're on their way over? They never talked about coming for a visit!

"Oh, is that an issue? I figured since you don't work standard hours, us coming over on the weekend wouldn't be too big of a deal."

"I mean–it's not, I don't have any plans today, but–when was this decided?"

"Just now," Albedo responds, and Kaeya can hear the navigation redirecting them in the background.

"Klee is on her winter break this week. Originally our plan was to visit Alice since she's in the relative area for work. But something came up, and she can no longer entertain us for the weekend. Klee was dejected about this, and mentioned that she missed her mom, but that she misses you too. And then I realized re-routing to come visit you wouldn't be too out of our way. Unfortunately I voiced my thoughts aloud and Klee became hooked on the idea before I could confirm it with you."

Kaeya rubs at his eyes, sliding his legs over the side of his mattress.

Honestly, he doesn't have anything going today, and he doesn't mind Klee and Albedo coming for a visit. It's just, the issue is…the apartment isn't Klee proofed.

He needs time to make sure there's no potential hazards around for Klee to get tangled up in. Because god is that girl like a bomb when she gets her hands on something she shouldn't.

"How much longer until you're here?"

"The navigation says 2 hours, but I'll probably stop and get Klee lunch on the way. Plus bathroom breaks, so my estimate would be 3."

Okay, it'll be a rush job, but he can work with that.

"Got it, I'll. Let the others know you're coming."

"Ah, right. You have roommates. I'm sorry I overlooked that…I was actually hoping, since it's a couple hours drive, that Klee and I would be able to spend the night with you and leave in the morning…"

Kaeya will admit that he's an easygoing guy, but Albedo is trying his patience right now…

"I'll double check with Diluc and Y/N," he sighs, finally getting to his feet. He paces around his room, already thinking of all the things he needs to hide away before Klee gets there.

"But, I assume it will be okay."

"I appreciate your hospitality in advance."

"Big brother Kaeya! I can't wait to see you!"

Kaeya forces himself to smile, even though Klee can't see it.

"Same to you, Klee. I'll see you soon."

"I'll text you when we're close."

With that, Albedo officially ends the call, and immediately, Kaeya is rushing out of his room.

He needs to let you and Diluc know the situation…

Stepping into the main living area of the apartment, Kaeya finds you first–curled up in the corner of one of the couches.

Your gaze finds him as soon as he enters, and you're about to comment on his lack of undress (considering he has emerged without his eyepatch and in nothing more than a pair of boxer briefs. Usually he'll put on a robe, at least…), but then you see the look of panic on his face.

"What's wrong?" you ask.

You're not sure what exactly you expect his response to be–-maybe that he overslept some paper deadline, or realized he lost his wallet at the bar–but definitely not–

"Klee is coming."

You blink. Where have you heard that name before…?

Ah–

"That…little girl that loves you? The one you talked to at Christmas?"

Kaeya nods.

"The very one."

"Is that…a bad thing?"

From the short interactions you've witnessed between Kaeya and Klee through the phone, it seems like they get along just fine. Like an older brother and younger sister.

"It's not," Kaeya sighs. He runs a hand through his hair, slicking it back away from his face. His lips part as he prepares to explain why exactly he's exasperated like this, but he doesn't get the words out–realizing that someone is missing.

"Where's Diluc?" He asks, glancing around. He doesn't really want to have to explain everything more than once.

"He got a call a little bit ago," you respond. "Said he'd take it outside."

Kaeya quietly grunts to himself, and then turns and walks into the kitchen with a sigh.

"Guess I'll start with coffee then."

While Kaeya pours himself some of the coffee leftover from the pot Diluc had brewed earlier in the day, you slip off of the couch and meander to the front door. When you crack it open, curiously poking your head out to see if Diluc is nearby, you accidentally bump into something hard.

"Woah there. You okay?"

You freeze at the sound of Diluc's voice, your eyes focusing on the object in front of you, which you now realize is Diluc's t-shirt covered chest. And your soon-to-be-sore nose is resting right between his pecs.

"Yep!" you quickly respond, jumping away from him. You feel your face heat up, but figure the embarrassment is warranted.

"Were you looking for me?" Diluc asks, stepping into the apartment beside you.

"Kaeya is," you respond, leading him towards the kitchen. "I guess his old roommate and said roommate's little sister are coming over to visit, and he wants to talk to us about it."

Diluc cocks an eyebrow, but doesn't comment. He figures Kaeya will be elaborating soon enough anyway.

"What was your call about?" you ask, glancing at Diluc out of the corner of your eye. His face is blank for a moment, before he flashes you a small smile.

"I'll tell you later."

"Finally," Kaeya groans when the two of you come into sight. He takes another sip of his coffee while you roll your eyes. "Now I can get down to business."

By the time 3pm rolls around–Albedo's car pulling into the lot outside–the apartment has been…"Klee-proofed".

Sharp objects and cleaning chemicals stashed away, precious personal items and other material hidden or on the top shelves of closets…

"Just to be safe," Kaeya had said, explaining to you and Diluc about Klee's knack for causing trouble. He'd reiterated over and over again that Klee is a sweetie-–that she's energetic and nice. It's just that sometimes …she can get into things she shouldn't.

And so, the three of you had spent the last few hours picking up the house and making it safe for Klee.

Now, you just have to hope Klee is as nice as Kaeya says she is.

At exactly 3:08pm, there's a knock on the apartment door. Kaeya goes to answer it.

"Big brother Kaeya!"

"Klee! Wow, you've grown since I last saw you!"

"Mhmm! Albedo measures me once a month, and since you left, I've grown 3 senti, um…centimeters!"

"You might pass me up soon, kid."

"Realistically, she'll more than likely end up around my height."

"Mm, you're a cute height."

"I'll choose to take that as a compliment."

You take a deep breath as the voices begin to creep towards the living room-–Kaeya formally inviting Albedo and Klee inside. You're not sure why you're so nervous about meeting them…maybe because they're important to Kaeya. You want to make a good first impression.

"Wow! Your apartment is so big!"

"Well, there's three adults living here instead of two. We need a little bit more room."

Finally, a mop of blond hair breaches the threshold of the living room. You plaster a smile on your face as Klee's gaze swings around the space, and eventually finds you.

Her wide eyes sparkle as she realizes where she's seen you before.

"Ah! You're Kaeya's roommate! I saw you while we were video chatting on Christmas!"

You quietly laugh.

"Yep! That's me. It's nice to meet you, Klee! Welcome to our apartment."

"Hehe, thank you~ Klee promises to be on her best behavior!"

Kaeya cocks an eyebrow, glancing over at Albedo.

"I'm guessing you gave her a talking to before arriving?"

"We're guests. We shouldn't cause any havoc," Albedo responds, adjusting the two bags of luggage held in his arms.

"You can set those in Kaeya's room," Diluc speaks up, stepping out of his room. He flashes Albedo a polite smile. "We figured you two would be most comfortable in sleeping Kaeya's room, since you're closest to him. His room is down the hall on the right. And we have an air mattress that we can blow up later."

Mimicking Diluc's smile, Albedo inclines his head.

"That is appreciated. Thank you."

Stepping around you and Klee, Albedo silently heads into Kaeya's room to set their things down. In the meantime, Klee turns her attention to Diluc. The male blinks, staring down at her-–unsure what to say.

"I saw you too. In the Christmas photo, um…Di…um…wuc?"

"Diluc," he gently corrects her. Diluc crouches down in front of her, flashing her a small smile. "It's nice to meet you, Klee."

Klee's large eyes scan from the fluffy hair on the top of Diluc's head, down to the handsome features of his face. Her cheeks dust pink.

"You look like a prince…"

The words come out barely above a whisper, but everyone in the immediate vicinity still manages to hear them.

"Hey," Kaeya scolds, immediately stepping forward to scoop Klee up. He holds her in the air by her armpits, and playfully jostles her around, which causes her to laugh. " I'm your prince, remember? Not that guy."

"You're not my prince! That's Albedo! Big bro Kaeya is my knight!"

"Well even so, it's rude to Albedo if you replace him."

"Hmm…if mister Diluc can't be a prince then…he can be the king!"

Kaeya shifts Klee, holding her up with one of his arms. He pokes her in the tummy with his free hand, cocking an eyebrow at her.

"King? You just met the guy. Are you sure?"

"Mhmm!" Klee nods, clearly excited that she's able to add more character to her little narrative. Kaeya rolls his eyes, despite the smile that tugs at his lips.

"Fine. But we can't leave out Y/N. Who is she?"

You blink, not having expected to be pulled in and assigned a role. Klee's attention swivels in your direction. She pouts her lips thoughtfully.

"Hmm…I dunno. We don't have a queen yet, but…," she meets your eyes. "What kind of person do you want to be?"

Okay, you also didn't expect an elementary schooler to be trying to psychoanalyze you like this, but…

"I…want to be someone who can make others happy," you respond after a brief pause, feeling that answer will suffice. And hey, it's not like it's a lie either-–being able to keep the peace and help make Diluc and Kaeya's lives a little better has been a joy for you, so–

"Hehe, I know who makes everyone happy!" Klee exclaims, cutting off your thoughts. A huge grin breaks out on her face, and you mirror her happiness, excited to be assigned your role–

"A dog!"

Ugly laughter rips from Kaeya's throat, and beside you, Diluc quickly turns away-–his shoulders shaking.

Silently, you make a note to murder them both in their sleep later.

Luckily, Klee doesn't insist on playing pretend and having everyone act out their roles. Since she only has Kaeya around for a day, she insists on doing more important things-–like forcing Kaeya to meet each and every one of her new stuffed toys she'd gotten since Kaeya had left. And also giving Kaeya a day-by-day recount of everything that's happened to her at school this year.

Least to say, Kaeya's early evening ends up being pretty booked. Which leaves you and Diluc to help entertain Albedo.

Through your conversations, you learn that Albedo is currently working as a chemist at the University he and Kaeya had previously attended. (It shocks you to know that Albedo is older than Kaeya, considering the difference in their, um, stature. But that's what you get for judging a book by its cover).

Apparently Klee's mother, and Albedo's guardian–-Alice-–writes travel guides, and is always roaming around for work, which is why Klee stays with Albedo. Kaeya had moved in with them after he'd had a chance encounter with Klee during his first day at the university, in which Klee had run off and gotten lost, and Kaeya had found her. Upon Kaeya letting it slip that he didn't have a place to stay yet, Klee had insisted to Albedo that Kaeya come and live with them, and, well…the rest is history.

"Klee misses Kaeya very much, but…," Albedo takes a sip of his tea, his gaze shifting from Diluc to you. "I think he's where he's meant to be."

Surprised at Albedo's comment, you and Diluc glance at each other. However, before either of you can figure out whether to refute, agree, or otherwise, Klee runs into the living room.

"Klee asked big brother Kaeya about his new favorite restaurants and he said one place nearby has really good pizza! Can we get some for dinner?"

Kaeya walks out of his room behind Klee, a sheepish look on his face. You and Diluc see the way Albedo's face just slightly morphs with annoyance.

He'd already fed Klee fast food today…he hadn't really been planning to get another greasy meal for dinner.

Sensing his dilemma, you decide to interject.

"Actually, Klee," you say, catching her attention. "Diluc is a very good cook–"

You nudge the male sitting next to you, and Diluc looks a little surprised at your praise.

"And I know we have plenty of spaghetti and bread. So what if…Diluc makes us all the yummiest spaghetti with some garlic bread, and we can set up a viewing area in the living room and all have dinner while watching a movie?"

Klee's face is blank for a few seconds while she digests your words, but then stars light up in her eyes.

"Oh oh, yes please! Klee loves spaghetti! And movies!"

"Then it's settled," you say with a quiet laugh. Glad to have averted his crisis of telling Klee no, Albedo stands to his feet.

"Klee and I can help set up the living room. Do you have blankets somewhere?"

As Kaeya leads Klee and Albedo to the nearest stash of blankets, you glance over at Diluc, only to find that he's staring at you out of the corner of his eye. You immediately press your hands together, bowing your head to him.

"I'm so sorry for volunteering you, I–"

"It's fine," Diluc interrupts you with a chuckle, his palm resting on your head as he pushes himself out of his chair. "But you're in charge of garlic bread."

By the time you and Diluc are finished grueling over dinner (you'd spent most of the time talking to each other while the pasta boiled and the bread browned in the oven), Klee, Albedo, and Kaeya have set up one of the most elaborate blanket forts you've ever seen.

Honestly, it's pretty much just a huge tent. How did they do that?

"Get settled in," Diluc says, walking into the living room with two plates in his hand. "I'll bring everyone their food."

Excited for dinner, Klee immediately settles herself on the floor in front of the TV–her eyes turning expectantly to Diluc.

Seeing that she's where she plans to stay, Diluc hands her a plate of food. Klee kicks her feet with excitement.

"Okay! Kaeya, you sit here," she says, patting space on the floor beside her. Without arguing, Kaeya immediately sits next to her.

You turn towards the kitchen–-intending to grab napkins and see if Diluc needs any help–but before you can take a step, Klee calls for you.

"Y/N! You sit here!"

She pats the floor on her other side. You blink in surprise.

"Really? You don't want Albedo to sit there?"

"She sees me all the time," Albedo responds. With his plate in hand, he scoots around the small crowd on the floor and seats himself on the chair beside Kaeya.

"Fair enough," you say, quietly laughing, and move to sit next to Klee. Once your butt is on the ground, Diluc appears beside you, handing you a plate. You smile at him in thanks, but his eyes shift away from yours–-scanning the remaining seats in the living room.

With you, Klee, and Kaeya on the floor, the couch is pretty much being used as a backrest. And Albedo has the only other chair.

"Here," you say, before Diluc can think of going and sitting in the kitchen by himself. You scoot forward a little, allowing him space to scooch onto the couch. "Just sit behind me."

Diluc hesitates.

"You're sure?"

"Yeah," you say, thinking nothing of it. "Just put your legs on either side of my shoulders. "That'll work."

Before Diluc can think of any alternative option, Klee speaks up–bugging Kaeya to start the movie already. Immediately, the classic Disney intro begins to play on screen, and Diluc hurries to take his spot.

He slides onto the couch cushion behind you, his legs spreading to give you enough room to lean back between them. And sure enough, once you see that he's settled, you do just that–your shoulders brushing his knees, a perfect fit.

"Now Klee," Kaeya whispers, nudging the little girl as the opening scene of Tangled pops up on the TV. "No singing, right?"

Klee only smiles.

Least to say, you end up being serenaded-–Klee's empty plate discarded to the side as she sings and dances along with the movie.

And honestly? She does a pretty good job–-a majority of the movie flying by thanks to her theatrics.

It's only when more somber or emotional moments come on screen that Klee settles back on the floor–her tiny body clinging to Kaeya's arm for comfort as she becomes engrossed in the scene.

Trapped where he is due to the seating arrangement, Diluc ends up actually watching the movie, his attention locked on the TV. At least, until the last few minutes of the film. That's when he feels you rub your face against his knee, and he immediately spots a puddle of wetness on his pants.

"Are you crying?" he whispers, leaning forward so his mouth is closer to your ear. "It's the happiest part of the movie…"

You laugh wetly in response, your palm moving to smear your tears away.

"Hush. Or I'll wipe my snot on your pants next."

Wisely, Diluc stays quiet (although he does smile).

Once the movie has officially ended, Kaeya starts gathering everyone's plates, volunteering for dish duty since you and Diluc had cooked.

Seeing that it's starting to get a little late–the clock ticking past 8pm–Albedo inquires about the air mattress Diluc had mentioned earlier.

"It's best to have everything set up before you become too tired to do it," he comments as Diluc leads him to the hallway closet–the deflated mattress and air pump stored somewhere inside.

With Diluc and Albedo busying themselves with getting the bed set up, and Kaeya cleaning up the mess of dinner, you find yourself left alone with Klee.

She stares at you, and you can see the first hint of sleepiness in her eyes.

"Can I see your room?" she asks. You nod, holding out your hand.

"Of course."

Hand in hand, you guide Klee down the hall and into your room. She glances around–-taking in all your furniture and decor-–but ultimately ends up focusing on your bed.

Padding forward, she hauls herself on top of your mattress, rubbing her hands over your sheets.

"Your bed is comfy," she says, smiling at you. You smile back, moving to join her.

"Thank you. It helps me sleep soooo well."

You flop onto your side, and begin fake snoring to prove your point. Klee giggles, and you feel the mattress dip as she scoots over and lays beside you. You quietly laugh.

"Klee, you must love Kaeya a lot, huh? I'm glad you were able to visit him."

"Mhmm! Klee loves Kaeya so much. I always say I love Kaeya the most, but big brother Albedo always just says Kaeya's "loved here too ", so…"

Klee turns her big ruby eyes to you, blinking innocently.

"Does that mean you love him?"

Your heart jumps at the question, caught off guard.

What is with Klee and all these hard hitting inquisitions?

"...I do love him," you admit, and it's not like it's weird. At this point, Kaeya's one of your closest friends. You'd…honestly be lost if he suddenly walked out of your life, so…

Klee perks up at your words, her tiny hands pressing against your tummy as she then asks–

"Are you and Kaeya gonna get married?"

Your lips part in shock, heat rising to your face. Kaeya? Marriage? He's never even mentioned to you about previous relationships, nor does he want feelings involved in sex, so you can hardly imagine that Kaeya even wants a romantic relationship–

"Oh!" Klee gasps, her voice getting quiet as she leans in and says, "Or do you love Diluc and wanna marry him instead?"

Your inner voice starts screaming inside your head, your face flushing hotter by the moment. Klee jumps up and down happily beside you, waiting for you to admit that you're in love with one of your roommates and will marry them someday.

You try to think of something silly to say to steer the conversation in a different direction, but find that you're stuck. After a few long seconds, the only words that slip from mouth are–

"I don't know."

Neither a yes or a no to either of her questions, and Klee realizes it.

"Hmm, okay," she says, plopping back down onto her butt. "But you should make up your mind, okay?"

Well that's much easier said than done.

"Klee, you're not terrorizing Y/N, are you?"

Glancing over, you find Albedo in your doorway–Kaeya peeking out from behind him. Klee shakes her head, crawling over you to get to the edge of the bed. You may or may not make an oof sound when she accidentally knees you in the stomach, and Kaeya definitely doesn't laugh.

"Let's get you ready for bed."

Albedo grabs Klee's hand and leads to the bathroom, leaving Kaeya standing in your doorway.

He cocks an eyebrow at you, hand resting on his hip.

"Keeping up with her energy?"

"That's literally impossible," you scoff, spreading your limbs out and deflating into your mattress. Kaeya smiles, stepping farther into your room. You watch him as he moseys to your side.

"It is for me too," he admits, his shoulders slumping as tiredness begins to set in. "But, I think we burned a lot of her energy off, so she should be sound asleep soon, and she sleeps like a rock too."

You quietly laugh.

"That's good."

Silence descends, and you glance over at Kaeya, only to find him staring at you. You're just about to open your mouth and ask if you have something on your face when there's a quiet knock at your door.

Diluc peeks inside.

"Albedo expressed earlier that he'd be interested in trying some of the wine I snagged from the winery during Christmas. Would you two like a glass?"

"Oh, absolutely," Kaeya responds, immediately heading for the door. "Extra full, please."

Diluc rolls his eyes, scooting back to allow Kaeya room to exit into the hall.

"And you?"

Diluc's crimson eyes find yours, and you can't notice how his gaze feels a bit…shrouded. Not the usual, soft look he gives you.

But…maybe he's just tired.

You flip into a seated position, nodding your head. You wouldn't be opposed to some wine to help wrap up your day.

"I'll have a glass."

"Good," he responds, angling his head towards the kitchen. "C'mon."

An hour later, Klee is tucked away in bed behind Kaeya's closed bedroom door–sound asleep. At the kitchen table, Albedo and Kaeya are engaged in quiet conversion, life updates being quietly and calmly exchanged between them–Diluc's bottle of wine left at their mercy, considering you and Diluc are still nursing your first and only glasses.

With your legs tucked beneath you on the couch, you take the final sip of the wine in your cup–your eyes straying to Diluc, who has been quietly sitting beside you, staring into nowhere for the last few minutes.

You finally decide to speak up.

"Something on your mind?"

He immediately blinks out of his daze, his eyes darting towards you.

"Oh–yeah, sorry. I was just thinking."

"About?" you inquire. Diluc regards you silently for a beat, and you wonder if it's something he doesn't want to talk about. Then, he says–

"Adelinde called me earlier. She reminded me that Dawn Winery's annual shareholder event is coming up in a few weeks."

"Oh!" you say, your interest piqued. "A shareholder event–what's that like?"

Diluc takes a small sip of his wine.

"Basically, just a chance for all of Dawn Winery's biggest investors to get together and mingle. It's just something we like to do to show the face of the winery and make things feel personable."

You nod, digesting his words.

"So…is it just like. A dinner?"

"Usually we start with a meeting–give everyone the new numbers and show how the business is doing. Then, yes, there's dinner. But, honestly, it's more like happy hour. We just put out a buffet and tables and let people mingle."

"I see," you say with a small smile, "sounds like it wouldn't be too bad for a work event. What are you lost in thought about then? Profits? Party planning?"

"No," Diluc responds with a tiny laugh and a shake of his head. "The numbers have already been put together, and the venue and catering have been reserved."

You raise your eyebrows.

"Then…?"

Diluc's eyes find yours, and you feel like he wants to say something, but–

He shakes his head.

"Just thinking about everything."

He downs what little wine is left in his glass, and then alights from the couch.

"I'm heading to bed," he announces to the room, moving to set his glass beside the sink. Albedo and Kaeya bid him a goodnight, and you quietly echo them from where you're now seated alone on the couch.

You suppose…you should head to bed too.

In the morning, after an all-out pancake breakfast, Albedo announces to Klee that it's time to head home. She definitely pouts for a few minutes–trying to convince Albedo why they should stay longer–but when he doesn't give in, Klee realizes she can't win and simply tries to make the best of it.

She drags Kaeya off to help her pack–making sure she's getting every drop of attention possible from him while she still has him around. And Kaeya is fine with that considering he's not sure when he'll be getting to see them next.

As Kaeya helps Albedo and Klee gather their things, you and Diluc clean up breakfast, the air mattress, and any spare blankets. You unthinkingly eye Diluc as the two of you split the work–feeling like your conversation last night had ended weirdly, but…you don't push the topic.

Soon enough, Klee and Albedo are packed and ready to go. You help Klee drag her bag to the front door, and she pats your leg, getting your attention.

She raises her arms towards you.

"Thank you! Klee had so much fun! It was nice to meet you!"

Kneeling down, you embrace Klee in a tight hug.

"Of course! I'm glad you had fun, Klee! We'll definitely have another movie night, okay?"

"Yay!" she cheers, clapping her hands.

Beside you, Albedo and Diluc shake hands, silently saying goodbye. Kaeya steps up beside you and grabs Klee's bag.

"I'll walk Klee and Albedo out," he says.

Nodding, you step back next to Diluc, waving to Klee and Albedo as Kaeya leads them out the front door.

You're left standing in the entryway with Diluc.

The silence between the two of you in that moment isn't necessarily awkward, but you find yourself rushing to fill it nonetheless.

"Well, our apartment survived in one piece," you joke, flashing a smile at Diluc. Luckily, you get him to laugh.

"True. I suppose we can pull out the things we'd gone to the trouble of hiding before."

He turns on his heel and heads back into the apartment, likely intent on doing just that. Quietly, you follow after him, your eyes staring at a spot between his shoulder blades.

…a spot that gets closer and closer, until you're once again nearly ramming your face into Diluc's body. This time, though, you at least manage to stop an inch shy of him–-your eyes going wide as you realize he'd stopped walking.

"Diluc…?"

You hear him sigh.

"About last night…," he turns to face you, and you take a small step back, too close. His crimson eyes find yours, and you can't help but feel he looks…apologetic?

"I'm sorry if our conversation ended weirdly. Yesterday when I was talking with Adelinde, she suggested that I invite you to the shareholder event with me, and I ended up…overthinking it, I guess."

You blink at him, cocking your head to the side.

"I mean…you don't have to invite me if you don't want to."

Diluc shakes his head.

"It's not that."

You pout your lips, confused.

"Then…?"

Diluc's gaze shifts away, and he brings a hand up to rub at the back of his neck.

"I–," there's a moment of hesitation, and you wonder why it feels like he's hesitating so much lately. Like there's something he wants to say or ask, but won't.

"It's during spring break," he finally says with another sigh. "And I know you have plans to visit your family. So I felt I shouldn't ask, considering we stole you during Christmas time."

"Well…when during spring break?" you ask him. "I'm actually only going home for the first half of the week, so…if it's during the latter half of the week, I'd be free to come."

You flash him a small smile, and Diluc fishes his phone out of his pocket, double checking the dates.

"It is indeed during the latter half of the week. We'd be leaving Friday and coming back Sunday."

Meaning you wouldn't have much downtime to relax before school resumes the next day but…experiencing a shareholder event with Diluc sounds fun? You think.

"Well then, assuming you want me to come, I'd be willing."

Diluc huffs, finally cracking a smile.

"If I didn't want you to come, I never would have brought this up. But like I said, it's pretty much a trip for business. I don't think we'll have too much time to stray from the schedule."

"That's fine," you say with a shrug. "As long as I get free food out of it, I'm down."

He rolls his eyes, but his smile grows wider.

"It will be an all expenses paid trip for you."

Your face lights up, and you rub your hands together.

"Then hell yeah, baby! Count me in!"

Diluc shakes his head, but a tiny laugh escapes him as he opens his text messages.

Notes:

As always, I love reading your comments ❤️ I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Chapter 22: Happy Hour

Notes:

So, with the spot I'm at in the roommates plot rn, I originally planned to have the whole shareholder event thing be it's own chapter. But after writing what's in this chapter, I realized if I post it all at once, it's gonna be too long (imo). So! I'm basically splitting it up into two parts :') I feel like this chapter has more silly filler stuff, but I hope you enjoy it anyway!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

"Oh, Diluc asked you to go to the shareholder event? I went to a few of those as kids. They can be boring but it's worth it for the food."

Currently, you and Kaeya are out to dinner. Your food supply at the apartment is quite low, and with Diluc out working a shift at Angel's Share and having taken his car along with him, you and Kaeya have no way of getting to the closest grocery store, which is a few miles away.

So, you'd opted to walk down the street and eat at one of the pubs near campus instead.

"Mhmm," you respond, nibbling on a fry. Kaeya cocks an eyebrow at you.

"Are you…regretting your decision?"

You sigh, slumping back in your seat.

"No, I'm not regretting saying yes. It's just…I realized I'm basically gonna be alone with Diluc for a weekend…"

Kaeya frowns. Reaching over, he steals one of your fries, and says, "Are you still struggling with your feelings for Diluc?"

Yes, a little bit at times, but that's not what this is about—

"Nooo," you drawl, debating if you should tell Kaeya about the way Diluc has been acting lately. It's honestly probably nothing…the very slight hesitation you've noticed before he speaks to you. It's only happened a handful of times in the past few weeks, but Diluc never used to do that…

"He's just been. I don't know. It feels like sometimes when he's talking to me, he can't come straight out and say what he's thinking."

Kaeya hums.

Diluc has always been one to think carefully before speaking or taking action, so he can't say that's out of character, but…if Diluc is hesitating long enough that you've taken notice, and it's only started recently…what's changed?

"I wouldn't worry too much about it," Kaeya shrugs. "Diluc's probably got a lot on his mind between the shareholder event, the end of the semester, and whatever else. He's probably just a little stressed and wants to ask you for a hug but is too shy to."

You roll your eyes at that, but can't help the smile that comes to your face.

He's probably right, there's no point in worrying yourself about it. You and Diluc are friends, so if there's something he wants to talk to you about, surely he'll broach the topic when he's good and ready.

"Anyway. Any advice for me about the event, then? Since you've gone to a few?"

Kaeya steals another fry from your plate, ignoring the way you glare at his hand.

"The dinner mingling portion of it isn't necessarily formal, but I would say you should pack a nicer outfit for it. Diluc will likely be greeting business partners, so you don't wanna be standing beside him in a t-shirt and sweats, you know?"

You nod. That makes sense, you don't want to look like a bum during an important event.

…but do you even have clothes nice enough?

Spotting the perplexed look on your face, Kaeya can't help but laugh.

"I can practically see you running through your wardrobe in your head."

"I'm just wondering if any of the clothes I have would even pass as nice. I'm a college student. I wear like…yoga pants and sweatshirts half the time."

Kaeya rolls his eyes, tugging his wallet out of his pocket. He places down enough money to cover the entire bill, and before you can think to tell him you'll pay your own share, he's standing from your table. He takes one more handful of fries off your plate, and then says, "c'mon. We're going home to play dress up."

You hurry after him as soon as your brain catches up with what he'd said.

"Dress up?" You echo, stepping through the front door of the restaurant as he holds it open for you. You eye him as he begins walking at your side, back in the direction of your apartment.

"I think I have a good sense of fashion," Kaeya responds, glancing up towards the sky. "I'm sure I could help you piece together an outfit."

You hum, a tiny smirk appearing on your lips.

"Oh, that's all?"

Kaeya glances over at you, mirroring your playfulness.

"What? Did you want me to use you like my own personal barbie doll?"

You huff, but can't help the heat the rises to your face at the idea of being Kaeya's play thing.

"Of course not. I was just curious. You haven't asked to hook up in a few weeks, so…I was just wondering if you had some sort of ulterior motive, y'know?"

If you're being honest, you've been wondering lately if maybe he's not interested in being fwb anymore. Not that you'd be upset if he isn't. You know this whole thing is temporary, and that either of you can end it at any time. But you have been a little curious about where he currently stands, considering the last time he'd come onto you was…hm. A couple days before your incident at Venti's open mic night, if you're remembering correctly.

Kaeya stares at you for a moment, and then a grin breaks out on his face.

"Oh, you want me."

His cocky insinuation causes your face to flush even deeper, despite the disbelieving scoff that flies out of your mouth.

"Ugh. Forget I ever brought it up," you say, trudging up the sidewalk ahead of him. "Let's just go home and pick an outfit so I don't have to worry about it."

The event is still two weeks away, but you'd prefer to have prepared as much as you can in advance. Especially considering you'll be away at home during the first half of Spring Break. You won't have much time to pack once you come back.

"Aw, don't be like that."

Catching up, Kaeya pouts at you, but you know he doesn't feel one bit sorry.

"Tell you what," he says. He loops an arm around your waist, pulling you into his side.

"As an apology—and also a thank you for the dress up we're about to play—once we have an outfit picked out—if you want to—I'll let you use me how you want."

You cock an eyebrow at him.

"...you think sex is both an apology and a way to show gratitude. I'm starting to wonder if your love language is physical touch. Or maybe your ego is just really big? Maybe both. Also, offering yourself up sounds more like a reward for you—"

Kaeya's fingers squeeze your side, interrupting you.

"Is that a no?"

You pause.

…unfortunately, Kaeya's offer has managed to stir a bit of desire to life inside you.

"We'll see," you respond, but despite your vague answer, Kaeya only grins.

(In the end, you and Kaeya end up in bed before you ever settle on an outfit.

You blame it on the fact that Kaeya had insisted on helping you get dressed up, and had made a point of skimming his fingers over your bare skin while doing so. Seriously, how are you supposed to resist that?

Thankfully, he had helped you pick out an outfit afterwards.)

The plan is this: you'll leave for home Friday afternoon, once your classes are done, and will stay with your parents until Wednesday, which is when you'll drive back to campus. You'll have Thursday to work on whatever homework you have left, and also pack for your trip with Diluc. Then, Friday morning Kaeya will drive you and Diluc to the airport. You'll spend two nights with Diluc for the event, and then Sunday morning you'll fly back, and Kaeya will come to pick you up.

Simple.

You get this schedule in your head well in advance of Spring Break, yet somehow, you still end up surprised that fateful Friday morning—as you drag your suitcase out to the parking lot and load it into Diluc's trunk, beside his own luggage.

The drive to the airport, Kaeya wishing both you and Diluc a fun time, you and Diluc going through security and boarding the plane—you think you're in a daze through it all. It's not until Diluc grabs your suitcase and loads it into the overhead bin, asking if you want the aisle or window seat of your first class seats that you finally return to reality.

"Window," you say, scooting past Diluc to get to the window seat. He takes the aisle without complaint, buckling himself in as the two of you wait for the plane to finish boarding.

Your heart is going too fast. Are you excited or anxious? You're having a hard time deciding.

"So…remind me of our—or your—schedule, again?"

Diluc immediately starts rattling off his itinerary, obviously having memorized it.

"We'll arrive around 2pm at the airport. A driver will pick us up and chauffeur us to the hotel, and we'll get checked in and settled. Unfortunately I'll have to leave after that, as I want to go and survey the venue and make sure everything looks alright, so you can stay in the room, or do whatever you like during that time—"

A larger male scoot down the aisle past Diluc, and he leans towards you to avoid being side swiped—his shoulder bumping into yours.

"After that, Adelinde will be meeting me for a suit fitting, as I don't exactly have one at the apartment I could have packed. And then once that is finished, I'll return to the hotel."

"Okay," you nod. "Day 1, got it."

Diluc smiles, finding your concentration to be cute.

"The next morning…I actually have free, so I went ahead and reserved us a spot at the hotel breakfast buffet, since it's renowned—"

You gape at him. "You didn't tell me about that!"

Diluc smiles, although it borders on a triumphant grin—a tiny twinkle in his eye.

"I wanted it to be somewhat of a surprise. I'm dragging you along with me on a business trip, basically, so I want to make sure you get something out of it."

You pout at him, gently smacking his arm.

"Diluc, I'm sitting in first class on a plane. That's already more than I was expecting."

He hums, glancing away.

"I won't tell you what hotel we're booked at then."

Meaning, it's a nice one.

"Diluc!"

Ignoring your whine, Diluc continues listing his schedule for the second day.

"I'll have a lunch meeting with some members of the company, followed by the official shareholder meeting in the afternoon. The "happy hour" event, as we're choosing to call it, will be a short while after that. Again, you'll have that time to yourself, but Adelinde should come and pick you up late afternoon and bring you to the venue. I apologize in advance if sometimes I get pulled away from you into a conversation."

He says it with a sigh, and you can only guess that there will be many people there vying for Diluc's attention. Which, you already figured. So you've decided that in the event Diluc is busy conversing, you'll just grab a plate of food, find a seat in a corner somewhere, and eat to your heart's content like that one meme of the mouse eating an M&M.

"No worries," you tell him, flashing him a small smile. "Even if you're busy, I plan to make the best of this weekend, so don't worry about me too much."

Diluc nods, your words putting him somewhat at ease.

Everything will be fine.

Just as Diluc had outlined, after your plane touches down a short two hours later, you're greeted at the luggage claim by a man donned in a fine suit, holding a sign that says "Mr. Ragnvindr" in fancy lettering.

Just seeing the sign gives you secondhand embarrassment, but you push through it—knowing that there are still many moments to come this weekend that will likely leave you feeling out of place.

The chauffeur helps you and Diluc bring your luggage to the car, and even goes so far as to open Diluc's door for him. He begins to round the vehicle to help you with your door as well, but you pull the door open yourself and slide inside before he can get the chance.

The drive to the hotel is relatively short, and once there, the chauffeur passes your luggage off to the bellhop waiting near the front door of the building. He assures Diluc the luggage will be brought up to the room while Diluc gets checked in with the concierge, and honestly, you have to resist the urge to scream.

What early 2000's rom-com are living right now, exactly?

Trailing behind Diluc, you follow him to the front desk—your attention straying as Diluc sorts things out with the woman behind the desk. The hotel is obviously much nicer than any chain hotel you've stayed at while traveling before. The only thing you can think to compare it to is the hotel Kevin stayed at in Home Alone 2.

"Y/N," Diluc calls for you, dragging you back into reality. Your eyes meet his, and he motions towards the elevator. "I have our room key, let's go."

Scuttling after Diluc, the two of you take the elevator up to one of the top floors of the building. The bellhop who had stolen your luggage a few minutes before is already there, and Diluc thanks him—slipping a small wad of cash into his hand. The bellhop immediately smiles and takes his leave.

Again, you feel more out of place than when you first showed up at the winery.

Diluc uses his keycard to open the door, and the two of you grab your suitcases, making your way inside.

As someone who is used to saying in hotel rooms where it only takes 15 steps to get from the door to the other side of the room, the expansive room you find before you is shocking. You don't even think it can be considered a hotel room. Maybe a private study with a bathroom attached. Or "'ye royal temporary chambers".

On the far end of the room, windows line the entire wall, illuminating the full sized kitchen and breakfast nook that's nestled into the corner. The entire room is one big open concept space, with a moderate seating area nestled against one of the adjacent walls, beside a fireplace.

There's a pair of french doors off to the side, and you can see a white tiled room inside, so you assume it must be the bathroom. At least that room offers some privacy—

The sound of Diluc sighing pulls you out of your survey of the room.

"Adelinde made the reservation for a 2-bed suite and they still got it wrong…"

You look over to find Diluc frowning at his phone, the room confirmation pulled up on the screen. And he's right—it clearly says right there "2-bed", and yet, when you look closer, you notice indeed that there's only one.

…maybe you overlooked that until now, though, considering the bed is HUGE.

Diluc is already mumbling his apology and about how he'll go and talk to the concierge to get this figured out, when you reach over and grab his wrist—stopping him from going anywhere.

"Diluc, listen. I'm fine with sharing a bed, if you are," you say.

He blinks at you in surprise, and after a beat, you can see hesitation in his eyes.

"...you're sure?"

"I mean—look at it," you say with a quiet laugh, motioning to the mattress. "It's basically an ocean. I don't know if I'd be able to kick you, even if I tried."

Diluc quietly laughs. You're…right. The bed must be a California King. There's no reason the two of you shouldn't be able to share it and still have your own space.

…and yet, it still takes him a few more seconds to agree.

"Well, if you're fine with it, I won't complain," he says, his crimson gaze trailing after you as you abandon your suitcase, further exploring the room. "Although, this isn't you trying to avoid inconveniencing someone, right? Like when we go out to eat and they put mustard on your burger and you refuse to send it back even though you asked to have it without—"

"Diluc, it's a bed ," you shoot back, crossing into the threshold of the bathroom. "We shared a bed when the power went out that one time. And we share personal space all the time. But if you have an issue with it, then by all means—"

"No, I'm fine," he interrupts you, and you could swear there's just a hint of defensiveness in his tone. However, you brush it off easily—too busy marveling at the bathroom you're now standing in. Because seriously, it's bigger than your entire bedroom back at the apartment. And there's a tub. With jets.

"No offense but when you're gone on all your important business stuff, I'm definitely gonna exist in this tub for a few hours."

The sound of Diluc's laughter once again reaches your ears, and you can't help but smile at the sound.

"Just don't drown while I'm gone, please," he says. Picking up his suitcase, he hefts it up onto a nearby luggage rack. Then, he walks over to the nightstand, and picks up a brochure sitting there.

"There's a menu here for room service, but if you want to order out, I'll leave you my card."

"Diluc—"

"This is a business trip, remember? I'm not letting you pay for anything."

You huff, but don't push it. In the end, you are still a somewhat broke college student.

"Got it," you say, shuffling back into the room. "Any idea of what time you'll be back?"

"No later than 8, if I had to guess."

"Okay," you tell him with a small smile, watching him check his pockets for his wallet and phone. "Well…have fun? I guess. I'll, uh, be here!"

"If you want to wander off, don't forget a room key."

He takes a step towards the door, but pauses to look at you. It's…a little weird, the idea of coming back to a room that won't be empty. That isn't just his. But…he can't say that he dislikes it.

"I'll…be back later," he says, flashing you a small smile. You don't hesitate to smile back.

"Okay. When you come back I might be sitting here with a whole pizza and some ice cream and whatever other desserts they have on the room service menu, but I'll be here~"

Diluc leaves the hotel room while trying to hide his grin.

True to his word, Diluc gets back around 8pm. He walks in with peace of mind about the venue—that everything is correctly being handled—and a newly tailored suit slung over his arm.

…and true to your word, there you are on the couch, with a half-empty pizza box, and a few different platters of dessert spread out across the coffee table.

You wave at him.

"Hey! I found this really interesting nature documentary. Wanna come watch and help me finish this food?"

Despite himself, Diluc's eyes soften as he looks at you.

"I would like to do nothing more."

Before going to bed, Diluc tells you that the two of you have a breakfast reservation at 9, so you need to be out of the room around that time as well, since the restaurant is inside the hotel. He assumes that a 9AM reservation will be late enough—give you both enough time to wake up and get ready, considering usually you're both up and out of bed by 8AM when you're at the apartment.

However, during this long break, he's apparently underestimated how much you've been sleeping in. Because it's already 8:45, and you're not out of bed yet.

"Y/N," Diluc calls, deciding he needs to wake you. He sits himself on his side of the bed, staring over at you. "You need to get up soon…our breakfast reservation is in 15 minutes…"

You groan, shuffling beneath the sheets, and rubbing your face into your pillow.

"Why did you make our reservation so early…," you grumble, your voice still thick with sleep. "What is it, 7AM?"

Diluc snorts a laugh, scooting closer to you.

"Y/N, it's almost 9."

You make another distressed little noise, and finally Diluc reaches over, placing his hand on your head

"They have everything you can think of," he says, trying to tempt you. "Bacon, french toast, pancakes, eggs, croissants, donuts—"

You suddenly sit up, dislodging Diluc's hand in the process—which had unconsciously started stroking your hair.

"Fine," you whine, rolling yourself out of bed. You stretch your arms high above your head once you're on your feet, and Diluc stares at the sliver of skin that's revealed on your torso as you do so.

"I'll get ready. But , I want you to know I'm gonna stuff my gullet so good," you tell him, pointing a threatening little finger his way. He can't take it seriously though, considering the way your eyes are still squinted, and there's dried drool on your cheek.

"I'm gonna eat all the food they have, and then I'm gonna so fat and happy, and it may make me not fit into the pants I have picked later for the event, but—!"

"Just go get dressed," Diluc chuckles, waving you away. And luckily, you listen—grabbing an outfit from your suitcase and hobbling into the bathroom.

True to your word, you eat so much that your stomach aches afterwards. But you're satisfied—oh so satisfied, filled with a couple pounds of the finest breakfast food you've ever eaten. And because you're so full, you actually do start to get a little paranoid…about if your pants still fit.

The paranoia sneaks in after Diluc has left for the afternoon. When you're in the room by yourself, trying to figure out what to do with yourself for the next few hours before Adelinde comes to pick you up.

So, you decide there'd be no harm in trying on your happy hour outfit now. Just… to make sure.

And luckily, as you pull on your shirt and pants, you find that they still fit! The waistband of your pants feels a little more snug than before, but surely you'll digest some of the food in your stomach over the next few hours, meaning, when it's time for you to go, your outfit will fit perf—

Too busy checking yourself out in the mirror beside the fireplace, you take a misplaced step backwards, the backs of your knees catching on the edge of the coffee table. Immediately, you lose your balance and fall back against the table's surface…right on top of the room service platters from the evening before, that you hadn't bothered to clean up yet.

"Oh, no…," you breathe, absolutely mortified. You know for sure there was one piece of chocolate cake left that you'd been saving for later…

You plant your palms on the table, and begin to push yourself up…and instantly feel the stick of something on your ass.

"No no no—"

Now frantic, you fly to your feet and turn around, surveying yourself in the mirror. And, of course , there's that chocolate piece of cake—smeared all over the back of your pants, and the bottom half of your blouse.

Your heart drops into your stomach.

You can't go to the event like this! Looking like a fucking hobo with cake smeared on your ass!

"What do I do—!" you breathe, looking around.

You guess that you could try and scrub your clothes off in the tub, but your shirt is white . There's no way chocolate frosting is going to wash out.

Maybe the hotel has a laundry service! But…you don't know the number, and the event is in less than 3 hours. You're not sure how long it would take, or if they'd even be able to get the stain out—

Knock knock knock

Lost in your panic, you don't think twice before b-lining to the hotel room door. You rip it open, and on the other side is none other than Adelinde.

"Y/N!" she says happily, smiling at you, completely oblivious to your crisis.

"It's so good to see you. I had some free time this afternoon after dropping Diluc off, so I figured I'd come back over and see if there's anything you'd like to do! You came all the way here, after all. Best not to waste a good trip—"

"Adelinde," you interrupt her, grabbing her by the shoulders. She immediately pauses, her eyes going wide.

"Look at my ass."

Turning around, you show her your back. Her eyes fall to the splatter of cake on your outfit.

It takes her a second to digest what exactly she's looking at. Then, she hides a smile behind her hand and says—

"Looks like we're going shopping."

Diluc has a plan. A schedule. One that, thus far, he has managed to stick to very well.

The shareholder meeting had ended on time, and now, the guests are all making their way to the happy hour venue.

It won't be long before Diluc needs to make his appearance—thank the crowd for attending and invite them to partake in the food and drinks he has prepared.

He intends to do so with you at his side—so he can keep you at least a little company before he's inevitably tugged into conversations with other people there, but…for some reason, you're not here.

Frowning, Diluc checks the time on his phone.

He and Adelinde had been very clear about the schedule, and he'd even confirmed with her earlier what time she'd be going to fetch you, and what time she'd be dropping you off. So—

His phone buzzes in his hands.

Ah. Traffic.

Diluc sighs.

He'd prefer to wait for you, but he doesn't know how long you'll be, nor does he want to keep the crowd waiting too long.

He supposes he could call Adelinde to ask, but…

"No," he mumbles, shaking his head. He doesn't want to distract her when she's already dealing with traffic. He'll just have to…make his entry now, and hope that once you arrive, he'll be able to find you…

Whenever DIluc gives a speech, he ends up feeling like his father.

As a child, he'd watched his father talk in front of a crowd many times. So many times, in fact, that he's never really had an issue with public speaking. All he needs to do is mimic his father, and things go well.

"Again, I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time out of their schedules to attend our annual event. Dawn Winery has always been run as a family business, which extends to all of you as well—"

He lifts the glass of wine in his hand, one that he doesn't intend to drink, only toast, and the other people in the crowd mimic him.

"I'm proud to say that over the years, our legacy has only continued to grow, and that in part is thanks to all of our shareholders and investors."

He smiles handsomely at the crowd, already repeating the next line of his speech in his mind.

"We will do our best to maintain our business standards and will continue to produce some of the best wine on the market. Now—"

Diluc raises his glass even higher, the official toast finally here. Now all he needs to do is wrap things up, but—

From his vantage point, he spots movement at the back of the hall. Someone sneaking in late. Someone dressed in midi floral dress with a square neckline, with tiny little flowers tucked into their hair. Someone attractive, wearing chunky nude heels, and—

…it's you.

Diluc's words die on his tongue, his eyes tracking you as you keep yourself pressed to the wall, hiding behind the rest of the crowd. A couple gazes stray to look at you, noticing your entrance, and many of them don't turn back to Diluc.

However, your gaze does. You stare at him with wide eyes, and after a second, noticing you have his attention, make a little motion with your hand.

Talk.

Shit.

He coughs, feeling the heat of embarrassment rise on his neck.

This is the first time he's ever gotten lost during a speech.

"Now," he repeats, picking up where he left off. He does his best to exude whatever charm he has, in hope to distract the crowd from his brief lapse of concentration.

"Let's all enjoy the food, drink, and company gathered here tonight. Cheers."

"Cheers!" the crowd echos, everyone taking a sip from their drink.

Conversation slowly begins to spread, smaller groups of people forming. Others begin to move towards the banquet tables filled with h'orderves and spirits, but Diluc's gaze is busy searching over the crowd, trying to spot where you've gone.

Now that everyone is moving around, he's lost track of you…

He makes an annoyed little sound.

Weaving his way through the crowd, he does his best to brush off any conversations people try to pull him into, throwing out simple greetings like "nice to see you" and "thank you for coming". And it works, for the most part. At least, until a familiar booming voice reaches his ears, and a hand wraps around his shoulder—forcefully tugging him from his path.

"Diluc!" the bearded man says, holding Diluc at his side.

"Ah, Varka—"

"I remember when you were a wee tot hiding behind Crepus' legs, and now look at you! A strapping young man. You've grown so much—!"

"I've been this height for the last decade," Diluc responds, trying to brush Varka off. His gaze scans the crowd, drowning out the words Varka is saying. He gives the same spiel every time, after all—

Dammit, where the hell did you go?

"I mean seriously," Varka is saying, "Master Crepus would be thrilled to see what his son has become, and that—"

"Hey, are you here with anyone?"

Diluc's not sure how exactly he manages to hear this line through all of the chatter around him, but he does—his crimson eyes shooting in the direction of the flirty male voice. And of course, he finds you there as well, surrounded by a small group of men.

They continue inching forward, crowding around you as you attempt to politely respond.

"Well, yes, kind of, but—"

"It seems they're not here with you now," another man cuts you off, smiling down at you. "Let me fetch you a drink, you can keep us company—"

"Actually," Diluc hears his own voice in his ears, the smallest bite to his tone. He doesn't remember escaping from Varka, or making his way over, but he's here now—his hand protectively settling on your waist as he pulls you into his side.

"She is my personal guest tonight. So I would appreciate it if you could give her a little space. It's her first time here."

"O-Oh, Diluc!" one of the men says, the others too busy taking a step back with wide eyes—creating the space Diluc is requesting.

"Our apologies, we didn't realize she was with you."

"That's alright," Diluc responds, flashing him a tight smile. "You were only trying to welcome her, I assume."

"Of course!" another person pipes up, but the nervous sweat on his brow is telling. Diluc resists the urge to drop his friendly facade and scold them.

"That's appreciated, but I'll be keeping her company now," he says, giving your waist a little squeeze. He takes a step back, and you naturally follow along with him. He flashes one last fake smile at the men.

"Enjoy the rest of your evening."

And with that, Diluc finally drags you away.

Once you're a safe distance from the men, his tight grip on you loosens—his arm falling away from your waist. He gently grabs your wrist instead, skillfully weaving the both of you through the crowd until you've made it to an empty spot near the banquet tables. Only then does he release you—turning to face you with a sigh.

"I'm sorry about that…," he says, finding your eyes. Your heart is still racing in your chest, and it takes you a second to find your words.

"No! No—you don't have anything to be sorry for," you say, holding up your hands.

"I should have waited for you to get here," Diluc responds, feeling regretful. If he had, the two of you would have been able to enter together, and you could have avoided getting hounded like that.

"Oh, Diluc, please—," you respond with a little roll of your eyes. "Adelinde and I got caught in traffic. You needed to start the event. Don't worry about it."

Diluc wants to argue, but wisely decides against it. Instead, his gaze falls to your outfit.

"...that's not what you packed, is it?"

A blush immediately rises on skin, and you loudly sigh, covering your face with your hands. Diluc breathes a laugh.

However, before you can respond, someone nearby calls for him.

"Diluc! If you have a second, I'd like you to come over here and meet my nephew!"

Diluc is once again tempted to sigh. It seems he really can't escape the attention of the crowd.

"Hey," he says quietly, tapping on the front of your hand. You pull your hands away from your face, watching as he motions towards the buffet.

"Why don't you fix a big plate of snacks for us both, and then head upstairs? There's a balcony area on the 2nd floor. I'll mingle for a bit and then come meet you there."

"Are you sure?" you ask, frowning at him. "It's your event. If you'd prefer to stay and talk to everyone, I can take care of myself."

"I brought you here, and I want to spend time with you," Diluc responds without missing a beat, flashing you a small smile. "So I'll be up as soon as I can, okay?"

With that, Diluc takes a step back and disappears back into the crowd.

You stare after him for a moment, your heart beating loudly in your chest, before you grab a plate from the end of the banquet table and begin piling it high with food.

Notes:

I haven't exactly started writing the next part yet, because I was excited to post this part once I hit an okay spot to stop, since I've kept you guys waiting for a while :') but hopefully the next update won't take as long bc I'm excited to write it, since some *stuff* I've had planned for a long time is finally coming up.

Anyway! Please feel free to leave a comment because I always adore reading them 💃

Chapter 23: Hour of Reckoning

Notes:

Like I said, I am really excited for what's coming up in this story because we're kind of starting to reach the height of everything.

I won't give any spoilers, but please mentally prepare yourself for some emotional whiplash as you venture below.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

You're not sure how long you wait for Diluc, exactly.

With a plate of delicious food at your side, and the red and orange hues of the sunset keeping you company, time becomes irrelevant.

Glad to be away from the bustling crowds on the floor below, you easily get lost in your thoughts—your mind wandering from Diluc's earlier actions to rescue from a potentially awkward situation, to Kaeya, who's probably out partying, considering it's a Saturday night, and then you think about… them and you.

…in just a few weeks, they'll be graduating. And you won't be. You've never really considered the idea of both of them moving on—moving out —and continuing on with their lives, without you living in the next room.

You'll all stay friends, surely. You won't let them get away from you that easily, but…

The door to the sizable balcony swings open with a quiet sound, and your gaze automatically turns in that direction.

"Sorry," Diluc says, stepping out to join you. "Every time I tried to escape, someone else caught me…"

You laugh a little at the annoyed look on his face, waving his worries off.

"I lost track of time, honestly," you say. You motion to the half-empty plate of food on the small metal table beside you. It's the only piece of furniture on the balcony, and you assume it's only there to hold drinks while people smoke, considering the ashtray you'd had to push off to the side.

"Come help me eat this food before I finish it all."

Diluc does so without complaint, immediately joining you where you stand. He surveys his options, and then picks his favorite finger food from what's left on the plate.

A comfortable silence settles, the two of you simple staring at the sunset and nibbling on h'orderves, but after a minute, Diluc finally asks—

"So…what happened to your clothes?"

You can't help but snort a laugh.

"My bad luck, what else?"

Diluc's eyes pinch at the corner as he smiles.

"Care to elaborate?"

"Well," you respond, wiping your fingers off on one of the many napkins you'd smartly grabbed. "I was checking myself in that mirror near the fireplace, and I took a misplaced step backwards, landed on that piece of chocolate cake I was saving for later, and promptly ruined my entire outfit."

Diluc pauses mid-bite, trying not to laugh at the mental imagery. You resist rolling your eyes.

"How did you know I didn't pack this outfit, anyway?"

"Because I recall when I double checked with you if you were all done and packed, you specifically confirmed to me "Yes, and I made sure I have the pants and shirt I'm wearing to the event packed too". And…well. You're wearing a dress, currently, so."

You can't help but giggle.

"Alright, Sherlock," you say. "But yeah, luckily Adelinde came over early, and she took me out shopping for something new."

You smooth your hands down your sides, and Diluc's attention is once again drawn to the outfit you wear. Part of him wonders if Adelinde took you somewhere to get the dress tailored, considering how nicely it hugs you in all the right areas…and he nearly asks you too. That is, until he peers a little closer and realizes there are goosebumps on your skin.

Then, all he can think about is how it's only Spring, and the temperatures are still mild, and that he'd asked you to wait up here for him.

Unable to help himself, he reaches over and cups your cheek—feeling the chill of your skin. You jump a little, but don't pull away—simply staring at him as he quickly retracts his hand and begins undoing the buttons on his suit jacket.

He doesn't even ask you if you want it—just steps forward and places it over your shoulders as soon as he's free of the piece of clothing.

"I'm sorry," he says, being sure to tightly wrap it around you. "I didn't think about the outside temperatures…"

"I'm okay," you reassure him, trying to catch his eyes. You can see the guilt between his pinched brows. "I didn't even notice, honestly. And I prefer the cooler weather anyway, so this was a nice change compared to all the heat emanating from the bodies inside."

"Still…"

"Diluc," you say sternly. You pick up a piece of bruschetta from the plate, and hold it up to his lips, your other hand hovering below his chin, in case anything drops from the bread.

"Just eat."

He hesitates for a second, almost pouting—like he wants to argue more. But then, with a quiet sigh, he opens his mouth and takes the bruschetta from you.

You nod, satisfied, and reach for another one to feed yourself.

Again, the two of you lapse into silence as you munch on whatever h'orderves are left on the plate. The sun inches deeper below the horizon, the world gradually getting darker, but that's no problem considering the balcony is suddenly alight.

It makes you startle, honestly—the unanticipated brightness of the circular string lights that are criss-crossed across the top of the balcony. You hadn't even noticed them before now.

"They must be on a timer," Diluc comments. You marvel up at them, nodding your head in agreement.

Through the closed balcony doors behind you, you can hear the muted thrum of music, and Diluc realizes the DJ must be here. He'd arranged for one to come after a certain time—when people were likely a few drinks in, and felt like doing more than simply conversing about business.

He's about to ask you if you'd like to go back inside and escape the cool outside air, when you speak up.

"Doesn't sound like ballroom music," you comment, sending him a playful look. "Did you get rid of that tradition?"

Diluc rolls his eyes, but can't help the smile that tugs at his lips.

"Where did you hear about that?"

"Mmm, just through the grapevine," you respond, your grin growing wider. You take a step away from the table where you two are standing, making your way towards the center of the balcony.

"Are you doing away with tradition?"

"More like, creating new ones," Diluc responds, his gaze following you. "Most people don't know how to waltz anymore. It's easier to just play the Cupid Shuffle."

You laugh, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"Have you perhaps forgotten how to dance as well?"

Diluc quietly chuckles, abandoning the now-empty plate of food. He slowly makes his way to where you're standing, saying, "No, I had to practice so much it's ingrained in me now."

He reaches your side, and your smile wavers when you feel his hand on your waist, pulling you closer. You instinctively grip his sides, staring up at him.

There's a teasing look on his face.

"Oh? Was this not your way of asking me to dance?"

You can only gape at him for a few seconds, caught off guard by this rare, playful side of him.

"N-No! Of course not! I don't know how to dance!"

"Then I'll teach you," he says. He grabs one of your hands, placing it on his shoulder.

"Diluc, c'mon—," you say, your face flushing with embarrassment. "I mean! We don't even have any music! How am I gonna keep beat if there's no music? And I'm not waltzing to the Cupid Shuffle."

Diluc's gaze strays towards the sky, a contemplative look on his face. For a moment, you believe that you've won—that he'll just sigh and let you go, having had his little fun teasing you. But instead, after a few seconds, he starts to hum. And as he does, he begins moving.

Caught off guard, you can only begin moving along with him.

The two of you get a few steps into the dance before your brain processes everything.

"Are you…humming the Howl's Moving Castle main theme?"

Diluc smiles, but doesn't respond, too busy keeping the tune and providing music for the two of you. The fingers of his free hand trail down your arm, and across your palm, slotting together with your own.

He continues to lead the dance, and you do your best to follow—silently praying you won't step on his toes, or accidentally twist your ankle while dancing.

Fortunately, luck seems to be on your side for once—or maybe it's because you've already done this once before with Kaeya—but you don't make any big mistakes. In fact, after a minute you actually begin smiling—your quiet hum joining along with Diluc.

Pleasantly surprised, he can't help but stare at you.

You don't notice the way he looks at you, since you're too busy looking at your feet—carefully watching Diluc's footwork, and moving a beat behind him. And so, Diluc takes advantage of the fact that you're not paying attention.

He allows his gaze to roam over you, taking in the flush of your skin, and the curve of your eyelashes. He can feel the warmth of your body beneath his palms, and he gently adjusts his hold on you, feeling the curve of your waist.

Somewhere inside his chest, his heart squeezes.

Distracted, Diluc misses a beat.

You step on his toes, and instantly gasp—trying to jump away to give him space. However, Diluc holds you closer instead, your torsos gently pressing together as he keeps you from potentially losing your balance.

"Okay, that was your fault," you tell him with a breathless little laugh. "I was watching your feet. You missed a beat—"

Finally, you turn your eyes to him—the smile on your face faltering every so slightly when you notice the way he's looking at you. With that soft gaze of his, like he adores you…

"Diluc?"

He's not even looking you in the eyes though, it seems more like his gaze is focused on your—

Diluc's free hand—the one that you'd let go of when you'd tried to jump away—suddenly cups your cheek. The pad of his thumb brushes by the corner of your lips, and your heart palpitates—realizing no, you're not delusional.

He's really is focused on your lips.

"Diluc…," you say again, quieter. You grip his sides, your heart feeling like it might beat straight out of your chest.

It's like Diluc is lost in his own world, your insistent call of his name failing to reach his ears.

His grip on your waist tightens, hugging you closer, and very quickly, you notice that Diluc's face has begun inching closer.

At once, all the feelings for him you've dutifully packed away over the last few months break forth. All of the longing you've buried deep inside of your soul—the want to be more to him than what you are now—sinks deep into your bones.

Please, you think, your fingers fisting in the fabric of his shirt. Kiss me.

And, in that moment, it seems like he will.

He continues inching forward, the distance between the two of you becoming less and less. Your eyelashes flutter closed, your heart running wild with anticipation.

…and yet, the kiss never comes.

The warmth of Diluc disappears from around you, and you open your eyes in shock, looking up at him, where he's taken a step back.

…his eyes are blank, his entire face devoid of emotion. Like his soul has been stripped away.

"I should get back inside," he says, adjusting the cuffs of his dress shirt.

He doesn't cast another glance your way—doesn't say another word. Simply turns on his heel, walks away, and exits the balcony.

You grip the sides of his suit jacket and tightly hug it around yourself—trying to keep your heart from breaking yet again.

You don't understand what happened.

You don't know why Diluc had run off so abruptly, but you try and convince yourself that maybe he really had needed to get back to the party. The two of you had been outside for a while, after all, and he was the host.

Quickly, however, you start to realize it's more than that.

"Master Diluc, you should really come with Y/N back to the hotel—"

It's a conversation you're not sure if you're supposed to be overhearing—hidden behind the corner of the hallway where Adelinde and Diluc are talking. It'd been a part of the original schedule that Adelinde would drive both you and Diluc home around 9pm, but now, Diluc is saying—

"There are plenty of guests here I still need to oversee. I'll stay and catch a cab to the hotel later."

"Did you ask Y/N if she'd like to stay with you?"

"No, she should go back to the hotel."

"Diluc—"

"I don't want to talk about this any further."

You hear a door open, and you can only assume it's the sound of Diluc disappearing back inside the main area of the venue.

You wait a few seconds before popping out.

"Ready to go?" you ask Adelinde. She flashes you a smile. A somewhat bittersweet one.

"Diluc will be staying a bit longer, but we can go now."

You don't bother asking her why, already knowing she doesn't have the answer.

You don't understand why he's being like this.

You don't think that you've done anything wrong, but considering Diluc is avoiding you, and unable to look you in the eye, you're really starting to worry.

When Adelinde drives you back to the hotel, you try to stay awake long enough to greet Diluc upon his return. After all, maybe he'll be in a better mood then, and the two of you can talk.

However, 9pm turns into 10pm, and then 11pm, and after a while, you can't keep your eyes from closing.

Maybe we can talk in the morning, you tell yourself as you drift off to sleep. Tomorrow will be a fresh day.

…and yet, when you wake up the next morning, Diluc isn't there.

All you find is a note on his side of the bed saying he's gone down to get breakfast, and a reminder that his driver will arrive at 10am to take you both back to the airport.

When you glance over to the spot he'd left his suitcase, you find that it's already packed and ready to go.

Anxiety sits heavy inside your chest.

Maybe…maybe when he comes back to the room…you can talk.

But when Diluc comes back, he won't even look at you. Any attempt at having a conversation with him is met with brief, simple answers—like he has no interest.

Honestly, you want to cry.

At that point, you give up trying, not wanting to break down in tears at the airport.

The entire trip home, only necessary words are exchanged. You do your best to keep your worries at bay, but you can't help getting in your own head—wondering if you'd said or done something to make Diluc act this way towards you.

When nothing comes to mind, you get even more upset.

By the time the plane lands, your lip is sore from how long you've been anxiously biting it. Diluc silently leads the way through the airport, and when the two of you step outside and are greeted by Kaeya climbing out of Diluc's car—smiling and welcoming the both of you home—you honestly want to run into Kaeya's arms and scream.

"How'd it go?" Kaeya asks, helping you load your luggage into the trunk. He glances at you, and you glance at Diluc. Kaeya follows your gaze, noting the way Diluc's jaw clenches. He says nothing, throwing his own suitcase into the trunk, and then enters the car without a word.

Kaeya frowns.

"Did something happen?"

"I don't know," you respond honestly, running your hands over your hair.

You're stressed, he realizes.

"Well…let's just get home. Maybe that will help."

Opening your door for you, Kaeya makes sure you're safely inside the vehicle before he reclaims the driver's seat, and drives all of you home.

Things feel less tense with Kaeya there, acting as a buffer, but…Diluc still won't look you in the eyes.

You don't know why, but finally, you decide it's not your problem.

You've tried talking to him—tried being patient, and open—but him refusing to talk to you is not your problem.

And so, you decide to act like everything is normal.

You go to class, regain your normal routines. You ban yourself from worrying about Diluc, and instead engross yourself in homework, and work.

He starts talking to you a bit more, the more you ignore him. It's only simple things—like asking you if he needs to pick up milk when you're standing by the fridge, or double checking with you when your next work shift is, but…it's a start.

And you're fine with that.

…or so you convince yourself.

But after a few days, the delusional okayness you've convinced yourself of finally shatters.

You won't say that it's Kaeya's fault. He doesn't know when he approaches you in the kitchen—sneaking up behind you and settling his hands on your waist, asking if you're interested in having a little fun—that your sanity is only holding on by a very thin thread.

You've been acting like everything is fine, after all. And you continue to act like everything is fine, even when he leads you into his room. Even as he tugs you on top of him, and shrugs your shirt over your head, telling you how pretty you are. Even as he unclasps your bra, and throws it to the floor.

It's not until he cups your cheeks with his hands—intending to drag you in for a kiss—that you finally lose it.

Because Diluc's palm on your cheek had been the last bit of warmth you'd felt from him. And now he's ice cold—unable to even look at you.

The emotions come tumbling out before you can stop them—fat teardrops falling onto Kaeya's bare chest.

"Y/N?"

Kaeya's voice pitches high with shock, his eyes widening as he watches you completely breakdown atop him. Your whole body shakes, chest hiccupping with sobs as you cover your face with your hands, muffling the sound of your despair.

For a second, Kaeya isn't sure what to do. His hands hover—not knowing if he's done something wrong, or if you even want to be touched right now, but…in the end, he can't just let you cry without offering some comfort.

"Shh, it's okay," he says quietly, wrapping his arms around you. He coaxes you down against his chest, one of his hands gently petting your hair as you continue to cry. He can feel your hot tears on his skin, and he instinctively starts drawing shapes on your back, trying to get you to calm down.

It takes a few minutes, but finally, you regain enough clarity to speak.

"It's not okay…"

"Hm?"

"You said it's okay," you say, your voice warbling as you talk. You sit back, resting yourself on his stomach and wiping the wetness from your face.

"But it's not okay. He…he hasn't been able to look me in the eyes in days, and I don't know what I did wrong…"

Your voice cracks, and Kaeya can see a fresh round of tears brimming in your puffy eyes.

"Okay, so it's not okay," he agrees, rubbing his hands down your shoulders. "Take a deep breath, and then…talk to me about what's going on. Let's see if I can offer you any sage advice."

His words make you quietly laugh, and the sound washes relief through Kaeya.

"I'm not sure I'd call your advice sage, but…"

You take a few deep breaths, gathering your wits about you.

"At the shareholder event," you start slowly, meeting Kaeya's eyes. "Everything was fine…until it wasn't. The whole weekend, Diluc and I were interacting like normal. At the happy hour gathering, we were on the balcony, just…talking, and we were silly, and danced a bit but…"

You bit your lip. Kaeya waits patiently for you to continue.

"I don't know," you say with a defeated sigh. "One minute, Diluc seemed fine, and the next, I couldn't get a read on him at all. He started…avoiding me, pretty much. And when he couldn't avoid me, he never once looked me in the eyes. He still hasn't."

Hearing that, Kaeya frowns. He's noticed something has felt…off the last few days, but now he realizes why. Not only has Diluc been keeping more to himself, but whenever you two are in a room together, he hasn't been looking at you. Which is definitely strange.

"And I just—," you can't help but laugh, the sound coming out a little broken. "Being there with him, like that. Before things went wrong. My feelings for him snuck back in, and I—"

This time, you're helpless to stop more tears from falling—feeling frustrated, and sad, and everything all at once.

"I don't want him to hate me…"

The scared warble of your voice prompts Kaeya to hug you once more. He pushes himself up into a seated position, scooting you backwards onto his lap so he can properly hold you.

"I know it might seem hard to believe right now but…I promise you that Diluc could never hate you," Kaeya says, resting his cheek against your head. You sigh into his shoulder.

"What do I do, Kaeya?"

And isn't that the question of the hour?

"Honestly…," Kaeya says after a minute, with a little sigh of his own. "I think. You should just corner him, and confess."

You sit back, staring at him as if he's crazy.

"I'm serious," Kaeya insists. "You just admitted your feelings for him haven't gone away. And I don't know what's got Diluc acting like this, but my hunch is that it has something to do with feelings he's struggling to deal with, so…I think you should confess. See what happens."

"That's the worst idea I've ever heard," you tell him bluntly. "He can't look me in the eyes, but you want me to come out and tell him that I have a crush on him."

"Okay, fine," Kaeya relinquishes. "Then don't confess right away, just confront him. Be brave—say that the two of you need to talk. Right now you're acting compliant—letting him get away with his shitty behavior. One of you needs to step up and address what's been going on, and, unfortunately, I think it's going to have to be you."

"Ugh," you sigh, knocking your forehead against his shoulder. "This sucks…"

"You don't have to do it right now," he reassures you. "Just…think about what I said. Do it when you're ready."

Feeling defeated for the time being, you don't say anything else.

However, Kaeya's words do stick with you. And as more days pass, and Diluc still seems reluctant to talk about what's wrong, you realize you really will have to be the one to step up to the plate.

So, you start thinking. You start building yourself up—planning in your head what you'll say, and how you'll approach him.

First, you'll tell him very sternly that the two of you need to talk. Then, you'll ask him about what's going on with him, and why the relationship between the two of you has become like it is. Maybe if the first part of the conversation goes well, and is productive, you'll consider confessing to him, but…you'll have to wait and see. That seems like a very big step.

For now, you'll focus on trying to just…talk .

On Friday, the opportunity finally comes.

Kaeya is out, having needed to go to campus to scan a few papers into the school's system, meaning only you and Diluc are left in the apartment.

You purposefully stake out in the living room, your gaze straying to Diluc's closed bedroom door every few minutes—anxiety swirling in your chest as you wait for him to emerge. It takes a while—so long, in fact, that at some point you nearly give up and retreat to your room to hide—but eventually, you hear the click of his door opening.

Your eyes immediately dart in his direction, watching as Diluc steps out into the living room. He must notice you're there, because his gaze begins to scan in your direction, but stops before it actually reaches you. Like if he plays dumb that he knows you're sitting there, then he won't have to talk to you.

Clenching your fists, you push out of your seat, following him into the kitchen.

It's now or never.

"Diluc," you say, your voice stern and unwavering, even to your own ears. Nervousness makes your stomach churn, but you push forward anyway.

"We need to talk."

With his back facing you, you see Diluc tense up—just for a split second. Then, he's grunting, sounding entirely disinterested.

"Do we now?"

"We do," you huff, squaring your shoulders.

While it seemed before like Diluc had been heading to the fridge to find something to eat, he now changes his path. Your eyes follow him as he heads towards the head of the apartment, snatching his wallet and keys on the way.

Your eyes widen, realizing he's literally trying to run away.

"Diluc!"

You chase after him, feeling exasperated.

"You—! We need to talk. You can't just leave!"

He huffs a sigh, one that comes across as frustrated, and you dig your heels in.

You take a deep breath.

"I have something to say."

You're avoiding me, is what you plan on saying. You're avoiding me and I don't understand why, but I want to talk, and figure this out. Because I love you, and I miss you, and I—

…however, you never get the chance to speak.

Because for the first time in days, Diluc turns, and looks you in the eyes.

A myriad of emotions are painted on his face, but the one that stands out the most is…anger.

His crimson eyes are alight, his teeth bared and voice quiet, yet full of bite as he says—

"If you're going to tell me you've been sleeping with Kaeya, I've already figured that out."

His words rip your backbone from you—your body turning to ice, and your eyes going wide.

And that must be confirmation enough—because the tiny light left in Diluc's eyes disappears, and he leaves without giving you a chance to reply—the door harshly closing behind him as he exits the apartment.

For nearly a minute, all you can do is stand there—your pulse rushing in your ears as anxiety constricts your chest—making it harder to breathe. The panic you feel makes it hard to process the swarm of worries racing through your mind, but through it all, you manage to pick out one, crippling thought.

Whatever relationship you've had with Diluc up until now might actually be irreparable.

That realization alone is enough to get the waterworks going, and—not knowing what else to do—you simply collapse to the floor, and cry.

Notes:

:'))))))))

You didn't think he would stay oblivious forever, did you? But don't worry, I'm a sucker for happy endings. We just...might have to trudge through some muck before we can get there.

As always, please feel free to comment! (Yell at me if you have to!) And I appreciate you all for reading 😌

Chapter 24: Harsh Realities

Notes:

I'm thriving on my love for the idiot trio, and also all of the comments you guys have been leaving 😭❤️

Idk how long this quick update streak will last, but for now, let's all enjoy it 💃

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

When Kaeya returns to the apartment, he's oblivious to what has happened. So it makes sense that he walks in like normal—whistling a quiet tune as he kicks off his shoes by the door.

He silently notes that Diluc's typically worn shoes are missing from the landing, but yours are still there.

Maybe Diluc is working, he assumes, not thinking twice about it. He doesn't have Diluc's schedule memorized, after all, and hey—with Diluc gone, that gives Kaeya a chance to gently prod at you and see if there's been action from you or Diluc yet.

So, Kaeya pads into the apartment intending to do just that. He makes a b-line for your bedroom, but changes course when passes the kitchen—deciding he's feeling peckish and needs a little snack.

He takes his time picking one out, still whistling the tune stuck in his head all the while, but eventually he decides on an apple.

The crunch as he takes his first bite is crisp and satisfying, and Kaeya makes a quiet sound of approval as he turns around and begins heading for your bedroom once more.

…but then he notices a lump on the couch, and freezes.

"...Y/N?"

You don't move, or respond, but Kaeya can see your hair peeking out from the blanket you're currently tucked beneath.

Cautiously, he enters the living room.

Considering your lack of response, at first he assumes you're asleep. But as he gets closer, he realizes no, you're not, and his heart sinks.

Because there you lay, completely awake, with tears silently leaking from your eyes. There's a damp puddle on the pillow your head rests on, and Kaeya can see your exhaustion clear on your face.

Like you've given up, but the sadness is still leaking out anyway.

"Oh, sweetheart…," Kaeya says. He carefully sits himself down on the floor beside the couch.

"What happened?"

"Tried to talk to 'Luc," you respond without missing a beat, and oh, you really are in bad shape. There's no life left in you—the tone of your voice completely void of any emotion.

"And?" Kaeya prompts when you don't continue. He places his hand on your hair, stroking it gently, but you don't react.

"Didn't get the chance to say anything," you mumble, your cheek still pressed into the pillow. You're not even looking at him, your red eyes staring somewhere off into the distance.

"He just announced he knew we were sleeping together, and then stormed off."

Immediately, Kaeya freezes, his showing eye going wide. Then, after a long pause, he looses a heavy sigh.

That fucking idiot.

"Y/N, listen," he says. He leans down so he's in your line of sight, and you're forced to look him in the eye.

"You are not in the wrong here. Diluc was wrong to act like that."

"I keep trying to convince myself of that too," you say, and he hears the slightest warble in your voice.

"But it still hurts…"

Despite himself, Kaeya leans in and kisses your forehead. Then, he pushes to his feet, tosses his half-eaten apple in the trash, and heads for the front door.

"Where are you going?" you quietly ask.

"To talk some sense into my idiot friend," Kaeya responds, grabbing his house keys. He's out of the apartment before you can think to tell him not to.

When Kaeya steps foot in Angel's Share a short while later, he immediately heads towards the bar. He's been here enough that he knows the manager's office is at the back of the restaurant, and whether Diluc is working or not, he assumes he'll find Diluc holed up there.

Because really, where else would Diluc go?

So, Kaeya makes his move—his eyes scanning down the bar to make sure there are no bartenders closely watching him, so he can hopefully sneak into the kitchen without anyone noticing.

However, just as he's about to dart behind the counter and through the kitchen doors, he notices a flash of red at the very end of the bar. One he almost misses. And so, he does a double take.

And there Diluc is, occupying the very last seat at the counter—a half empty glass resting in his hand.

Kaeya sighs. It would be so easy to rush over and start a fight with Diluc—yell at him for being an absolute dumbass—but he knows that will get him nowhere.

So, he instead calmly walks over, and takes the seat next to Diluc.

Diluc doesn't have to look his way to know who it is that has just saddled up beside him.

"You're one of the last people I want to see right now," he says bluntly.

"Well," Kaeya responds, flagging the bartender on shift down. It's still pretty early in the evening, so Angel's Share isn't too busy yet.

"If you stopped acting like an asshole, I wouldn't need to be here."

Diluc clenches his jaw, but remains silent as Kaeya orders himself his normal drink. It only takes the bartender a few seconds to mix everything together, and once the glass is placed in front of him—he immediately grasps it and takes a long sip.

Kaeya looks at Diluc through the corner of his eye, noting the way the muscles in his jaw continue tensing. He can almost see Diluc's emotions waxing and waning—flipping back and forth between anger and…what is that?

Something akin to sadness. Disappointment, maybe?

Kaeya takes a breath.

"So? How'd you figure it out?"

Diluc huffs, and for a second, Kaeya thinks he won't answer.

"I…didn't know for sure," Diluc admits, staring down into the contents of his glass. "But…the look on Y/N's face confirmed it, after I said it."

"Oh, you're an even bigger dick than I thought," Kaeya muses, ignoring the glare Diluc sends his way.

"But, that doesn't answer my question."

"I collect the trash," Diluc responds, annoyance shining through on his face and in his tone. "And every so often, I started finding condom wrappers in the can by your bedroom door. I didn't think much about it, assuming maybe you were just hooking up with someone you met at the bar, and somehow magically timing it so they'd leave before I ever got home, but then—"

He pauses, lifting his drink. The glass only makes it an inch off the counter before he thunks it back down with sigh.

"That time Y/N got drugged, and I came back from talking to the police, and she was in her pajamas. At first I thought you just helped her to her room, and then left her to change. But when I carried her to bed later on, she asked me to get something from her closet, saying she couldn't walk to get it herself. And I realized—if she can barely control her limbs, how did she manage to change herself? And if Kaeya had helped her change, why is she acting so nonchalant about it?"

Kaeya quietly sips on the alcohol in front of him, simply listening to Diluc as he continues.

"After that, I just…I started getting in my own head. I started realizing that if the person you were sleeping with was her, that would explain how I never walked on anything. And I…I don't know. I got—"

"Angry?" Kaeya suggests, turning on his stool so he's facing Diluc. He rests his cheek in his palm, staring at the redhead.

"I wasn't angry," Diluc mumbles. Kaeya rolls his eyes.

"Our roommate thinks you hate her."

"You guys hid this from me," Diluc insists, irritation sneaking into his tone as he finally meets Kaeya's eyes—but the flame in Diluc gaze struggles to stay alight when faced with Kaeya's cool, unwavering one.

"We had no obligation to tell you," Kaeya tells him. "And you had no right to get mad. What difference does it make to you if we slept together, huh?"

Diluc opens his mouth, like he intends to argue, but after a moment—he snaps it shut and goes back to glaring into his drink.

Kaeya sighs yet again, downing the remainder of the liquor in his glass. He waves the bartender over and orders another, silence stretching between him and Diluc as the bartender works.

Once the newly made drink is placed in front of Kaeya, he takes a breath and begins speaking again.

"Diluc, I want you to just…think about why you feel this way. Why you reacted like that."

Diluc clicks his tongue. Kaeya immediately turns to him.

"I'm serious, 'Luc."

"First you tell me I don't have a right to be upset, and now as I'm trying to get over it, you're telling me to think about it again."

"I'm not asking you to think about Y/N and I having sex. If I wanted you to think about it, I'd tell you all the dirty details I'm sure you don't want to know."

Diluc glares at him, but Kaeya isn't threatened.

"I'm asking you to think about her. What do you feel when you do?"

Diluc pauses for a moment, and Kaeya is hopeful of his answer. But in the end, all Diluc can say is—

"Right now, I'm not even sure—"

Kaeya starts to get annoyed.

Mentally apologizing to you in advance for revealing any current or past feelings for Diluc you may not want aired, Kaeya narrows his eyes and leans in closer to his friend.

"Diluc, " he snaps, cutting him off. "The whole reason this situation with Y/N and I started was because you broke her heart."

Diluc is taken aback.

"Me?"

"You," Kaeya confirms. "Because when she asked you how you felt about her, you told her sister."

Diluc stutters, clearly caught off guard by what Kaeya is telling him, and Kaeya can practically see the thoughts racing through his head.

We were closer than friends, so I told her she's akin to a sister. What's so wrong with that?

"If you really saw her as a sister though, why are you so upset? We were on bad terms before, but now we're not. Shouldn't you be glad your "sister" is sleeping with your best friend, out of anyone? You can trust me, right?"

"Why the hell would I be happy that she's sleeping with you?" Diluc shoots back. Kaeya smiles mirthfully.

"Exactly! So following that logic: why are you so upset?"

Diluc angrily exhales, his eyes closing as he tries to calm himself down. Kaeya decides to try a new approach.

"Okay…just. Keep your eyes closed, and listen to me."

Diluc's eyebrows pinch, clearly skeptical of what Kaeya is saying, but he keeps his eyes shut either way. Kaeya takes that as a small win.

"Imagine this…you graduate, you go back home to the winery. You officially step into the role Crepus left you. And as all of this is happening, there's someone at your side, and it's someone you love. Someone you go to bed with. Someone you wake up to in the morning. Someone you take out on adventures, or even just small, mundane grocery runs, because it just feels right to have them at your side."

Kaeya pauses, seeing the tension slowly wash out of Diluc's face.

Diluc has rarely ever spoken to him about romance, let alone wanting to fall in love, but…Kaeya knows Diluc. And therefore, Kaeya knows that what he's describing is something Diluc wants.

"Now…who's the person you're seeing in your head?"

Diluc frowns.

"I…I don't…"

Kaeya huffs.

"Okay. Then I'll put a face to them for you. It's Y/N."

"Wh—"

"Don't argue!" Kaeya hisses, smacking a hand over Diluc's eyes when they start to pop open.

"Just imagine it. Because Y/N has feelings for you, idiot," he sighs.

Diluc's hand—which had instinctively grabbed Kaeya's wrist once the latter had covered his eyes—goes slack at Kaeya's words.

She has feelings for me…?

"So just think, for a second. About your future, and who you want in it, and at what capacity. Because there will be a day in the very near future where things will be changing. You and I are graduating. You'll go back to the winery, and start working, and where will Y/N be? Have you considered that? Have you thought about the fact that one day, if things stay as things are now, she won't be at your side? She'll meet someone else, and will probably marry them, and have kids, and live somewhere far away from here. And you'll see her every few years, when the stars align, and that'll be it."

Kaeya deflates a little, then, peeling his hand from Diluc's face. However, Diluc doesn't open his eyes.

"And if you don't reciprocate her feelings? That's fine. I'm not going to sit here and try to convince you that you have feelings if you don't, but...I just think you've always had feelings for her, and are too dense to realize it. Because I've never seen you be as open, caring, and touchy towards anyone as you are with her."

Finally, Diluc opens his eyes.

He stares at Kaeya for a long second, before he very slowly turns in his seat, faces the bar, and folds his hands in front of his mouth. His gaze gets lost somewhere behind the counter, and Kaeya doesn't push him, assuming he needs a bit of time to process everything Kaeya has said.

So, Kaeya quietly nurses his drink, letting his gaze roam. He does a full scope of the tavern—noticing that the typical Friday crowd is starting to trickle in—and then turns his attention back to Diluc.

…only to find that Diluc is shaking.

"'Luc—"

"I am…such a fucking idiot," he says, his voice barely above a whisper, and yet Kaeya can hear the way it cracks with regret. Instinctively, Kaeya reaches out, placing his hand on Diluc's shoulder.

"It's okay. I'm sorry I pushed things—"

"No," Diluc says, shaking his head.

"You needed to. Otherwise I wouldn't be here regretting how much of an absolute asshole I've been during the last week. Because you're right—I have no right to be mad at Y/N for sleeping with you, because she's not mine. But I want her to be," he laughs a little as he says it, turning his face towards Kaeya, and Kaeya can see the excitement and fear clashing in Diluc's eyes.

"And that thought is… terrifying."

Honestly, Diluc doesn't think he's been this scared since the day he got the phone call saying his father had been in an accident.

"Are you…scared of her turning you down?" Kaeya asks. He doubts that would happen, but Diluc has put you through a lot lately, and embers can only burn for so long before they're eventually snuffed out.

Again, Diluc shakes his head. Kaeya notices tears welling in Diluc's eyes.

"I think I've been…scared…of letting anyone in," Diluc slowly admits, as if still piecing it all together himself.

"Because growing up, there were only two people I really loved. One was my father, and the other was you. And then one day…father was gone, and the next, so were you. And I…I don't know if I can handle that again. Losing the people that I love…," he says, voice thick with emotion.

Because the thought of losing you, in any capacity, makes his stomach turn.

Kaeya rubs Diluc's back sympathetically.

"Diluc, listen…I know how scary it is. You love someone, and create these good relationships with people, and then one day, it all comes to an end, but…," Kaeya laughs a little, finding it ironic that this advice is coming from him of all people. "You can't let that stop you. You deserve to live your life. You deserve to love someone again, without the fear that one day, they'll disappear. Because the cruel reality is one day they will, which is why you need to start acting on your feelings now.

"Be more honest with yourself," Kaeya continues, smiling at Diluc when he finally lifts his head. "Start verbalizing how you feel. Start giving into your impulses. Have a little fun."

Diluc rolls his eyes, but a little smile tugs at his lips nonetheless.

He turns away and hurriedly wipes away his unshed tears.

"Hearing all this from you feels like a punch in the gut, to be honest."

"What can I say," Kaeya grins, picking up his drink. "I'm the master of emotions."

"Uh-huh," Diluc says. Their eyes meet, and within seconds, the two boys break down in laughter—the absurdity of the entire situation finally dawning on them.

Man…they both have trauma.

It takes a minute for their laughter to die down, but when it does, Diluc starts fretting again.

"Should I give Y/N space? I mean, I got all angry with her, she probably doesn't want to see me—"

"Diluc, when I got back earlier, she was laying on the couch like an empty shell of a person. You need to go home and talk to her."

"Shit," Diluc sighs, rubbing his forehead. Kaeya watches him for a few seconds, noticing the way he begins to fidget. Then, Kaeya snatches the half-empty glass from in front of Diluc, and downs the watered-down—ugh, grape juice—that's left inside.

"There," he says, slamming the glass back onto the counter—effectively shocking Diluc out of spiraling. "Your drink is gone, our conversation is over. You have no excuse—just go home and do it."

"But what do I say?" Diluc asks. Now that he has finally realized his feelings for you, everything seems so scary and new.

"Just be honest," Kaeya responds. "Tell her what you've been thinking. Tell her how you feel. Honesty is the best policy."

"...are you sure you're Kaeya?"

"Oh haha."

Kaeya raises his foot and kicks Diluc's side, forcing him to alight from his stool. Diluc sends a tiny glare his way.

"Stop stalling," Kaeya scolds. "Go do it."

"Fine, I'm going," Diluc sighs. He digs out his wallet and places enough money on the counter to cover his drink. Kaeya turns back towards the bar, assuming all has been said, and that Diluc is leaving, but…ever so slowly, Diluc sits back down in his chair.

Kaeya releases an annoyed sigh.

"Diluc—"

"Are you really okay with this?"

There's a curious look on Diluc's face—one void of judgment—and it causes Kaeya to bristle.

"What?"

"If I go home, and all goes well, and Y/N and I start dating—are you really okay with that?"

Kaeya's fingers twitch against the bartop.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

He's literally been rooting for you and Diluc to date since day one.

"Because you're close to her," Diluc says with a tiny shrug. "I've seen the way your relationship with her has blossomed ever since you moved in, and it seems like in all the times I've let her down, you've been there to support her. Not to mention the fact that you two have been sleeping together. That's something intimate."

"I'm just being a good friend," Kaeya responds with a little laugh, as if what Diluc's implying is absurd. "And the sex has no feelings involved. That's what we agreed on, so don't worry."

Diluc stares at Kaeya for a few long seconds, not entirely convinced, but Kaeya stares right back, holding his ground.

Finally, Diluc gets back to his feet.

"I understand, I'll go then. But first," he places a hand on Kaeya's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "Thank you. For coming here and talking to me. I appreciate it."

With that, Diluc heads to the door.

Kaeya watches him go, staring at the exit for a bit too long after he's gone.

But eventually, Kaeya turns back to the bar, flags the bartender over, and orders himself another drink. The smile he flashes the bartender is strained.

"Another Death After Noon, please. Ah, wait—make this one a double."

You wake up to the sound of the front door unlocking, and someone stepping inside.

You don't remember passing out, but here you are—the tip of your nose brushing against the back pillows of the couch as your eyes peel open.

There's a slight throb in your head, and your eyes feel itchy—from all the crying, you assume. Meaning that you're probably dehydrated. Meaning that you should get up, go get some water, and retire to your actual bed, but…you can't summon the energy.

You're just gonna stay on the couch and wither away.

You hear the sound of keys dropping onto the kitchen counter, and after a few seconds, the scent of pizza reaches your nose.

Maybe Kaeya was feeling bad for me and decided to pick up food, you think to yourself, listening to the newcomer shuffle into the room.

There's the sound of a cardboard pizza box being set on the coffee table behind you, and then, after a moment, the sound of someone sitting on the floor beside the couch.

You don't roll over to face them. You assume Kaeya will eventually say something—check in on how you're doing, or ask if you want some pizza—but a full minute passes without a word.

So, even though you don't feel like talking, you decide to break the ice.

"What kinda pizza is it?"

"Plain pepperoni," is the response you get, your body immediately seizing up at the sound of Diluc's voice. "From the shop you like, on the corner."

Oh no, you hadn't been expecting him.

Your throat closes, and the anxiety that had slowly been fading away rushes back into you.

He doesn't sound angry anymore, based on his tone, but you can't help your reaction—still scared from earlier that something else will go wrong, and your friendship will continue to further deteriorate. Assuming he even wants to be friends anymore. You don't really know.

So, you do what you think is best, and decide not to move or speak.

This decision makes Diluc's heart ache.

Seeing the state you're in first hand makes him wish he could go back in time and beat himself up. But, he can't. So now, he just has to try and make things right.

"I'm…not sure if you want to talk to me right now, and that's okay," he starts off by saying, taking a deep breath. "But…I'd really appreciate it if you could just listen to me talk for a while."

He gives you a minute to respond, but—not to his surprise—you don't. However, you also don't yell at him to fuck off, or get up and run into your room to hide so…he thinks that's a good sign.

He decides to go for it.

"First of all, I owe you an apology. I am…deeply regretful of the way I behaved earlier, and also during the last week. I want to make it clear that you did nothing wrong. I was struggling mentally with the idea that you and Kaeya were sleeping together, but I had no right to take my feelings out on you, nor did I have any right to be mad about it in the first place. So I am very sorry. From the bottom of my heart."

Diluc sees your body relax ever so slightly, and he breathes a little sigh of relief.

His hands rub soothingly against his own legs as he continues talking, trying to abate some of his nerves.

"I actually think…I was using my frustration about you and Kaeya sleeping together as an excuse to ignore other things I was feeling. Like affection for you."

He admits it with a quiet laugh, suddenly feeling bashful. Sure, he's already told you that he loves you, but this is the first time he's speaking of his affections out loud. It's a bit different (at least in his mind).

"We—or at least, I—was having such a good time at the event last weekend, that feelings I'd been trying to turn a blind eye to started to…leak out. I got caught up in everything—how beautiful you looked, and how much fun I was having with you, that before I realized it, I was leaning in to kiss you.

"And because I didn't want to face the music—to acknowledge the feelings behind my actions—I decided to simply…be mad at you and Kaeya instead. Which again," he says with a loud sigh, "was wrong of me."

His soft gaze trails along your back, and he resists the urge to reach out and touch you—unsure if he's forgiven yet.

The pizza on the coffee table slowly loses its warmth as Diluc continues on.

"While it pains me to say it, Kaeya did help talk some sense into me, and I realized—," he pauses for a second, swallowing hard. "—that I'm scared. Of letting people in too deep. Because one day, those people will be gone. And all the love I hold for them will turn into sorrow. So as long as I don't love anyone too strongly, when they're gone, I won't have to deal with the weight—the burden—of all of my feelings."

His fingers begin tapping against his knees, his heart racing.

"And so I unconsciously drew this line in the sand, after I lost my father. That I'd only let people in so close to avoid going through that kind of pain again. But then, of course, I met you."

His heart lightens just thinking about it. Thinking back on the first day he met you, in that Psych lab, all that time ago. Never did he think he'd be sitting here now, completely and utter in love with you, but here he is.

"You were always so easy to be around. I didn't realize how much I took comfort in the moments I shared with you until our Psych project was done, and we no longer had a reason to meet up. And that should have been fine, considering I'd vowed to keep my distance from other human beings, but for some reason, it wasn't. So when you texted me asking me if I still wanted to hang out, I was secretly overjoyed."

He smiles at the memories, quietly laughing at himself.

"You were the first person I opened myself up to in years, and I didn't even realize it. You've always just been so…sweet and thoughtful. It made everything easy. Including falling in love with you."

Diluc fails to notice the way you stop breathing for a second, too busy pouring out his heart now that he's on a roll.

"I've never been in love before," he admits. "I've loved people, sure, but it's not the same as being in love. Because before now, I've never felt…jealous, or possessive. I've never caught myself wanting to touch someone—to go out of my way to show them physical affection. I've never sat around daydreaming about someone, or noticed my heart skipping beats just because of simple touches. But since meeting you, I've experienced all of those things."

Leaning his elbow against the arm of the couch, Diluc rests his cheek in his palm, and stares at you lovingly.

"I'm sorry an idiot like me fell in love with you, but I'm ready to be honest about it. Because I really, truly, am so head over heels for you, Y/N."

Your breathing starts to pick up, your shoulders beginning to shake, but again, Diluc remains oblivious.

"I've had dreams about waking up next to you. Sometimes, I get out of the shower and want to ask you to brush my hair, because it's so soothing and puts me at ease. And I've already started thinking about creating a new wine for you—something sweet and wet, because I know you don't like it dry. I'd make you taste test it every step of the way, until it fits your palate, and even if it's not mass marketed, I'd still make a few bottles each year, just for us to share."

The smile Diluc wears is joyful, and boyish. Like the one he used to wear before his dad died, and he put his walls up.

"Ah—but I'm—," he hangs his head sheepishly, a blush rising on his cheeks.

"I'm getting a little ahead of myself here…"

Sitting back, Diluc takes a deep breath.

"So…basically, what I wanted to say is. If you still like me, I reciprocate your feelings. Of course," he starts to ramble, feeling nervous once again. "I'd understand if you don't, considering how I acted. In which case, I hope you can at least forgive me, and we can still be friends. Because I'd like to keep you in my life for a long time, regardless of whatever relationship we have, so—"

A tiny sniffle reaches Diluc's ears. Immediately he freezes, finally noticing that you've started to cry.

"Oh, crap. Y/N, I'm…I'm so sorry. I—"

His words cut off as you suddenly push yourself up—tossing off the blanket you've been protecting yourself with this entire time. You swing your legs over the side of the couch, turning to face him for the first time he'd arrived, and Diluc's heart aches at the sight of you—tears streaming down your flushed cheeks, and your bottom lip trapped between your teeth to keep yourself from sobbing.

He's about to start apologizing again, assuming he's only managed to hurt you more, when you suddenly hold your arms out towards him.

"Hug me, stupid," you tell him, your voice fragile, and Diluc does so without hesitation. He immediately gets to his knees and wraps you in his arms, cradling your head against his shoulder. The sobs you'd been trying to hold in finally flood out, and your fingers fist in his shirt as you hold onto him for dear life.

You've been so worried about the state of your relationship with Diluc that now that everything seems like it will be okay, you can't help but cry harder. The nervous energy you've been holding onto exits your body in the form of tears, and relief slowly washes in, taking its place.

You feel overwhelmed, to be honest. There are still a lot of things you need to process considering everything Diluc has just told you, but…you don't have the energy to work through it all right now.

But that's okay, because you know that Diluc's not going anywhere.

After a few minutes, the sound of your crying begins to die down. Your breathing settles, your back rising and falling evenly beneath Diluc's palm, and he breathes a tiny sigh of relief, but still doesn't let you go.

Not until you dislodge your face from his shoulder and say—

"The pizza's probably cold by now…"

Diluc can't help but laugh.

"You're probably right. I'll take the blame for that one."

Leaning back, he's greeted with the sight of your pouting face. Part of him wants to rub his thumbs over your damp cheeks and lean in to kiss your forehead, but…he decides for now—until you're in a better frame of mind to talk about your relationship with him, and what you want it to be going forward—he'll just take things slow.

So, he simply brushes your messy hair away from your eyes, and asks, "Do you want me to throw it in the oven to warm it up?"

You shake your head, your tummy rumbling. You haven't eaten since lunch, and you don't have the patience to wait.

"Microwave is fine," you tell him. Diluc nods, and gently untangles himself from you. However, before he can get too far you instinctively reach out and grab the hem of his shirt. His heart squeezes, realizing you don't want him to leave.

"I'm going to put a few pieces of pizza in the microwave for us, and to get you some water, and I'll be right back, okay?"

You nod, and reluctantly let him leave. He does his best to return as quickly as possible—grabbing two water bottles from the fridge, and plates for the pizza. He's at your side again in under two minutes, balancing the pizza and beverages in both his hands.

"Here," Diluc says, passing you a plate of pizza and a water bottle first. You take it from him with a quiet "thank you", and then scoot closer to the arm of the couch, making room for him. Realizing what you're doing, he takes a seat on the cushion beside you.

A silence settles as the two of you begin to eat, and while it's not an uncomfortable silence, Diluc doesn't want to make you feel like you need to talk. So, he reaches over and grabs the nearby television remote—turning it on and selecting a random Netflix documentary to watch, just as background noise.

Not having realized how hungry you actually were, you devour your pizza in record time—washing everything down with the water Diluc had given you. The crinkle of the empty plastic bottle is what ends up catching Diluc's attention, and he's just about to ask you if you want anymore food, or another water, when you suddenly lean down and retrieve the blanket you'd discarded earlier.

Tucking your knees to your chest, you toss the blanket across your lap and his, and then lean into him—your cheek resting snuggly against his shoulder. You say nothing about it, so neither does Diluc.

He simply continues to eat, his attention focusing on the documentary—drawn in by the narrator's calming voice. And by the time his pizza is gone, and he realizes he's been zoning out, you've already fallen asleep.

You must be exhausted, he realizes, setting his plate off to the side. Diluc has experienced some emotional whiplash today as well, but he doubts it's comparable to yours.

Despite himself, he leans over and softly kisses the top of your head.

"Let's get you off to bed," he whispers, angling himself towards you. He wraps his arms around your back and beneath your knees—pushing himself up from the couch while tucking you against him. However, he only makes it one step towards your room before he pauses.

…Diluc doesn't want to leave you. The thought of you waking up alone, without him there to reassure you that everything is okay, makes him nervous. Because what if you forget this conversation, and still think that he's mad at you? Or what if you take him leaving you alone in your room as a sign that he regrets what he's said tonight, and no longer wants to be close to you?

So, with all of those worries in mind, he selfishly decides that tonight, you'll be bunking with him.

Cradling you closer to his chest, Diluc carries you into his room, and tucks you beneath the sheets of his bed. You stir a little, but only enough to make yourself more comfortable—nuzzling into the pillow beneath your head.

Diluc manages to brush his teeth and change into pajamas in record time, and soon enough, he's climbing into the bed alongside you.

Having worried enough for one day, and tired of overthinking his actions, Diluc doesn't hesitate to wrap an arm around your waist. He pulls you closer, so your back is flush with his chest, and to his surprise you heave a deep, contented sigh.

He smiles.

"I really do love you," he whispers, kissing your head one last time.

He allows his eyes to flutter shut, and within seconds, he joins you in slumber.

Notes:

:')

I just can't let my babies suffer for too long 😭 y'know? And it was about time Diluc got some sense kicked into him.

I tried...really, really hard with the dialogue in this chapter. I literally wrote it, and then went back and re-read it again multiple times to try and make things flow, and to make sure certain emotions were (hopefully) getting across so :') I hope I did good.

[Edit: Ik a lot of ppl are feeling sad for baby Kae right now, so I just wanna point out: I removed my "diluc endgame" tag a long time ago. Because as I've continued writing the fic, I've grown to enjoy yn's relationships with diluc and kaeya equally, for different reasons so...take that as you will, and remember I like happy endings 😭 for all my skrunklies]

So! That being said, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter Please feel free to leave your comment, because I always read them all ❤️

Chapter 25: Three Wishes

Notes:

*slides you a new chapter under the door*

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The next morning, you wake up to the scent of Diluc's conditioner, and sun streaming through the nearby window.

Your groggy brain writes of Diluc's scent pretty quickly—assuming that it'd seeped into your clothes when he'd hugged you the night before—but the sun coming through the window? That's a little weird, considering you usually keep your blinds closed.

Quietly groaning, you stretch out your limbs, and pause when you feel a weight on your stomach.

Squinting your eyes open, you glance down—your heart jumping into your throat when you see the toned arm that's currently wrapped around your waist.

You almost snap your neck with how quickly you look behind you, a tiny noise of surprise catching in your throat as you confirm—yes, you're in Diluc's bed, and yes, he's been cuddling you in his sleep.

Instantly, your mind starts racing—trying to recall how you'd gotten here. You remember Diluc's confession, and the two of you eating pizza on the couch afterwards, but…nothing after that.

Had you fallen asleep? Had Diluc carried you to his bed?

…wait.

Diluc's confession.

Holy shit. He'd …wow.

You lay back down, heat rising on your face as his words from the night before flood back into your mind. Everything he'd said seems…surreal. All of his fantasies, and admitting that he's in love with you…

Gently lifting his arm, you roll over so you're facing him. Your movement causes his eyelashes to flutter, and you reach forward, moving a stray strand of hair out of his face.

He makes a quiet sound, and after a second, his eyes open.

Seeing you there, staring at him, quickly makes him alert.

He's debating whether or not to apologize for bringing you into his bed to sleep when you open your mouth and say—

"You like me? Like…like like me?"

Diluc blinks, surprised. He surveys your face, noticing for the first time that you're blushing—your eyes wide with awe, and he can't help but chuckle.

"Yes, I do," he confirms, his morning voice a little scratchy. "I like like you."

"...are you sure?"

"Yes," Diluc nods, smiling. Then playfully asks, "Should I not be? I can take it back if your feelings have changed."

"No take backs," you mumble in reply, shrouding your face partially beneath the covers in an attempt to hide your growing blush.

"And no, for the record, my feelings haven't changed. Even though I tried really hard not to for a while, I still like you."

Diluc's heart palpitates at your words, happy to finally hear from you first hand that you really do have feelings for him. (Although he does feel a tiny pang of remorse, knowing his lack of awareness had forced you to try and quell your feelings at some point).

"Good. I'm glad."

There's a beat of quiet, but you're quick to fill it, too many questions and thoughts zooming around in your head now that you've slept and have replenished your energy.

"Did you ever see me as a sister?"

Just hearing the word sister causes Diluc to groan, and he lifts one of his arms to cover his face, embarrassed.

"I don't think so," he admits. "I just…knew my feelings for you bridged beyond what I've known in normal friendships, and I've never experienced romantic love before now, so…I just equated it to familial love instead."

You nod. That makes sense. It's hard to sort out emotions you've never felt before.

"That's understandable… so, there's no need for you to feel bad about it," you tell him, gently poking his elbow to get him to move his arm away from his face.

"Besides, I was the one that pressured you for an answer. If I had manned up back then and just confessed in the first place, it probably would have made things a lot easier."

Diluc breathes out through his nose, amused.

"Maybe, but maybe not. I've learned I can be…a little dense, after all. But, going forward, we'll just both have to work on voicing our feelings more openly."

"Agreed," you say with a quiet laugh, and Diluc mimics the sound. A few seconds pass in comfortable silence—everything finally feeling…good, now that the two of you have some clarity about your relationship, and where it stands.

Ah—but wait. There is one more thing.

"...are we dating, then?"

Diluc's eyebrows raise high on his forehead. That's…a good question. You both have admitted you like each other, but that point hasn't been decided yet.

"Do you want to date?"

You pause.

Despite your happiness to know that Diluc mirrors your romantic feelings for him, it's still a bit scary—the idea of crossing into a real relationship, but…

"...yes, I do. I want to try."

You have to try, right? Otherwise you won't know.

"Okay," Diluc agrees, perfectly fine with your answer. "Then let's try, and we'll see what happens."

"Okay," you say, unable to help it when you smile even wider.

With the agreement that the two of you are now officially dating, Diluc finds he is unable to hold back the adoration he feels for you any longer. And before he knows it, he's resting his hand back on your waist and asking—

"...does that mean I can finally kiss you? Now that we're dating."

His botched (or, aborted, rather) attempt at kissing you the weekend prior at the shareholder event immediately pops into both of your minds, and you can't help but laugh.

"You could have kissed me before we were dating too, if you had actually tried."

Diluc rolls his eyes, his ego feeling a little bruised at your words.

Smoothing his hand down your side, Diluc scoots a bit closer to you, his other hand moving to cradle your jaw. He can feel the warmth of your skin beneath his touch, and it's a little reassuring, honestly—knowing he's not the only flustered one here.

"Is that a yes, then?"

"Yes," you whisper, leaning towards him. "You can kiss me."

You place your palm on his chest, and feel his heart racing—perhaps even faster than yours is.

Nervous excitement radiates between the two of you, but that doesn't stop Diluc from leaning in—his half-lidded gaze focusing on your lips as you inch forward to meet him.

The first kiss you share is soft, sweet, and perhaps a little hesitant—Diluc's lips pressing gently against your own. Your eyes flutter shut to savor the moment, and you can't help but smile against him when you feel his heart skip a beat inside his chest.

"What?" he mumbles, pulling back. You grin wider, shaking your head. Your hair fans out messily around you, your skin prettily flushed, and ah—there goes Diluc's heart again. Although this time (thankfully) you don't notice.

"Your heart skipped a beat," you tell him with a quiet laugh, tapping your fingers against his chest. "It was…cute."

Ahh…shit.

Pouting, Diluc wraps his arm around you, and tugs you closer. You make a little sound of surprise, flustered by his action.

"Don't tease me," he mumbles, feeling self conscious.

"I'm not teasing," you promise him. You cup his cheeks with both hands and guide him into another kiss, this one longer than the last, but equally as sweet.

He relaxes into it—feeling reassured. The nervous butterflies in his stomach slowly fade away, his thumb mindlessly tracing up and down your spine.

…it makes you shiver.

"Okay," you mumble, breaking the kiss. You press your lips into a thin line, clearly embarrassed and unable to hide it, and Diluc can't help but chuckle at the irony of it all.

"Now, we're pretty much even, right? We've both had an embarassing reaction. Are you happy—"

"Yes," he cuts you off, kissing you once again.

Except this one is different from those before it. This kiss is playful, and excited—his lips trailing over your cheeks, your nose, and your forehead, before he returns to your mouth—your cute giggle muffled beneath his show of love.

"I like this new side of you," you tell him, carding your fingers through his hair. "Like all your love is bursting out."

"I think it is," he responds honestly, pressing another little kiss to your lips. He seriously can't get enough of you. He could keep you in his bed all morning cuddling and kissing, at this rate.

"I'm a little freaked out by it, to be honest. I think this is what happens when you repress your feelings for years. If you don't run away soon, I might drown you in affection."

"Mmm, not the worst way to go," you respond, but nonetheless peel yourself away from him. "But unfortunately, I think I need to get some food in me. And maybe shower. I've been in these clothes since yesterday..."

"I should shower too," Diluc agrees with a tiny sigh, blinking cutely when you lean in and kiss his nose before tossing off your covers and rolling out of his bed.

"Go shower, stinky," you tell him, laughing when he glares at you. You exit through his door a moment later, but Diluc doesn't move to get up. Instead, he stays laying in bed for a solid minute—an arm thrown across his eyes, and his hand resting on his racing heart—trying to convince it to calm down.

(Once it has, he lifts his arm and sniffs himself, wondering if he actually is stinky.)

The fact that Diluc takes a longer shower than you doesn't surprise you in the least, considering the massive amount of hair he has.

You've already washed up and changed, standing in front of the stove with a pan full of soon-to-be scrambled eggs on the burner, by the time Diluc's bathroom door opens.

"I wasn't sure what you wanted to eat," you say, certain he can hear you from wherever he is. "So I just went with eggs and toast."

"That's fine," he responds, his voice right next to your ear. The hair on your neck rises, your body twitching in surprise as Diluc's arms wrap around your middle.

He rests his head on your shoulder, his damp hair brushing against your cheek.

You take a shaky breath, relaxing into his hold after a beat. Diluc being so openly affectionate with you is going to take some getting used to (but you don't dislike it).

"You know," Diluc speaks again, his hands resting gently against your tummy. "I didn't expect it to be this easy."

You hum, still moving the eggs around the pan as you ask, "what?"

"This," he says, giving you a little squeeze.

"Growing up, I always found myself around couples who were only together for materialistic reasons. A business merger by marriage, the mutually beneficial combination of assets…seeing those kinds of relationships, I wrote off dating pretty early on. Because it seemed…hard. Why would I want to be with someone if the smile I wear around them is just part of a facade? But this…"

He turns his head, gently kissing your cheek.

"This is easy," he says. "Easier than I expected. Sure, I still can't keep my heart from skipping a beat yet when I realize I can do things like this. Holding you, and kissing you, but...overall, it feels like not much has changed. And I appreciate that."

You smile at his words, leaning your weight into him.

"I get what you mean. Sure, things might be a little different, but not by much. There are no new…expectations, or things of the like. Which is nice. Although, I'm still getting used to the affection that's been pouring out of you since yesterday. I've also never heard you talk so much about inner feelings before now. It's a little crazy."

Diluc chuckles, and you feel the vibration of his chest against your back.

"I'd ask if you want me to tone it back a bit, but I don't think I can," he says honestly. "The dam of repressed feelings has broken. I think you'll have to allow me a little time for all the flood water to clear…"

"That's fine, I want you to know how you're feeling anyway," you tell him with a little smile, and then gently nudge his stomach with your elbow.

"Could you get some plates?"

"Sure."

Detaching himself from you, Diluc walks over to the nearby cupboard and grabs a stack of plates. You thank him as he sets them beside you, your gaze darting to the dishes as you grip the handle of the pan and prepare to divvy up the eggs, but—

"Diluc, you grabbed three plates."

"Hm?"

"We only need two…right?"

Your statement quickly turns into a question, your head craning in the direction of Kaeya's room. His door had been open earlier, and you hadn't seen him inside. So as far as you know, he doesn't need a plate since he's not here.

Diluc blinks in surprise, realizing you're right. However…if Kaeya didn't come home, where is he?

You and Diluc lock eyes, reading each other's minds.

"Let me get my phone and see if he texted," Diluc says, grabbing the extra plate and putting it back in the cupboard, before walking into his bedroom.

You continue serving breakfast in the meantime, the plates full of eggs and toast just touching the surface of the kitchen table as Diluc walks back into the room.

He's squinting at his phone, looking a little perturbed. Your heart drops.

"What? Did he text?"

Diluc sighs, pocketing his phone.

"Yes, he did. He said he'll be staying at Childe's place and that he'll be back tomorrow."

"Oh," you say, blinking. "Okay."

Maybe Kaeya is trying to give you some alone time with Diluc? Although, you hope he doesn't feel like he has to avoid either of you now. (But, Kaeya of all people wouldn't react like that…right?)

"Let's just eat before the food gets cold," Diluc says, taking a seat at the kitchen table. You cock an eyebrow at him, wondering why he sounds a little…annoyed.

Diluc takes a forkful of eggs and shoves it into his mouth, noticing after a beat that you haven't yet joined him. When he glances up, he finds that you're still standing there, fixing him with a curious look.

Diluc clears his throat.

"I'm fine, it's just…," he waves his hand around, frowning a bit.

"Actually, it's nothing."

"You're sure?"

"Yes," he responds, taking a breath. He flashes you a smile, and then reaches over, pulling out the chair beside him. "Join me, please."

With your tummy still rumbling, you don't hesitate a second longer. You seat yourself at his side and begin digging in, light conversation flowing between the two of you as you eat.

It really is surprising to you, honestly, how much things don't change at all between you and Diluc. As everything settles, and the day drags on, you realize it's…just another Saturday.

Diluc cleans up after breakfast, since you had cooked, so in the meantime you pick up the living room, realizing your mess of blankets and tissues are still littering the floor.

Once the apartment is a bit more organized, Diluc takes stock of the fridge and pantry, frowning when he sees a lot of things are running low.

…he must have been a bit neglectful during the last week—too busy being a pissy baby about you and Kaeya.

"I think we need to go grocery shopping," Diluc says, loud enough that you can hear him from your bathroom. "Is there anything in particular you want? I haven't made a nice meal in a while…"

You appear at the end of the hall after a few seconds, your toothbrush hanging from your mouth.

"Mmm…I could probably use some protein. You always like steak, don't you?"

Diluc nods, a happy smile coming to his face at the mention of his favorite food.

"I shall add it to the list."

"Oh! And I want some cookie dough. Actually—just let me get some socks and I'll come with you."

Diluc nods his assent, but you're already gone—running to grab some socks and finish brushing your teeth.

Noticing that Kaeya is running low on the protein bars he likes to eat, Diluc silently adds that to the list as well.

After a couple of minutes, you and Diluc meet at the front door—slipping on your shoes and heading out to his car. You're about halfway to the grocery store when Diluc curses, realizing he forgot to grab the reusable bags he usually brings.

"Mother nature will forgive you," you tell him, patting his arm, but he can only sigh.

Considering that it's mid-morning on a Saturday, the grocery store is relatively busy when you arrive. However, Diluc proves skilled at navigating the crowd, your hand grabbing the back of his shirt so as to not get separated when he squeezes through a particularly busy spot.

"Hold on," you say, stopping in front of one of the doors in the freezer section. With your hand still grabbing Diluc's shirt, he's immediately yanked to a halt. The baffled look on his face when he turns towards you makes you laugh.

"I want this."

Opening the freezer door, you reach inside and grab a 50pc pack of chocolate eclairs. Diluc squints at you as you put it in the cart.

"...didn't you say earlier that you wanted cookie dough?"

"Oh I still want that," you respond, looking through the other glass-lined doors to see if there's anything else that's calling to you.

"And you're getting eclairs too?"

"Hey," you respond, turning towards him. You point a finger in his chest and pout up at him, although Diluc can see the playfulness in your eyes. "I'm your girlfriend now. You should spoil me."

"Oh, please," Diluc says with a roll of his eyes, although a smile does tug at his lips.

"I'm right and you know it. But anyway, these aren't just for me. Finals are only 2 weeks away, and we're gonna need a lil…treat to keep our spirits up."

Diluc opens his mouth, probably to tell you that you should pick something healthier, but you interrupt him before he can.

"AH—don't act like you weren't the one pigging out on these things over Christmas break. Yeah, that's right," you say, smiling at the blush that tints Diluc's ears. "After we came back from sledding, I saw you and Kae in the kitchen eating all the leftover eclairs while making coffee. So I know you both like them, as do I, so we're getting them as a proactive pick-me-up."

Diluc loudly sighs.

"Your logic is hard to argue."

"I know," you sing-song, before skipping ahead. Diluc follows you with the cart, careful not to hit your ankles.

As you progress through the store, picking out all the items on your list, Diluc realizes there's something he can't find.

"I feel like it should be in this aisle," he says, looking around. You can tell by the frown on his face, however, that he's not seeing what he needs.

"Hold on," you say, pulling out your phone. You click open your browser. "Lemme search it. Usually it'll say what aisle it's in."

Diluc continues prowling while you look it up.

"Ah, okay, it looks like we passed it already. Let's stop in aisle 10 on the way back up."

"Sounds good," Diluc says with a nod, continuing on his way. You trail behind him, your attention still on your phone.

This is the first time you've actually unlocked it today, you realize, seeing all the notifications you've yet to address. You swipe away a few emails and random app reminders that you can get to later, only pausing when you notice you have a notification for new text messages in the roommate chat.

Diluc did say Kaeya texted…, you remember, clicking on the app.

Immediately, your world comes crashing to a halt.

… BIRTHDAY?

Oh my god…oh my god. You hadn't even realized. You don't have any gift for him, or anything prepared at all…

"Y/N?"

Diluc calls you from down the aisle, having realized that you weren't behind him. There's a curious look on his face, one that starts morphing into worry when you turn to face him, clearly distraught.

"What—?"

"It's your birthday," it's a statement rather than a question, your voice so quiet that Diluc nearly misses it. He breathes a little sigh of relief, realizing it's nothing serious, and starts walking back towards you.

"Yes, it is."

"I…forgot. And you didn't say anything," you pout, feeling extremely guilty. Diluc places a hand on your head, smoothing his palm across your hair.

"I also forgot," he admits a little sheepishly. "My mind has been…elsewhere lately, so I didn't even realize what day it was until Kaeya said something. So don't feel bad."

"But…"

"Having you with me today is more than enough," he says, kissing your forehead. Then, he grabs your hand and tugs you down the aisle saying, "c'mon. If we dally too long, the frozen items will start to thaw."

Unable to argue, you simply continue shopping.

You pick up the last few things on the shopping list, and then head to the checkout lanes. (Diluc insists on using a regular lane, while you flat out refuse and drag him to the self checkout. He ends up admitting the self checkout is pretty efficient, but only if there's someone else to bag. You tell him he sounds like a grandpa.)

Once home, the two of you unload the groceries together, and Diluc can't help but notice you're…antsy.

"Can I borrow your keys?" you ask him. He cocks an eyebrow.

"What for?"

You smile at him very innocently.

"...shopping."

"We just got back from shopping."

"Shopping that's not for groceries."

Diluc sighs.

"You don't need to go shopping for a present."

"But it's your birthday!" You argue. "It feels wrong if I don't get you something!"

"It's fine," he insists. You start to whine, but pause soon after, a defiant look appearing on your face.

"Fine, I won't get you anything physical. I'll just…grant you three wishes."

Diluc snorts.

"Like a genie?"

"Like a genie," you say, crossing your arms and nodding. Diluc rolls his eyes, walking up to you.

"Well then," he drawls. He places his hands on your waist. "You've already granted two."

You blink, dumbfounded.

"Huh?"

"My first wish was that you'd be my girlfriend, and you already agreed to that. So that's one wish granted. And my second wish…," he continues, leaning down to kiss you. Your heart flutters.

"Is that you'll have dinner with me tonight."

"That—"

"Is totally fair," he interrupts you with a playful grin. You huff at him.

"Okay, but you still have one more. What's your third wish?"

"I'll figure that out later."

He takes a step back.

"I actually need to work on some assignments for a bit. Do you mind?"

"Not at all," you say with a shake of your head, realizing you should do the same. With finals right around the corner, you have a few big projects left to work on as well.

"Then, I'll be in my room if you need me," he says.

"Don't forget our dinner date," you respond, grinning at him. He laughs.

"I would never."

For a man who should be getting pampered on his birthday, Diluc sure does love doing everything himself.

When dinner time rolls around and the two of you meet back in the kitchen to begin working on your meal, Diluc insists that you simply sit back and relax. You argue, saying there must be something you can help with, and Diluc reluctantly lets you help him peel the carrots and potatoes (but only because you tell him you're hungry, and if you help him, the food will be ready faster).

However, despite Diluc running the show on his own (for the most part), it doesn't take too long for a plate full of steak, mashed potatoes, and roasted carrots to be placed in front of you. And god, does it smell good.

"Hold on," Diluc says before he can sit down, and you pause, your fork and knife hovering above your steak.

He walks over to one of the nearby cupboards, and pulls out a bottle of wine. Your eyebrows raise.

"You actually want to drink?"

"Believe it or not, every so often I actually do crave a glass. And it pairs very well with this type of meal."

Grabbing two glasses, Diluc returns to the dining table and pours some of the wine for you both.

"Plus, it is a special occasion…"

You're not sure if he means his birthday, or something else, but either way, you agree.

"Cheers," you say as he finally takes his seat. You lift your glass towards him, and he gently clinks it with his own.

"Cheers," he responds calmly, and with that, the two of you take a sip of the wine, and dig in.

Your stomach is so (pleasantly) full following the meal that you don't think you can move. And when you voice this to Diluc, he only laughs and says—

"Do you want to watch a movie, then? Digest for a while?"

…which is how you end up back on the couch, sitting beside Diluc, as the two of you decide on something to watch.

"You pick," you tell him after a minute of searching through titles on Netflix. "It's your birthday."

Diluc grunts, feeling burdened as the person now in charge of making the decision, but soon enough, he spots the Sound of Music title card and clicks his way over.

"Really?" you say in surprise, glancing over at him. "You like musicals?"

"It's a classic," is his rebuttal, a defensive little pout coming to his lips. You only smile, and lean into his shoulder, stating—

"Okay, but I might sing."

Diluc laughs, his hand leisurely resting on your knee.

"I look forward to it."

In spite of the movie being Diluc's pick, you end up being the one that pays closer attention—humming along with the songs in the movie, and getting drawn in by the plot.

For what it's worth, Diluc tries, but…his mind starts to wander anyways.

The hand that he had rested on your leg twitches against the warm skin of your thigh. His gaze strays from the TV, roaming across your lap, and up your torso—lingering only slightly on the swell of your hips, and the curve of your waist.

And yet, the look in his eyes as he surveys you is not heated. Only…curious .

"I always got so worried at this scene, as a kid," you mumble—the actors on screen making a mad dash for their vehicle as the enemy sounds an alarm, signaling the runaway family has been found. "Like…would they actually be able to get away, y'know? I—"

You glance over, and suddenly realize that Diluc isn't watching the movie, but is watching you instead.

"'Luc?"

"Sorry," he says, shaking his head. "I was thinking and got distracted."

"Thinking about what?" you pry, turning his way.

"What I might want as my third wish," he responds. You blink, inching a little closer to him, a smile lighting up your face.

"Oh, yeah? What were you thinking?"

The stare he fixes you with as he answers your question is utterly calm.

"You can say no, of course."

"Okay," you say, still smiling. You lean into him, your hands resting on his leg as you excitedly wait to hear what he's thought of.

Diluc's fingers squeeze your thigh, his voice soft as he states—

"I was wondering if you'd let me touch you."

Notes:

I've been having a lot of fun kind of...being able to elaborate on Diluc's inner feelings :') And being able to write him so softly, now that he's allowed himself to be properly open towards the reader.

❤️ I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter too. Comments are always appreciated, and I'll catch you guys soon enough with the next one 💃

Chapter 26: Innocent Intentions

Notes:

well well well who'd have thought we'd be back here so soon

(jk if u follow me on twt you'd know this chapter was done before I even posted the last one 💀)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

For a second, you wonder if you're hallucinating.

"I was wondering if you'd let me touch you."

But, based on the way Diluc quickly follows up at your silence, once again reassuring you that you can deny his request, you have to assume you haven't misheard him.

"Sorry, I just…," you take a deep breath, trying to will the beating of your heart to slow down a little. "I didn't expect a question like that from you. It caught me off guard."

"I'm sorry," he immediately apologizes, and you shake your head, gathering your wits about you.

"Could you clarify what you mean?" you ask, your voice quiet—shy to know the answer. You'd expect something like this from Kaeya—a bold, upfront appeal—but not Diluc.

Diluc's tongue darts out, wetting his lips.

"I…," he starts to speak, but quickly loses steam, a blush finally creeping up his neck as his calm demeanor cracks, just a little.

"I'm sorry if it sounds weird. I just…I want to touch you. That's all it is."

"Like… sex, or?"

Just hearing the word sex causes Diluc's eyes to widen, his body jolting as if it's been struck by lightning.

"No! No, not… that," he quickly responds, flustered. "I only want to…I'm just curious to feel more of you, beyond the little touches we've shared so far. I…"

He trails off, shrinking back. His blush grows more widespread, and you can tell by the look on his face that he's starting to regret having brought it up. In fact, he opens his mouth, likely to apologize again and revoke his request, but you don't let him.

"Diluc," you say, giving his leg a little squeeze. He meets your eyes, and you flash him a reassuring smile. "I just wanted to clarify. It's okay if you touch me."

"...really?"

"Yes."

Grabbing his hands with your own, you gently guide them so they're holding your waist.

You're still not totally sure of his intentions, or how exactly he wants to touch you, but…in the end, you trust him.

"Okay," he says, finally calming down a little. His thumbs rub soothingly against your waist through your t-shirt, and you're not sure if it's for him, or yourself, but either way, a bit of the tension immediately fades away.

"If you want me to stop, though, just tell me."

"Of course," you say with a nod.

You lean back a little to give him some space, and Diluc shifts himself as well, so he's better facing you. His hands slowly move down from your waist, towards your hips, and you can't help but tense when he moves his grip beneath your shirt—his warm hands settling on your sides without the barrier of fabric.

It's too much, you quickly realize. Sitting here, in silence, watching Diluc move his hands across you. And he must feel a bit of pressure too, considering how he pauses.

You need some sort of buffer.

Glancing over to the TV, you realize that the move is still going—the final few scenes showing on the screen.

"The movie is almost done," you comment, managing to keep your voice even. "And you didn't even sing once."

A smile appears on Diluc's lips at your words, his hands finally moving once again. His touch ghosts over your skin, very slowly moving upwards, towards your waist—his crimson eyes following the path of his hands, like he's intent on memorizing your shape.

"While I do like musicals, I tend not to sing along," he calmly responds, a hint of amusement in his tone. He reaches your rib cage, and you feel his fingers trace along the path of your ribs, until his hands are on your back.

Then, Diluc ventures upwards—his fingers trailing over the curves of your shoulder blades, his warm palms resting on the center of your back. He pauses there, for a moment, to savor his new discoveries, and you take a deep breath.

"What if I was hoping to hear you sing?" you ask, your voice quiet. While Diluc is busy looking at you, you're busy looking at him—your attention fully on his face as you silently watch his reactions.

Overall, he seems…calm, as he touches you—his expression remaining the same with each new place his hands roam. Like he really is only doing this out of pure curiosity.

"Mmm, maybe next time," he responds with a soft smile, his fingers trailing down your spine. Despite your best effort to control your reactions, the nearly-there sensation of him feeling out the curve of your spine causes you to violently shiver.

Immediately, he pauses, glancing up at you. You quickly crane your head backwards, sinking further into the corner of the couch in an attempt to hide the embarrassed blush that you can feel rising on your skin.

…however, your reaction—while cute—also serves to bear your neck to him.

Too busy thinking of something to say—some sort of quip that will help distract you, and hopefully Diluc, from the way your body had responded—you don't notice when one of Diluc's hands slips out from your shirt.

The feeling of your hair being moved away from your face is completely lost on you as well. At least, until Diluc leans in and connects his mouth to the skin on your neck.

Then, you're jumping—one of your hands instinctively gripping Diluc's hair as the other roots in the couch arm. A tiny squeak of surprise slips past your lips as he peppers your skin with a few gentle kisses.

"...are you sensitive here?" he asks, a little sense of wonder shining through in his tone. His hot breath fans over you, and your eyes flutter shut—your tongue darting out to wet your lips. You give yourself a second to get it together before answering.

"Yes…I am."

Diluc hums his acknowledgement, but somewhat surprisingly, doesn't back off. He continues trailing his mouth up your neck, and when he reaches your jaw, he follows the curve with a line of kisses, until his nose is brushing up against the lobe of your ear.

The palm he still has splayed on the center of your back is warm, and comforting, but somehow ignorant to the way your breathing has picked up.

And yet, you don't stop him—your hand managing not to tug at his hair, even when he places an opened mouth kiss on a patch of particularly sensitive flesh just below your ear. The feeling of his tongue on your skin forces another shiver out of you, your teeth clamping down on your lip to keep yourself from making another embarrassing noise.

…then, he pauses. And for a second, you wonder if he has noticed your reaction, and realized that everything he's been doing to you, despite any innocent intentions, is having a bigger effect on you than either of you had imagined.

But alas, the only thing going through Diluc's head at the moment is the worry that he has only now realized that he'd unintentionally crammed you into the corner of the couch.

So, thinking it to be the logical thing to do, Diluc separates himself from you and scoots backwards. You blink in surprise, about to ask if he's alright, when he suddenly grabs you by your hips and tugs you towards him.

Caught off guard, and no longer having the couch arm to lean on, you flop helplessly on your back against cushions of the couch, staring up at Diluc.

Only then, seeing you sprawled beneath him—shirt hiked up past your waist, blush blooming on your skin, and a fresh hickey painting the skin of your neck—does he realize exactly what he's done.

You see the moment it registers within him, color rising on his face. He looks guilty, and flustered, and you honestly find it a little…endearing, knowing all of his actions really had been out of pure inquisitiveness.

"I apologize," are the first words out of his mouth, his gaze shying away. "Do you want me to stop? Actually, I should. I—"

He lets go of you.

"Diluc," you interrupt him, your voice soft. You reach down, grabbing his hands before they can get too far. Reassured by your tone that you're not upset with him, Diluc meets your eyes. You smile at him.

"It's okay. If you want to keep going, that's fine with me. But if not, we can stop."

Either is fine, you tell yourself, but…selfishly, you don't want him to stop. Even if there isn't an ulterior motive behind his touches, bearing witness to the way Diluc is opening himself up to you—indulging himself in the new aspects of your relationship that no longer are taboo—it's addicting.

Lucky for you, Diluc feels the same way.

Without responding, Diluc leans down and kisses you. It's a sweet kiss, one full of passion, and appreciation, and you can't help but happily mewl—your arms moving to wrap around his neck.

With his hands now free, Diluc is quick to once again sneak them beneath the hem of your shirt. He cradles the small of your back as you continue to share kisses, enjoying the way your body responds to his touch and arches into him.

Slowly, heat starts tracking through Diluc's body, and while not his intent, his innocent curiosity begins to make way for something heavier. Something needy.

His hands slide back to your waist, squeezing you tighter as he breaks the kiss. Before you get the chance to wonder why he'd stopped, his mouth his back on your neck once again, exploring the other side, this time—excited to see if all the sensitive spots are the same.

And he learns after a second that they are—your fingers fisting in his shirt as he drags his tongue along the length of your neck, goosebumps rising in his wake.

You pant in his ear, and something inside Diluc starts to ache.

He wants more—to know more, and hear more, and feel more—

His grip on your waist, which had unconsciously shifted upwards, freezes the moment his thumbs brush against the edge of something soft, and plush.

He waits for you to scold him, to tell him that going there would be too far, that there's a line to how far he's allowed to touch you, but…you say nothing. The only indication you give him about how you feel is the gentle carding of your fingers through his hair, and that silent permission is enough for Diluc.

Swallowing hard, he sits back, and grabs the hem of your shirt.

The racing of your hearts match pace as Diluc ever-so-slowly drags the fabric upwards. He takes a second to savor the image of you beneath him—the slightest swell of your chest peeking out from the bunched up fabric—before he finally takes a breath, and hikes your shirt up past your breasts.

For a moment, the only sound in the room is that of the TV—Netflix playing the previews of movies it recommends you watch next. Your eyes lock on Diluc's face, your breathing nervous as you wait for him to give some sort of reaction. But thankfully, you don't have to wait very long.

"You're so beautiful," he murmurs, his hands moving to cup your chest. The flame of hunger inside him grows, but remains eclipsed by his curiosity and adoration—his fingers giving your breasts a gentle squeeze.

You do your best to not squirm—to remind yourself that Diluc is just innocently exploring, and nothing more—but it gets harder and harder to quell your reactions the more he touches you.

When he drags his thumbs across your nipples, it's impossible to not react. You inhale a shaky breath, twitching in his hold, and remain oblivious to the way Diluc's eyes darken.

It's then that something inside Diluc changes—his actions slowly becoming more desire driven. His thumbs repeat their previous motion, rubbing back and forth across your nipples, and watching as they grow harder—your body fidgeting beneath him.

You cover your mouth with the back of one of your hands, trying to keep the whines that build up inside you from leaking out. You fail, of course, the second that Diluc suddenly leans down and mouths at your breast—your eyes going wide, and and your voice escaping you. But the heady little noise you make only urges Diluc on, his eyes closing and brows furrowing as he latches onto your tit—sucking at your nipple.

Your hands find purchase in his hair once more, and for a second, the only thing you can hear is your pulse racing in your ears.

Mentally, you apologize to Diluc. Because at this point, despite his innocent intentions, it's impossible to deny that you're aroused.

Honestly, the fact that Diluc isn't is a little mind blowing.

"Luc," you pant, giving his hair a gentle tug. You need to tell him to stop—that if he goes any further, you'll only want more. But Diluc is so sweetly oblivious—thinking that your tug on his hair is simply you asking him for a kiss.

So, he pops his mouth off your tit, and shifts himself upwards, claiming your mouth.

…but in doing so, his pelvis grinds against yours, and immediately, you both become poignantly aware of the fact that Diluc is hard.

Both of your eyes go wide, but for different reasons. You, shocked that he's not unaffected, like you had assumed, and Diluc, because, well…he hadn't known that he was so affected.

Only now does he realize that the ache he's feeling isn't just in his soul, but also in his dick.

"I…I never meant for it to get this far," he bashfully admits, panting. "We should—"

"Do you want to stop?" you interrupt him, your hands moving to cup his face. He looks at you, and you can see the desire in his eyes.

"No," he admits after a beat, leaning into your touch. You drag him in for a kiss, murmuring your next words against his lips.

"Well good, because neither do I."

As soon as the words leave your mouth, you find yourself being picked up from the couch—Diluc's arms strongly wrapping around your thighs. You hug him around his neck, your shirt slipping back into place as you kiss him again, and Diluc expertly maneuvers the two of you inside of his room even though he can't see past you.

He gently sets you on his bed a moment later, and you immediately slip your hands beneath his shirt—your fingernails dragging up his torso. Diluc shivers at the sensation, and is quick to discard the piece of clothing, tearing it up and over his head.

Your hands roam over his chest as he cages you against his sheets, the pads of his fingers trailing up your stomach and finding your breasts once more. He bids them attention as he kisses you, a satisfied sound escaping him as the kisses you share become hot, and open mouthed—your tongue dragging against his own. The sensation thoroughly distracts him from the feel of your hands on his naked torso. At least, until your fingers sink down to the V of his hip bones—teasing beneath the elastic band of his sweats.

Then, he becomes acutely aware of two things, all at once. 1. That he desperately needs some relief. And 2. That—

"I don't have any condoms," he mumbles, unintentionally breaking the kiss. You lean back and blink at him, caught off guard. Diluc notes how much your pupils have dilated.

"Go get one from Kaeya's room," you tell him without missing a beat. "They're in the first drawer on his nightstand."

Diluc makes a little face at the idea of borrowing a condom from Kaeya, and the fact that you know where he keeps them. You roll your eyes and gently smack his pec, which makes him jump.

"Do you want to fuck, or not?"

With a tiny sigh, Diluc immediately untangles himself and leaves the room.

He locates the condoms in Kaeya's room easily enough, snatching one from the half-empty box, and quickly returns to his own bedroom. Only to find that you're standing at the side of his bed with your back towards him, pulling your t-shirt over your head.

He stops in his tracks at the sight—his gaze roaming over all of your newly revealed skin. You deal with your pants next, shimmying them down your hips and legs, until they're pooled around your ankles on the floor.

Diluc hurries to catch up.

Holding the condom wrapper between his teeth, Diluc wrestles out of his own pants—the sound of shifting fabric finally catching your attention. You turn to face him, a little surprised, considering you hadn't heard him return, and your eyes can't help but dart to the sight of his bulge as he finally frees himself of his sweats.

There's a messy puddle of precum already staining the front of Diluc's boxer-briefs, his cock straining against the fabric. Eager and desperate, Diluc hooks his thumbs under the band of underwear—only pausing when he realizes he has your attention.

For a brief moment, he shrinks back under your gaze, but…then he notices the way you swallow with anticipation while watching him—your thighs rubbing together—and he becomes emboldened.

"See something you like?" he mumbles around the condom, carefully ridding himself of his last remaining article of clothing. He only says it to disperse his own nerves, but his heart skips a beat when you actually nod and say—

"I do."

Instantly, he's rushing to get his hands on you—one curving around your back and the other cupping your jaw as he kisses you—sweet, and messy, and yearning. You tumble onto the mattress together, a tiny giggle escaping you as he once again cages you in.

"What?" he mumbles, mouthing at your jaw.

"That thing you did with the condom was smooth," you say with a smile. You lift up your hips and reach down, fishing the condom out of the back of your panties. "You realized you wanted to kiss me, took it out of your mouth, and then slipped it in my panties for safekeeping when you grabbed me."

"That way it wouldn't get lost," he responds with a little grin of his own. "Although I was planning to retrieve it myself when I took your panties off."

"Oops," you respond, holding the condom between your fingers, and Diluc rolls his eyes. Sitting back on his knees, he smooths his hands down your sides, and toys with the band of your panties. He hesitates taking them off for just a second, in case you want to change your mind and tell him to stop, but then he spots the pool of arousal on the crotch of your panties and realizes you won't be doing such a thing. Not if you're already that wet.

So, Diluc tugs the piece of clothing downward—smiling to himself when you adjust your legs to help him properly discard them.

Once they're on the floor with the rest of your and Diluc's garments, Diluc just takes a second to breathe and appreciate the sight of you before him.

"You really are so beautiful," he says, his hands dragging up your thighs.

"I could say the same to you," you shoot back, flustered by the way he's staring at you. Like every inch of you is a new treasure that he's gained.

He scrunches his nose.

"You're saying I'm "beautiful"?"

"Mmm…well, you're very handsome. But your tits are beautiful."

The look on Diluc's face gets even more ridiculous at your comment, and you can't help but laugh.

"We're going to talk about your choice of words later," he says, snatching the condom packet from your fingers. Finally, he tears it open, and you watch him as he grabs his cock and carefully rolls it on.

Then, a beat of nervous anticipation passes between you.

"Do you need me to…?"

"No, I think I'm ready," you tell him, shaking your head. Diluc nods his understanding, and you see him swallow as he settles himself between your legs.

The sensation of Diluc dragging the head of his cock between your folds and pressing it at your entrance causes both of your breaths to catch. Your hands fist in the sheets, your bottom lip caught between your teeth as he slowly inches himself inside of you—your walls fluttering around him as you attempt to adjust to his girth.

"Fuck, you're squeezing me so tight," he bites, his voice quiet, and chest heaving. His skin is flushed, the muscles in his torso flexing as he attempts to ground himself, and you reach up to gently brush his hair away from his face.

"You can move, if you want," you tell him, your voice barely a whisper.

Diluc hangs his head, keeping his hips carefully still.

"I don't know how long I can last," he admits. You drag him in for a kiss, your arousal feeling like it might begin scorching you soon, with how pent-up you are.

"That's okay," you reassure, mumbling the words into his lips. You need more—anything . "I just want to feel you. Please."

And who is Diluc to deny such a request?

So, exhaling shakily, Diluc begins to move.

The first few pumps of his hips are slow and careful—giving you both a little more time to adjust to the feel of each other. But god, the friction is delicious.

"Shit," Diluc breathes, his forehead dropping to rest against your collar bone. You immediately hug your arms around him, and notice that he's trembling.

"Luc—?"

"You just…feel so good," he interrupts you with a breathless little laugh. Maintaining his weight on one arm, he moves the other to your thigh—his hand grabbing the plush flesh and beckoning you to wrap your legs around him. You do so without argument, a sinful gasp leaving your mouth the second he begins moving again—filling you deeper and fuller than before.

The pace he sets is a little faster than you'd expect—considering his typically measured demeanor—but it appropriately matches the level of wantonness the two of you currently share.

Seriously, it feels like your pussy is practically sucking him in with each pass of his cock—so tight, and wet, and warm…

And shit, his dick feels so good—stuffing you so beautifully, and making your toes curl.

"Fuck…," Diluc pants. He wraps his arms around you and holds you close—the pads of his fingers digging into your skin as he squeezes you. The only space left between your bodies is that which allows Diluc to continue grinding inside of you.

Although, it's not too long after that you notice that Diluc's rhythm has begun to falter.

"I'm sorry," he bites, his breath hot on your skin. "I'm close already. I—"

"It's okay," you reassure him, hugging him tighter. You turn your head and press a kiss against his jaw, purposefully tightening yourself around him. A strangled noise escapes his throat, and you can't help but whine when his response is to fuck into you particularly hard.

"But—"

"You can cum," you say more sternly, nipping at the column of his neck. You soothe your tongue over the offended patch of skin a beat later, suckling lightly at his pulse point, and Diluc nearly sobs.

"Fuck," he hisses, his nails digging into your skin. He fucks himself inside of you a few more times, his hips smacking into your ass, and you whimper—desperate, and close, but…not as close as him.

Finally reaching his limit, Diluc sheathes himself inside of you and cums.

His body goes tense in your hold as he does, his breath catching in his throat at the sheer intensity of his orgasm. Instinctively, you pet his hair—softly kissing at his neck and jaw until he eventually relaxes and sinks into your hold.

"Good?" you ask him, brushing his bangs away from his eyes. His response is an affirmative grunt, and you can't help but quietly laugh.

"Yeah? Good then. Consider that your birthday present."

You say this entirely as a joke, but Diluc takes it very seriously.

Sitting back, he stares at you with narrowed eyes, and you blink back at him in surprise.

"Diluc?"

Why is he looking at you like that?

"Were you planning to let me get away with cumming on my own because it's my birthday?"

"Wh—," heat rises on your face, his words catching you off guard. No, that was not your plan. You were only trying to be…thoughtful! Considering he had clearly been so pent up, but—

Diluc clicks his tongue, taking your silence to mean yes , that had been your intent—and you gasp in surprise as he suddenly pulls his softening cock out of you, making quick work of the used condom. For a second, you think he really is upset with you, and your mouth opens, preparing to try and plead your case.

But then, he sinks down to his chest between your legs, and grabs your hips, tugging your lower half towards him.

Immediately, your heart thunders inside your chest, realizing what his plan is.

"Luc, you don't have to do that—," you try to tell him, sitting up on your elbows to look at him.

He doesn't listen.

Wrapping his arms around your thighs, he nudges them open wider, making space for his broad shoulders. His crimson eyes stare up at you from where he lay, and you can feel his breath against your pussy as he speaks.

"I want to see you cum," he says, simple and matter-of-fact, and before you can say anything else, his tongue is lapping between your folds. You shudder at the sensation, your entire body writhing when his tongue flicks against your clit.

With his own arousal having been sated, and his mind now clear, Diluc watches your reactions closely. He savors the way you taste in his mouth, and relishes each sound you grant him—your hips instinctively grinding against him with each pass of his tongue across your neglected little bundle of nerves.

"Fuck, Diluc—," you pant, your strength waning. You flop down onto your back, one of your hands fisting in the sheets, while the other grips at your breast, finding comfort there.

The orgasm you had written off having tonight sneaks back into the picture, fanned back to life by the flames of Diluc's determination.

His nose nuzzles into the soft flesh above your pussy as he sucks at your clit, and you mewl—the sound quickly morphing into a full out groan when two of his fingers suddenly prod at your entrance, and slip inside of you.

They're not nearly as satisfying as his cock—unable to match his girth, and how deliciously he had stuffed you—but you quickly find that you don't care. Not when he locates that particularly sensitive spot inside of you—the pads of his fingers incessantly rubbing against it.

Then, everything feels like it's on fire. Your breath starts coming faster, your muscles tensing as the coil of pleasure winds tighter inside of you.

"I—," you start to say, but your head swims, and your thoughts jumble.

I want more. I'm going to cum. Diluc's not sure what exactly you had intended to say, but that doesn't affect his actions either way.

He can tell that you're close by the way your cunt is clamping down around his hand.

Eyes fluttering shut, Diluc experimentally adjusts his mouth on your clit. He changes up the speed and the motion of his tongue until he finds the combination that has you sucking in a harsh breath, your body quite literally shaking in his hold.

"Oh, fuck—, " you sob, tears coming to your eyes. You can't hold it, you're gonna—

With a strained cry, you come undone.

Your walls milk around his fingers, your clit pulsing against his tongue as he helps you ride out the waves of your orgasm. In fact, he doesn't stop the lapping of his tongue until you reach down and grab his hair, gently nudging him back.

"Stop," you tell him, still trying to catch your breath. "No more. I'm…too sensitive."

He can't help but quietly laugh at the sight of your boneless figure.

"Good?" he asks, quoting your earlier question. You grunt, mimicking his response.

"Good," you confirm. Diluc's grin grows wider, and he presses a little kiss to your thigh before scooting up the mattress to lay beside you. He doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around you, pulling you back against his chest.

"You're okay though, really?"

"Of course," you say with a tiny smile, nuzzling into him. Diluc breathes a relieved sigh, his thumb rubbing against the soft skin of your tummy.

"I…well. I won't apologize for the outcome, because I think we both enjoyed it, but…it truly was not my intent for things to go this far. I didn't realize my body would end up reacting like… that. "

"It's okay," you reassure him, reaching a hand up to pat his head. Then, out of curiosity, you ask—

"Has it been a while for you? Since the last time you…you know?"

Diluc doesn't answer right away, which prompts you to turn and face him. You find that he's blushing, unable to look you in the eye, but…when he does, everything suddenly clicks.

You sit up in a hurry, your palms resting on his chest as you stare at him in shock.

"You…that was…your first?"

Diluc slings an arm across his eyes, a blush rising on his skin.

"Believe it or not, I've…never exactly felt the need to seek out anyone to relieve my sexual frustrations. Taking care of things on my own always felt more enjoyable than the idea of finding a random body to bed, but…well. You're different, obviously. And I didn't realize that until my idea of innocently touching you suddenly turned into… this."

"...is that why you wanted to touch me, at first?" you ask him softly, not trying to embarrass him any further. "Because you've never been physically intimate with anyone? In any capacity, not just sex?"

"I've never felt the need to be close to anyone before now. And with you it just feels… comfortable ," he admits, finally lifting his arm and peeking out at you. "I thought this would be a good chance to explore a bit—to learn about you, and your body, but…well."

He pauses, laughing a little.

"I think we both know how it ended."

"I'd say it was a good ending," you respond, cupping his cheek. He immediately grasps your hand with his own, holding it in place as he turns his head to kiss your palm.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," you say, flashing him a soft smile. "I enjoyed it. Did you?"

"Very much," he confirms with a quiet chuckle. "As if that wasn't obvious already."

Echoing his laughter, you fold your arms on top of his chest and lay on him. He gently rests his arm over your waist in response, meeting your gaze when you innocently blink up at him.

"I can't believe that was your first time," you mumble, Diluc's eyes widening a fraction at your words. "I couldn't tell at all…I mean, you have good instincts—picking me up and carrying me in here, making me wrap my legs around you, and then eating me out. Like…damn. Did you get that from watching porn, or?"

"We are not talking about this now," Diluc grumbles in return, giving you a little squeeze. You pout at him, scooting farther up his chest.

"Aw, c'mon. I'm just curious—"

Suddenly, Diluc's free hand grips the back of your head, and he pulls you into a kiss—staring you right in your eyes as he nips at your bottom lip.

"If you ask me about this, I'm going to start asking you about Kaeya," he says, completely serious. "Do you feel like answering those questions right now?"

You stare at him, jaw going slack.

"...no I do not."

"Then we're in agreement," he says, kissing you softer this time—just a cute little peck. "No questions at this time."

You sigh, settling back down against his chest. He naturally begins petting your hair.

For a short while, the two of you lay there in comfortable silence. Then, one last question pops into your mind.

"...did you have a good birthday?"

"Yes," Diluc confirms without any hesitation, his soul feeling at peace as he lays here with you.

"Best one I've had in a while."

Notes:

Honestly I was going to wait a bit before posting this chapter, but! I am going out of town tomorrow to visit my bestest friend so I will pretty much be on vacay until next week. So! I wanted to get this up before I left.

Hopefully this will hold you all over for a bit, since it will definitely take a bit longer for the next update 😌

Also, big thank you to everyone who has been leaving comments! I read every single one and they make me so giddy :') esp hearing some of y'all really are enjoying my characterization of the boys makes me happy.

Would love to see any comments about this chapter too 👀❤️ ily bye

Chapter 27: Graduation

Notes:

back with anotha one 😤

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

When Kaeya arrives at the apartment Sunday morning—he does his best to sneak inside without alerting either you or Diluc. He closes the front door as gently as possible as he enters, carefully listening for any indication of life.

It's early enough that perhaps you and Diluc are still in bed—having opted to sleep in.

He assumes the two of you are dating now, considering he had remained at the bar for at least an hour after Diluc had departed, and the red-head had never returned—but Kaeya can't be sure without hearing it from the both of you.

He just…doesn't really care if he hears it right now, that's all. Because the only reason he's back so early to begin with is the fact that he has papers to grade that need to have scores submitted into the school's system by tomorrow.

So, it's not avoidance. It's just…a temporary lack of interest. He's busy!

After a few seconds of listening to the sounds in the apartment, Kaeya at the very least determines that no one is in the kitchen making breakfast, which is a good sign. So, he makes a break for his room.

…only to make direct eye contact with you the second he sets foot in the main living area of the apartment. Because there you are, curled up in the chair that faces directly towards the front door—a bowl of cereal cradled in your lap.

Kaeya feels like a deer caught in the headlights.

You're just happy to see him.

"Welcome home," you tell him with a soft smile, taking another bite of your breakfast. "How's Childe?"

Kaeya opens his mouth to respond—intending to tell you that Childe is fine, as is he, and that the two of you can catch up later after he grades the stack of papers waiting in his room—but the words never make it out of him.

Because at that moment, the door to Diluc's room opens. Diluc steps outside wearing his workout clothes—his hair bunched up into a high ponytail. His eyes widen in surprise when he spots Kaeya standing there, but Kaeya's gaze immediately falls to Diluc's neck and the hickey that sits dark against his skin.

Then, without saying a word, Kaeya looks back at you—noticing for the first time that you're currently dressed in one of Diluc's t-shirts, and that you have a few matching hickies peppered across your neck as well.

"Holy shit," he says, connecting the dots. "You guys fucked already?"

Immediately, you and Diluc freeze. The two of you share a bashful look, heat rising on your faces—flustered at Kaeya's blunt summation.

Seriously, he's been in the apartment all but one minute and he can already tell?

A few seconds pass in awkward silence, neither you nor Diluc knowing what to say. You can't deny Kaeya's claim, obviously, but…somehow, confirming it seems equally as embarrassing.

Luckily, Kaeya breaks the silence—his laughter filling the room.

"Ahh…sorry, sorry," he says after a minute, wiping a stray tear from his lash line. "I just wasn't expecting that to happen so soon, but…congratulations, I suppose. On the sex and the relationship. I mean, I assume you're in one, considering. But anyway—"

He takes a step backwards, towards his room.

"I've got some things I need to get done, so I'll leave you kids to it."

Before either of you can think of anything to say, Kaeya turns his back—disappearing into his bedroom.

You and Diluc share a little look, mirroring each other's sigh.

Well…that could have gone better.

Later that day, you finally manage to talk to Kaeya again. Mostly because you bribe him out of his room with food.

You hadn't been scheduled to work this afternoon, but Sara had asked you to come in due to a call off, and with Diluc at Angel's Share working his own shift, and Kaeya busy grading papers, you had figured why not.

So, after a relatively short and unbusy shift, you arrive back home with a carryout container balanced in your hands.

Kaeya hadn't bothered responding to your texts despite having read your messages, which makes you a little…worried that there's more to him holing up in his room than just being busy. But! To your pleasant surprise, as soon as you walk into the apartment, you find him sitting at the kitchen table waiting for you.

"Took you long enough," he says with an annoyed sigh—one you can tell has no real annoyance behind it. "Any longer and I would have withered away."

You roll your eyes.

Stepping into the kitchen, you place the styrofoam carrier on the table in front of him—unable to keep yourself from smiling at the way Kaeya happily deflates at the smell of his beloved chicken skewers.

"You should be grateful for this gift," you tell him, taking a seat in the chair beside him.

"To you, or the person who didn't pick up their order?"

You narrow your eyes at him, and Kaeya finally cracks a smile.

"Fine. Thank you, princess, for this generous bounty."

"You're welcome," you nod, quietly laughing.

As Kaeya opens the carry-out container and begins to munch on the food, you rest your chin in your palm and fondly watch him.

You hadn't realized how much you'd missed him until the moment Kaeya had scuttled off to his room this morning without giving you much of a chance to talk. You'd been…looking forward to seeing him—to catching up about everything going on.

After all, for the last half a year, Kaeya has been the one trying to get you and Diluc together. So, it'd only make sense that the first person you'd want to talk to after officially beginning to date Diluc is him.

Speaking of…

"Thank you, by the way," you tell him, further elaborating when Kaeya glances up at you and cocks a curious eyebrow. "For going and talking to Diluc the other night, and also for comforting me. I'm not sure what all you said to him, but…it seems like you helped him work out some things. So I'm just…really grateful to you in general."

Kaeya's eye creases as he smiles at you.

"You're welcome. But Diluc better face up to his feelings on his own from now on, because I'm not doing that shit again…"

You can't help but laugh at that. Although, the sound catches after a moment as you feel Kaeya's fingers skim against the skin of your throat—his hand gently brushing your hair away. You blink in surprise, your eyes darting to him.

However, he's not looking at you, but rather your neck—where you know a few hickies lay. Your hand twitches as you debate raising it to cover them, but you know there's no point. Kaeya is already well aware, meaning it's useless to hide.

It's quiet for a moment, and you wait for Kaeya to open his mouth and tease you. To make some sort of playful remark about your and Diluc's activities, or to ask you about all the dirty details.

But instead, all you get is a quiet—

"Are you happy?"

The question catches you off guard, along with the tenderness of Kaeya's voice.

"I…," you stare at him, noticing the calm look in his azure eyes—his thumb softly tracing over one of the bruises on your neck.

"Yes, I'm…very happy."

Being with Diluc just feels… right . Like you've finally managed to match two pieces in a puzzle.

Kaeya cracks a small smile, taking a breath.

"Good. If you're happy, then I'm happy."

He retracts his hand, intending to settle back in his chair and resume eating…only to have you catch him before he can get too far.

You're not sure why your heart is suddenly racing—why you feel… worried by his response. After all, this is Kaeya! Playful, rarely serious, and never one to be overly emotionally invested in anything…but. You can't help but feel like if you let him go now…

"...do you promise? That you're happy?"

Kaeya's eyes widen minisculely at your words, and he hesitates only for a second before squeezing your hand with his own.

"Of course. I promise."

You nod at him, mirroring the reassuring smile he flashes you.

In the end, there's nothing you can do but trust him.

Besides, your anxiousness is probably only due to finals being right around the corner, nothing else. Because there's no reason for Kaeya to be upset anyway.

…right?

Regardless, you soon have no more time to worry about Kaeya. Or Diluc, even. Only yourself, and not failing your final exams. (Not that you're overly worried, but still. You need to study.)

Luckily, the boys—who are under even more pressure with their graduation hinging on this last round of tests—are in the same boat. Meaning, no one has time to think too hard about anything else. (You and Diluc even make a point of sitting down and coming to an understanding that until finals are over with, you won't have much time to devote to each other.)

However, despite all of you being equally busy, it's still common that the three of you end up in the kitchen together at breakfast time—needing fuel to start off your day.

Wandering out of his room, Kaeya yawns and steps into the kitchen, stopping beside you at the stove. Sitting at the kitchen table nursing his coffee, Diluc quietly watches the two of you.

"I'll put on an egg for you," you tell him without batting an eye, reaching into the nearby carton to grab a third egg—cracking it into the pan with the other two, which have just begun to cook.

"You're a saint," Kaeya grumbles, one of his hands reaching into the cupboard above him for a coffee mug. His other arm instinctively moves behind your back, his hand just centimeters from hugging your waist, when suddenly, he freezes.

Diluc frowns against the rim of his mug as he watches Kaeya silently retract his arm, before moving over to the coffee pot.

By the time he has poured himself a mug-full, you're flipping the eggs and grabbing a piece of toast and a plate.

"I want to study a little more before my 9:30," you say, flicking the burner off. With a plate of food in hand, you turn and quickly walk over to Diluc, leaning down to kiss him. He reciprocates the kiss, smiling at you as you pull back and scuttle off into your room for some last minute study time.

Once you're gone, your door clicking shut, Diluc's eyes once again shift to Kaeya, who is still standing in front of the coffee pot, his back to the room.

Sighing, Diluc pushes to his feet and makes his way over to the stove. He grabs two plates, and divvies out the remaining portions of food, setting one on the counter in front of Kaeya.

"You know you can still touch her."

"Hm?"

Kaeya's eyes, which had been staring into his mug of coffee, finally turn to look at Diluc. However, Diluc doesn't repeat his statement, only holds Kaeya's gaze until the taller male breaks eye contact and says—

"I thought maybe it'd upset you."

Diluc frowns, setting his own plate down on the counter beside Kaeya's.

"Why would I be upset about my girlfriend's roommate—someone she's lived with for months, and is, not to mention, one of her closest friends—touching her?"

Neither of them fail to notice the silent implication in Diluc's words. Which is: It never stopped Kaeya before. So if he's suddenly acting weird about it now, does that mean Kaeya's feelings for you are not purely platonic anymore?

Kaeya breathes a laugh.

"Oh, Diluc. You two are dating now. Some men don't like others touching what's there's."

"She's not my property," Diluc quickly returns. He picks up his toast, taking a small bite.

"I was only trying to be considerate," Kaeya responds, setting his mug down, the coffee tasting strangely bitter. Diluc hums.

"Then consider this as me quelling your worries."

"Sounds like you want me to touch her," Kaeya shoots back, mumbling around his own piece of toast. Diluc huffs, narrowing his eyes.

"You know that's not what I'm getting at here."

Kaeya rolls his eyes.

Picking up his plate and his mug, he brushes past Diluc and heads for his bedroom.

"Think what you want, Luc. But it's really not that deep."

A few seconds later, Diluc hears the definitive click of Kaeya's door closing.

Now alone, Diluc sighs.

The speck of worry that had silently nestled inside of him begins to expand.

Half way through the week, as you're once again tucked into your bedroom—reviewing a quizlet on your phone that a classmate had created and shared—your phone suddenly goes dark, a call popping up on the screen.

Seeing the caller ID as "Adelinde" makes your eyes widen, and you quickly sit up from where you've been sprawled out on your bed.

Accepting the call, you hold your phone to your ear and tentatively say—

"...hello?"

"Y/N? "

"Yes?"

You hear an exasperated sigh.

"Finally, someone picks up! I tried calling both Diluc and Kaeya first, and neither of those boys accepted my call! "

You can't help but laugh.

"I think they're both in their rooms studying. Their phones might be on silent."

"Still," she grumbles, and then after a moment perks up.

"You said they're home right now? Do you think you could gather them?"

You glance at your phone, curious about her request, but nonetheless respond—

"Sure."

Jumping out of bed, you exit your room and head across the hall to Kaeya's. He glances up when you knock on his ajar door, and then step inside.

"Come with me," you say, motioning your head backwards. However, Kaeya only raises an eyebrow at you, and doesn't move. Sighing, you trudge up to his desk, grab his wrist, and tug him from his chair.

"Hey—," he says in protest as you drag him across the apartment and into Diluc's room—the redhead immediately looking up as the two of you enter.

"What's going on?" he asks in confusion. Holding your phone in front of you, you press a button on the screen.

"You're on speaker."

Diluc and Kaeya frown, still unsure of what the hell you've gathered them for, but freeze when they hear the voice of their childhood maid.

"First, I'd like to say to both of you that when I call, you should pick up. After all, I rarely bother either of you, and you young people are always on your phones to begin with! But anyway…the purpose of my call is to get the date and time of your graduation ceremony."

Diluc and Kaeya glance at each other, an equally guilty look on their faces. Diluc clears his throat, speaking up first.

"We apologize for missing your calls. As for graduation…there's really no need for you to trouble yourself with coming all the way out here."

Adelinde scoffs, and Kaeya turns his head to the side, hiding a little smile.

"Don't talk nonsense. You're both graduating from college. Of course I'm coming."

"Adelinde—," Kaeya starts, his tone indicating that he's on the same page as Diluc, but Adelinde stops him in his tracks.

"Ah—! I'm coming and that's final. One of you text or email me the details. Sooner rather than later, so I can make sure to book a flight in time."

Diluc and Kaeya sigh, echoing—

"Yes ma'am."

"Good boys," she responds. "And Y/N?"

You blink at the sound of your name, glancing down at the phone in your hand.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for taking my call. You're my new favorite. I'll see you all soon."

With that, Adelinde ends the call. You can help but laugh at the baffled look on Diluc's face.

"I'm her favorite~," you tease. A grin cracks through Diluc's disbelief, and Kaeya rolls his eyes. You barely catch a glimpse of the smile that has taken over Kaeya's lips before he brushes past you and exits Diluc's room without a word.

You and Diluc glance at each other, and after a beat, he silently steps up beside you and kisses you head, neither of you saying a word.

Thankfully, all three of you pass your final exams without issue. As expected.

Meaning, Diluc and Kaeya really are graduating—the day of the ceremony coming upon you faster than expected.

"Okay," you say, focused as you step out of the backseat of Diluc's car, a bundle of robes and the like tucked in your arms. Diluc and Kaeya exit the vehicle as well, meeting you at the rear as you begin to sort everything out.

"This is yours," you say, handing Kaeya his robe first, along with a cap. "And this one is yours," you continue, handing Diluc a similar pair.

"Let's not forget the tassels."

The boys take one each from your hand, neatly securing it atop their caps.

"And then these two are for you—," you hand Kaeya two cords. One for honors and the other to represent his major.

"—and these are for you."

You also hand Diluc an honors cord, and a different colored one for his own major.

With everything sorted, the boys quickly dress themselves—officially looking the part. You smile at them, reaching forward and tugging Diluc's pony tail out of the collar of his gown. You go to do the same for Kaeya, but he quickly fixes it himself.

You try not to overthink it.

"Okay, nothing is missing. You two look good. I'll see you after?"

Diluc nods his head, and leans forward to kiss you. Kaeya walks ahead.

"Let's meet on the east side of the building once commencement is done," Diluc tells you. "There was a big tree there that I noticed when we pulled in."

"Big tree. East side. Got it."

Smiling at you, Diluc gives you one last peck before jogging to catch up with Kaeya.

With the boys headed to the entry for graduates, you find your own way into the building—double checking your phone as you go.

Adelinde had arrived early, and had already texted you the number of the section she'd seated herself in…

"Hey!"

You jump as a hand is suddenly placed on your shoulder, and you turn to find Childe standing beside you.

"Hi!" you say in shock, not having expected to see him here.

"I came to support Kaeya," he explains, following along with you as you continue navigating the corridor. "Mind if I sit with you?"

"That's no issue with me, let's just hope there's an extra seat next to mine."

Childe blinks.

"Is someone saving you a seat?"

"Adelinde—their childhood maid—came to watch them walk the stage. She's kind of like their mom," you explain. Childe makes an understanding sound and then loosely wraps an arm around you, helping you push through the crowd.

After a short while, the two of you find the section Adelinde is in and rush down to meet her before anyone else can take the seats at her side.

"Who's this?" she asks, seeing Childe come up behind you. Dutifully, you introduce the carrot-top to her, and she smiles at the mention of him being Kaeya's friend, and the fact that he'd gone out of his way to come and support Kaeya.

Not too much longer after that, with the stands filled, the ceremony commences. Per tradition, pomp and circumstance begins to play over the speakers, and the graduates file in—the entire arena clapping to welcome them. (By the time the last graduate enters, your hands are honestly sore from clapping…)

And then begins the arduous process of calling everyone up one by one…

Although, with Kaeya's last name starting with "A", it doesn't take all too long for his time to arrive.

As Kaeya steps up to the stage, preparing for his turn, Adelinde hurriedly gets out her phone to record the moment. You can't help but giggle at the sight.

"Kaeya Alberich - Bachelors in Marketing."

Immediately, Childe starts hollering, and you end up joining him—cheering Kaeya on as he walks across the stage and shakes hands with the Dean, officially receiving his degree. His smile remains pleasant until he finally spots you and Childe. Then, he shakes his head, his smile growing more genuine as his shoulders shake with quiet laughter.

Of course, once Kaeya is back in his seat, you once again play the waiting game.

…seriously, you've never thought twice about Diluc's last name until now. Why the hell does it have to start with an "R".

But, eventually, his time comes.

"Diluc Ragnvindr - Bachelors in Business Management."

"Woo!" you cheer, clapping for him as he walks across the stage. Like Kaeya, he politely shakes hands with the Dean before searching for you in the crowd—smiling widely when he spots you. He waves at both you and Adelinde as he returns to his seat.

"Diluc picked a spot to meet after," you tell Adelinde, leaning over to whisper in her ear. "I'll take you there once it's done."

Adelinde nods, and together, you wait out the remaining letters in the alphabet—standing from your seat as soon as the Dean announces that they've finished, and once again congratulates all the graduates.

Caps are thrown into the air soon after, and you follow the rest of the crowd as everyone filters outside to find their respective graduates.

Thanks to Diluc picking a meeting spot in advance, it's luckily not too hard to locate him and Kaeya.

"Congratulations!" you grin, running up to them. You throw your arms around both their necks, hugging them tightly. Surprised, they both instinctively wrap their arms around you—steadying you.

"Thank you, sunshine," Diluc quietly responds, giving you a squeeze. Kaeya simply allows his hand to linger on your waist for a moment before he untangles himself, and takes a step back.

…only to immediately be hugged by Adelinde.

"Congrats, you two!" she says, a happy smile on her face. "Crepus would be so proud of you both."

She cups Kaeya's cheek, and he's helpless but to return her smile.

"Thank you, Addie," he says quietly, his gaze following her as she then steps over to Diluc and hugs him as well.

"Last but not least, my turn!"

Kaeya grunts as Childe suddenly jumps on him. However, Childe only laughs.

"Congrats, buddy!"

"Sheesh," Kaeya responds, punching Childe in the side. "You didn't need to come."

"I wanted to!" Childe argues, stepping back and rubbing at the spot Kaeya had just brutally assaulted. "After all, you've kind of been in a mood lately, so—"

Narrowing his eyes, Kaeya wacks Childe again. The ginger makes another pained noise, glaring back at Kaeya. However, neither of them get the chance to say anything more, because Adelinde starts insisting on photos—positioning Diluc in front of the nearby tree so she can take some pictures of him alone.

Then, she repeats the process with Kaeya, before finally shoving Diluc and Kaeya together to get some joint photos of them both.

The two boys glance at each other for a few long seconds before they both chuckle—finding it a little ironic that after everything they're still standing here, graduating together—and they wrap their arms around each other's shoulders, smiling for the camera.

Your heart squeezes at the sight, realizing how far they've come.

"Now, Y/N, you get in there too!"

You blink in surprise as Adelinde grabs you by your wrist and drags you towards the boys. She positions you in the middle of them, and you instinctively reach for both of their hands—hoping to hold them.

However, Kaeya suddenly steps away.

"You know, you might wanna get some of Diluc and Y/N alone," he says. "They're dating now, after all. Didn't they tell you?"

You're not sure if it's intentional, but his words end up stinging.

"They did not tell me—," Adelinde begins to say, a myriad of emotions on her face as she looks between the three of you. But her words catch as she watches you and Diluc immediately reach out and stop Kaeya from going anywhere—you grabbing one of his hands, and Diluc grabbing him by the shoulder.

Kaeya blinks in surprise as he suddenly finds himself being squished between the two of you, preventing his escape.

Adelinde smiles at the sight.

"Say cheese!"

She snaps two quick pictures. In both, you're hugging Kaeya around his middle, while Diluc has his arm wrapped around Kaeya's shoulder. The only difference between the two photos is Kaeya's face—the first one capturing his shock, and the second capturing a more bashful look—Kaeya's head slightly turned to the side, and the tiniest of blushes on his face.

Finally, Adelinde is satisfied that she has captured enough of the day.

"Well, now that the pictures are out of the way, I'd like to invite you out to dinner," Adelinde says, smiling at the group. "I have something I'd like to talk to you all about. A surprise, if you will."

You and Diluc open your mouths—intending to thank her or to say she doesn't need to treat you all—but Kaeya speaks up first.

"Actually," he says, swinging an arm around Childe and forcefully bringing him into the conversation. "Childe offered to take me out to celebrate, and I already accepted."

Childe's eyes go wide. He wants to say that it's fine if Kaeya goes with the rest of you instead, but he shuts up when Kaeya squeezes him.

Diluc narrows his eyes. Adelinde manages a pleasant smile.

"That's fine. I know I'm inviting you last minute, so I understand if you've already made plans. I'll just tell you my surprise now then."

She excitedly clasps her hands together.

"As a graduation present, I went ahead and cashed in at one of your father's timeshare properties on Aruba. Basically, I'm gifting you a well earned vacation! Your flights are already booked, and everything has been arranged. For all three of you, of course."

You gape in surprise, hearing that you're included. Adelinde…paid for your plane ticket and everything?

She giggles at the look on your face, reaching forward to grab your hands.

"The three of you have grown so close, you're practically a package deal. Besides, there's no way I could send those boys on a week-long vacation by themselves."

"I'm…not sure what to say," you admit, excitement making your heart beat faster. "Thank you, Adelinde."

"It's nothing," she responds, and then quietly adds in. "I owe you a lot, anyway."

"Thank you," Diluc echos, smiling at her. "It's an unexpected surprise, but I definitely can't say I dislike it."

Adelinde nods.

"Good! I'll send you the flight itinerary and resort details soon. I may have been a bit overzealous, considering I booked everything only a few weeks from now...but I hope you can all make it work."

Ah, right…you'll need to talk to work about getting that time off. Although, the campus population should be thinning out soon now that classes are done. Meaning business will be slower.

"I think all three of us will have more flexibility in our schedules now that the semester is over," Diluc reassures her, and Adelinde sighs in relief at his words.

Off to the side, Childe nudges Kaeya.

"Go thank her," he quietly hisses in Kaeya's ear. (Because regardless of if Kaeya is in a funk right now, there's one thing Childe doesn't fuck with—and that's not showering proper respect to ones parents.)

"Thank you, Adelinde," Kaeya says, stepping up beside her. He leans down to kiss her cheek, managing a small smile.

"I'm going to head out now. But thank you for coming. It was nice to see you."

"You're welcome, Kaeya," she responds, holding his face in her hands once more. After a second, she nods, satisfied, and lets him go.

Soon after, Kaeya and Childe disappear into the crowd, leaving Adelinde with you and Diluc.

"So," she says, interlocking her arms with both of yours. Her eyes twinkle.

"What's this about you two dating?"

In the end, you and Diluc confirm your relationship to Adelinde over dinner—the maid happily giving both of you her blessing.

Conversation flows easily over food, and when Diluc asks her about her lodgings while she's in town, Adelinde admits she's actually flying back tonight.

"There are things that need to be done at the winery," she says. "Spring is upon us. Work is getting busy again."

"You deserve a vacation too," Diluc tells her. "Now that I'm done with school, we'll work out a time for it."

Of course, Adelinde insists she's fine, but Diluc won't have it. You end up laughing as you watch the two of them bicker back and forth.

Once dinner has wrapped up, Diluc says that he'll drive Adelinde to the airport. However, just as you're getting on the road, he gets a call.

It's the bar, saying that drunk graduates are piling in more than expected, and Diona is struggling to handle everything alone.

Diluc sighs.

"Give me your car," you tell him. "Drop yourself off at work and then I'll take Adelinde to the airport."

"You don't mind?"

"Of course not," you reassure him, Adelinde smiling from the back seat as the two of you reach over the console and hold hands.

A short while later, Diluc pulls into the parking lot of Angel's Share, and all of you get out. Diluc gives Adelinde a hug, thanking her once again for everything as you move yourself into the driver's seat.

Diluc stays in the lot long enough to wave at the two of you as you pull away. Then, he makes his way inside, sighing at the sheer volume of the crowd.

It's barely even 8pm…

Deciding he needs to use the bathroom before going to find Diona, Diluc makes his way across the floor and into the men's restroom—occupying one of the open stalls.

He's just finishing his business when the door to the bathroom opens, and a familiar voice reaches his ears.

"So," Childe says, walking past the stall. Diluc notices there's someone with him, and when he leans down to look beyond the bottom of the door, he spots Kaeya's shoes.

"What's the plan for next year?"

The two men step up to the urinals, and Diluc hears Kaeya hum.

"Well, Diluc has already decided to stay in the apartment with Y/N until she graduates next year. So, I guess I'll probably move out and figure out a job."

Childe raises an eyebrow at him.

"You don't have to move out though…right?"

"No, I don't have to."

Childe frowns.

"Then why would you want to move out?"

"I don't want to, but they're dating now. It's just courtesy."

"So what if they're dating? Aside from me, Y/N and Diluc are probably your closest friends, even if you won't admit it. Does them dating really affect things that much?"

Kaeya sighs, pulling his zipper up.

"Actually, I don't want to think about my future plans yet. I just graduated today, after all."

"Fine then—," Childe says, swinging an arm around his shoulder. Kaeya immediately makes a face and shoves Childe away, telling him to wash his hands first.

"—let's get back out there and I'll find someone hot for you to hookup with! A little graduation sex couldn't hurt your mood."

At that, Kaeya laughs. He turns on the sink tap, reaching for the nearby soap dispenser.

"I don't disagree, but I'm not feeling it."

Childe huffs.

"Dude, you've been turning down everyone who has approached you at the bar for the last month."

Kaeya shrugs.

"Haven't been in the mood."

"So…ever since you can no longer hook up with Y/N because she and Diluc are an item, you haven't been in the mood."

Childe grips the edge of the sink, looking at Kaeya with furrowed brows.

"Were you—or, are you—in love with her?"

For a moment, the bathroom is so silent that you could hear a pin drop.

Then, Kaeya laughs.

"What? My low sex drive and lack of hookups means I'm in love?"

"Uh, maybe, yeah" Childe responds seriously, his eyes tracking Kaeya as the blue-haired male walks over to the paper towel dispenser.

"I mean, you said you and Y/N were only friends with benefits, so it shouldn't be a big deal that the benefits are gone now, but…I don't know, man. Like I said, you've been a little different lately…"

"Have you considered the fact that for the last few weeks I've been dealing with finals and trying to secure my graduation? That might explain it."

Childe rolls his eyes, and decides not to push it. He wants to be a friend Kaeya can come to right now, considering Kaeya seems to be distancing himself from you and Diluc as of late…

So, instead, Childe nudges Kaeya and with a grin, says—

"That's probably it, you're right. But uh…in case you didn't know, polyamory is a thing nowadays. So if you wanted to bring that up—ow! "

Once again, Kaeya elbows Childe in the stomach.

"I'm gonna go out there and buy the entire tavern a round on your tab if you don't shut up, pretty boy."

Childe laughs.

"Fine, fine~. I'll cut it out. Now, let's go get some drinks."

"Finally," Kaeya sighs, mirroring Childe's grin.

Swinging an arm over each other's shoulder, the two men exit the bathroom—Childe yelling their drink orders to the bar staff as they go.

Still standing within the bathroom stall, Diluc zones out for a minute—lost in his thoughts. Then, he finally snaps out of it, takes out his phone, and writes himself a note for later.

A newfound determination in his chest, he finally exits the bathroom and decides to get to work.

Notes:

There's only one emotionally intelligent braincell and Diluc and Kaeya have to pass it between each other.

I adore them SAHLDJAKSD

Chapter 28: Avoidance

Notes:

Anyway fontaine has the best archon quest to date

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

When Diluc finally gets home from the bar later that night, he notices two things right away.

One, is that Kaeya isn't home yet.

He'd left the bar a while ago—Diluc having seen him and Childe stumble out the front doors, their faces flushed. But perhaps they'd decided to go somewhere else. He wouldn't doubt it.

Two, is that despite the clock ticking past 2AM, you're still awake.

"Hey," Diluc says in surprise when he spots you at the kitchen table, poking at your dinner leftovers. Your cheek is resting in your palm, your eyes tired as you nudge one of the fries in your carry out box that have now gone soggy.

"You're still awake. Everything okay?"

His question is what does you in.

All the little worries on your mind that have accumulated over the past few weeks—having snowballed into one big lump of anxiety you've desperately been trying to ignore—finally slip through your mental defenses.

Hanging your head, you press your hands into your eyes and take a shaky breath—one that Diluc immediately notices and has him rushing to your side.

"Sunshine, what's wrong?"

His voice is tender as he kneels on the kitchen floor beside you, one of his hands instinctively moving to rub at your knee.

"I'm scared…," is the feeble response you manage to give. Diluc frowns, watches as you wipe away the tears in your eyes before they can spill out.

"Scared of what?"

"That I'm losing him."

You laugh at the words as soon as they come out of your mouth, feeling a little stupid.

Diluc doesn't need a name to know who you're talking about.

"Will you elaborate?" he asks softly, his hand still soothing against your leg and helping you to calm down.

You take a deep breath.

"I…I just feel like. Kaeya is pulling away. And I don't understand why. I miss him, y'know?"

Your throat gets tight with emotion, your voice warbling, but you somehow manage not to cry.

Kaeya's your friend. You go to him for advice, to hang out, and be bratty towards each other. But lately—despite how many times you've tried to assure yourself it's just because of finals or whatever else—he's been avoidant. And you'd been hoping that now that the semester is over, everything would go back to normal. But Kaeya's actions before and after the ceremony today had proven otherwise.

"I can't help feeling like I did something to make him hate me…"

Ugh, and here come the tears…

"Y/N, it's not you, I promise," Diluc reassures you. He cups your face, wiping your tears away.

You pout, watery gaze darting off to the side. You want to argue that maybe it is, but honestly, you can't think of anything you've done wrong. Which makes it even more frustrating, since you have no idea how to fix whatever is going on.

"I think we need to—," Diluc starts to say, but at that moment both of your phones quietly buzz. You glance at each other before Diluc sits back and reaches into his pocket. Fishing out his phone, he opens the text notification showing on screen

…and then, he sighs. Long and heavy.

"What?" You ask, prompting Diluc to show you the message that has just arrived in the roommates group chat.

Immediately, a distressed sound catches in your throat, and you stand from your chair—preparing to go to your bed and cry. Diluc quickly catches you around the waist before you can get too far—hugging you from behind.

"He's drunk right now," he softly reminds you, resting his cheek on your head. "Him spending the night at Childe's is probably a good thing."

You can't bring yourself to respond. You know Diluc is right, and that in normal circumstances it would just be Kaeya being responsible by sleeping at a friend's house when inebriated, but…nowadays, it just feels like evasion.

For a good minute, the two of you simply stand there like that–your hands lifting to rest atop Diluc's. You gently rub the tops of his hands, the pattern of your breathing becoming calmer.

Diluc glances up at the ceiling, wondering if now's a good time to bring up what he's been thinking about since earlier in the evening. Normally he wouldn't even think of talking about anything serious right now, considering the state you're in, and how late it is, but…since you're already on the topic of Kaeya and his recent actions, maybe now is as good a time as any.

"C'mon," Diluc says. Grabbing your hand, he tugs you into his bedroom and to the edge of his bed–leaving you to watch him as he climbs atop the mattress and settles his back against the headboard. Then, he pats the space between his spread legs, beckoning you to join him.

You can't help but smile a little at the gesture as you tiredly crawl across the covers—settling your back against his chest.

He immediately wraps his arms around you once more, silently watching you as you get comfortable.

Then, he finally speaks again.

"When you and Kaeya were hooking up, did you ever have feelings for him?"

You blink at his question, but his tone isn't at all angry or accusatory, just…curious.

"I mean…it's hard not to feel things in the moment, but once it was done, I never let my mind go there," you tell him honestly. "Kaeya made it very clear in the beginning that no romantic feelings or otherwise would be involved."

Diluc hums in acknowledgement, finding it a little ironic that despite Kaeya being the one to have set boundaries, he's now the one acting like this.

"Will you humor me for a minute?"

You're not sure what exactly Diluc is getting at, but nonetheless you nod your head.

"Sure."

"Okay, close your eyes."

You do so, and Diluc takes a deep breath, trying to remember how Kaeya had done this to him before…

"Just…bear with me here, okay? Try and imagine the next year, and into the future. You finish up your last year of school, and you graduate. You figure out a new job, and you find a new spot to settle down…who is it that's there with you?"

"Well, you, of course," you mumble, causing Diluc to smile. He gives you a little squeeze.

"Anyone else?"

"...well, you and I are dating. It'd be kind of weird if Kaeya lived with us, right?"

Diluc hums.

"Okay then. So you graduate, and the two of us move away, and Kaeya decides to go wherever he goes, but knowing him, at this point, that will probably be somewhere far away—at a distance where we'll only get to see him a few times a year."

There's a frown on your face before Diluc even finishes talking.

"I don't want that," you quietly admit.

You've gotten so used to living with both of them. Suddenly imagining Kaeya drifting away and not being able to see him regularly makes your heart hurt.

"Okay, then let's say he stays within driving distance. How do you see his living space?"

"A bachelor pad," you say, laughing at yourself when you realize how quickly the words had come out of your mouth. Apparently you can't picture him living any other way.

"He'd get a place for himself, and it'd be like a stereotypical bachelor pad."

Diluc smiles at the imagery, agreeing with you, but—

"What if we visit him one day, and the decor has changed? It's more homely, and then suddenly, a woman is walking out of Kae's bedroom, and he's introducing her as his girlfriend. How do you feel about that?"

Again, you find yourself frowning. It's not like you don't want Kaeya to be happy with someone, it's just…you've never really imagined it, considering his attitude around relationships.

"Let's say he's changed and decided to settle down," Diluc elaborates as if reading your mind.

"Then…I'd support him," you say.

If Kaeya finds someone like that—a person he'd be willing to share his space, and thoughts, and life with—that's great…

However, even Diluc can sense that your words aren't bursting with excitement at the idea.

"Tell me what's on your mind," he says softly, the warmth of his body surrounding you.

"I don't know…," you admit, resting your hands atop his. "I guess…I've never thought that far. The way I've been living with you and Kaeya this year—despite all the ups and downs—has become the norm in my head, and I've never really considered the fact that one day things might be different. That maybe one day it will just be me and you, and Kaeya with his own person."

"Hmm…do you not want him to be in a relationship?"

You scoff.

"It's not that. I can't even imagine him in one."

"Even with you?"

You pout at his words, your brows furrowing.

"Didn't we just talk about how Kaeya made it very clear when we started hooking up that he wasn't interested in romance?"

Diluc shrugs. Feeling the gesture, you finally open your eyes, and turn so you can look at him.

"What exactly are you trying to get at here, Luc?"

Diluc sighs.

"I think that Kaeya has feelings for you. Feelings that aren't platonic. That's why he's been acting this way ever since you and I got together."

Your eyes go wide—your jaw going slack.

"That…doesn't make sense," you tell him. "Kaeya literally went to talk to you when I was upset. He's the one that helped you sort out your feelings. If he liked me, why would he do that? It'd be like self sabotage."

Diluc breathes a laugh.

"If people were smart about their feelings, I would have confessed to you a long time ago. The same can be said for Kaeya. We've both experienced things in our lives that have made us the way we are. Kaeya likes to act that he's perfectly fine—that no matter the situation, he's suave enough that it will just roll off his shoulders, but that's not always the case.

"I struggled with identifying what it is that I was feeling in general due to repressed emotions, but Kaeya…he knows what he's feeling and chooses to disregard it. So, if somewhere along the way Kaeya realized that he has feelings for you, he probably wouldn't act on those feelings. Because as far as I can tell, he cherishes his relationship with you, so he wouldn't want to risk damaging that relationship by admitting he likes you. And I'm also sure Kaeya realized a while ago that I have feelings for you, so taking that into consideration, that's another reason he'd bury his own feelings on the matter."

Diluc sighs, a sad look on his face.

"If I had to guess, in his point of view, he did the right thing. He comforted you, supported us, and inevitably helped get us together. But in doing so, he disregarded his own wants—which is likely why he's been brisk, and avoidant."

Actually…now that Diluc really thinks about it, Kaeya's always been like this.

Since the time they first became friends, he's always been bad about expressing his own wants and needs.

Diluc can distinctly recall that during one of their first playdates, his father had taken them out for lunch and shopping. And while Kaeya had no issue ordering food with Crepus' permission, when Diluc had found a toy he wanted and insisted Kaeya get one too—despite Crepus' once again reassuring Kaeya that it was fine—Kaeya had refused to let him buy it.

"It's not something I need," he'd explained.

A toy was something only necessary to promote emotional health, not physical. And Kaeya had been raised in a way which only ever met physical needs—nothing more. So naturally, the dessert he'd been eyeing on the lunch menu, the toy at the store that made his eyes sparkle—those things weren't required for him to function, and therefore, were unneeded.

However…when Crepus secretly purchased the toy and gave it to Kaeya later as a surprise, well. Diluc will never forget the way Kaeya's face had lit up with joy.

He really has always been this way, Diluc thinks regretfully, his arms unconsciously squeezing you.

Always doing things for the benefit of others…always acting like his own wants are something selfish that should be written off.

Honestly—and not that Diluc can fully put the blame on Kaeya—but if back in their high school days Kaeya had been honest with Diluc and admitted he was upset—that he missed Diluc and wanted to see him more—Diluc thinks he would have made the time. Would have dropped a few things to be the friend Kaeya needed.

…which brings him back to.

Despite his support of your and Diluc's relationship, over time, Kaeya has probably fallen in love with you. And now, despite taking what he considered to be the rational, best course of action—he's acting like…an upset child who didn't get the toy they wanted despite being presented with the opportunity to have it.

So now what?

"What am I…what are we supposed to do?" you whisper, at a loss.

The thought of losing Kaeya is heartbreaking. But not being with Diluc is equally as upsetting. After all, you've spent too long daydreaming about this—this comfortable, blossoming relationship you have with Diluc. But you don't want to lose your other best friend because of it.

"Shh," Diluc coos. He presses a kiss to your cheek, gently rocking his body side to side to try and keep you from falling apart.

Because while you're starting to panic again, Diluc seems…remarkably calm.

"Earlier…I heard someone talk about polyamorous relationships, and it got me thinking."

You jolt a little at his words, your eyes going wide, but when you don't immediately comment, Diluc continues.

"Obviously, if you don't have feelings for Kaeya, or aren't interested in trying a relationship like that, then there's nothing more to say. Kaeya will simply have to man up and get over it, but…I'd be willing to try."

You blink, your gaze moving to look at his face.

"You're serious? You'd want to try a poly relationship? And not just because you feel bad for Kaeya?"

"I mean…of course I feel bad for him, but I'm not suggesting it out of pity."

Diluc sighs, blowing his hair away from his face.

"I…grew up as an only child, and was always a little spoiled. Sharing my toys, my food, and the like was always hard for me…until Kaeya. He's the only person I've never had an issue sharing with. And while I adore dating you and knowing that you're mine…somehow, thinking of him being with you too doesn't upset me as I might expect."

He shakes his head at himself, a tiny smile tugging at his lips.

"He's an idiot, but I'd like to give him a chance to indulge in what he wants. I mean—as long as you want that too!" Diluc quickly adds in, his face heating up.

He's getting ahead of himself here. You literally said earlier you've never even had romantic thoughts about Kaeya, considering he made it clear the sexual relationship you had should never cross that line, but…

The more you consider it—the more you open yourself up to the idea and imagine what could have been between you and Kaeya during that time—the more you realize how easily you could have fallen in love with him.

After all, he'd been so sweet and understanding towards you. When you were upset, he'd put his teasing words to the side and had been there to comfort you. When you admitted your general inexperience with sex, he'd moved at a pace you were comfortable with, and had checked in with you every step along the way.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

If you erase the section of your memory—the moment Kaeya had dictated your relationship would be nothing more than friends with benefits, with no romantic feelings involved—you think things could have turned out much differently.

Your heart starts to flutter at the possibility of Kaeya being more to you than just a friend.

"You know…," you say quietly, getting to your knees and fully turning so you're face to face with Diluc. Your cheeks are flushed, nervousness and excitement mingling in your stomach.

"...I really think I'd like to try."

You have no idea if Kaeya would even be interested in such a thing, but suddenly—now that the idea is in your head—it's stuck.

Deep down, you think a small part of you has always wanted them both. At least in some capacity (considering when you think about the future, you always see both of them there with you).

"Yeah?" Diluc asks, a small smile tugging at his lips. His hands find your waist, holding you steady.

"Yeah," you reaffirm, mirroring his smile. You rest your hands on his chest, and for the first time in weeks, the anxiety that's nestled inside of both of you abates—replaced with a sort of nervous hope. A silent prayer that everything will be alright, and all three of you will be able to be happy.

…of course, first you'll have to find an opportunity to talk to Kaeya, considering he's still scooting around the two of you. And you'll also need to think of the best way to open the conversation and present the idea to him…

After all, this kind of thing isn't something you just bring up out of the blue, right? You've never had to think about it before now…

"Well…there's not much we can do about it tonight," Diluc says, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

3:19AM

The two of you should really try and get some sleep…

"You're right," you admit with a sigh. Although, honestly, you'd love it if you could just rip the bandaid off and get everything settled right away, but…that's not exactly realistic.

"Do you mind spending the night with me?"

Diluc's question is soft, his fingers entwining with yours atop his chest.

It's been a while since you've shared the same bed. During finals, the two of you had opted to sleep in your own rooms where you felt the most comfortable—to make sure you were both getting the best sleep possible in anticipation of important tests. (After all, sharing a bed with someone is still something both of you are getting used to). But now school things are finally wrapped up…

"Not at all," you respond with a smile. The two of you share a brief kiss before alighting the bed—needing to change into pajamas, and take care of other personal hygiene things before properly settling in.

However, after a short while, you soon find yourself in Diluc's bed once again—this time snug under the covers, with Diluc's arm firmly looped around your waist.

"I think we should go out to breakfast tomorrow," he mumbles into your hair, his eyes fluttering shut. "I feel like steak and eggs."

You quietly laugh, the excitement and stress of the day finally fading away and allowing drowsiness to set in.

"You and your love of red meat…but, honestly I could go for some french toast, so why not."

"Good," Diluc says with a smile. He presses his lips to the top of your head, his breath slowing.

"Good night, sunshine."

"Good night, Luc," you respond, and drift off into dreams of breakfast food, polycules, and tropical beaches.

The next morning, as you'd planned, you and Diluc decide to go out to breakfast.

Although, it's more like brunch, considering the two of you don't end up rolling out of bed until nearly 10.

Nonetheless, with your tummies rumbling, you're quick to get dressed and head out the door.

Over breakfast, you talk a little more about your conversation from the night before, now that your energy has been replenished, and you're a little more sound of mind. But your opinions remain unchanged—you'd like to talk to Kaeya soon, and see where he stands, and what he'd be interested in going forward.

…the only problem is, Kaeya is reluctant to give you that chance.

When you and Diluc return to the apartment complex after eating, you find Childe in the parking lot, leaning against the hood of his car.

He meets your eyes, presses his lips into a thin line, and then sighs.

The trunk of his car is open, like he's waiting for someone to throw their luggage in.

You and Diluc share a look, and then hurry upstairs.

"Hey," Kaeya greets you when the two of you cross the threshold of the apartment. He steps out of his room, his backpack thrown over his shoulder, and a suitcase at his feet.

"I was wondering where you guys went."

"We were out to breakfast," you say, feeling a little breathless. Your heart is going too fast.

He's not leaving, is he? Like, for good?

"Where are you going?"

Diluc is the one who asks, his head craning to look inside Kaeya's room. It doesn't look like any of his other belongings are packed up, which is a good sign.

"Childe and I were talking last night, and he mentioned how he's planning to take a trip home to visit his siblings now that the semester is done. So, that got me thinking, and I texted Albedo about coming to visit him and Klee, and he agreed. So."

Kaeya adjusts his bags, carefully scooting past you and Diluc towards the front door. He grins at you both as he does so.

"After Childe realized Albedo's place is on the way to his family's house, I decided to tag along with him."

"How long are you gonna be gone?" you ask him, following him to the apartment entrance. You hug your sides as you watch Kaeya shove his feet into his shoes.

"Mmm…a week, if I had to guess," he responds, patting down his pants pockets to make sure he's not forgetting his wallet or his phone.

Well…at least he's planning on coming back, right?

"There was something we wanted to talk to you about," Diluc says, managing to keep his voice calm. But he already knows Kaeya likely won't provide him the chance to say anything, and Kaeya proves him right a beat later.

"Sorry, but Childe is outside waiting for me. It'll have to wait until I get back."

With all of his things gathered and his shoes now on, Kaeya steps out of the apartment and into the hallway.

"Stay safe…," you tell him, your voice quiet. Kaeya flashes you a small smile—one that still doesn't reach his eyes.

"Of course. No need to worry about me, Y/N."

With that, Kaeya shuts the door, and disappears—leaving you and Diluc standing there, feeling at a loss.

"Maybe a little space will be good for him," Diluc says, trying to keep things light, and hopeful. Seeing Albedo and Klee might help him clear his mind, and come back in a better spot mentally.

"Maybe," you agree, leaning into his side—trying to ignore the weight of the sadness that wells up inside of you once more.

…you really do miss Kaeya.

But! For now, all you can do is hope Kaeya has a good time with Klee and Albedo. In the meantime, you'll just have to wait patiently for his return.

So, you and Diluc do just that.

You spend the next week occupying yourselves with work, chores, movie nights, and vacation prep. Some days go by fast, while others go by slow—but you and Diluc do well at keeping each other's spirits up.

And before you know it, seven days have passed.

Kaeya doesn't contact you while he's away, which you try not to overthink, considering it's not like the three of you are big texters anyway. Since you live with each other, usually the only things you text or call about are grocery requests, or updates about each other's locations.

So, you spend the day waiting for Kaeya to walk through the front door…but he never does. Once the clock strikes midnight, and Kaeya still isn't home, Diluc drags you to bed to try and get some sleep.

The next morning, you decide it's time to text Kaeya.

Unsurprisingly, Kaeya doesn't respond right away.

You take a deep breath as soon as you read the message, trying to keep your tears from making an appearance.

Seriously, you should sue him for the emotional distress he's been causing lately…

Once his last message comes through, you place your phone face down on the table and scurry off to find Diluc.

You need a hug.

True to his word, Kaeya does make it back before the trip.

But not until the literal day before.

"Cutting it close, don't you think?" Diluc asks Kaeya when he steps into the apartment for the first time in two weeks. It's already 1pm the day before your flight is supposed to leave, and Kaeya hasn't packed at all for the impending week—long vacation.

Nor does Diluc intend to let Kaeya get out of going, considering this is a gift from Adelinde.

"Eh, I'll be packed and ready, don't worry," Kaeya says, waving Diluc off. He drags his bags across the apartment and into his room, mumbling about needing to do laundry.

You eye him from the doorway of your bedroom, yearning for him.

You and Diluc had been hoping to address your relationship and how Kaeya might fit into it with Kaeya himself before leaving on vacation, but…as Kaeya said, he really needs to focus on packing and getting himself prepared for the trip. And since your flight is in the late morning, you won't have time to talk to him tomorrow either. (Because it's not like you want to have a sensitive conversation in the middle of the airport, or on a plane…)

In a perfect world, everything would already be worked out before the three of you travel thousands of miles away together. So that way you can all enjoy your vacation to the fullest, but…

You sigh, ducking back into your room to finish up your own packing.

"If you need a checklist, let me know. I wrote one up," Diluc supplies from the living room.

"Thanks, but I think I got it," Kaeya responds.

Diluc turns back towards his own room, quietly huffing.

Honestly, he wouldn't doubt Kaeya came home this late on purpose…

But, whatever. Soon, the three of you will be alone on an island for a week. Meaning Kaeya will have nowhere to run.

(…or so he hopes.)

Notes:

What will become of our idiot trio? Will Kaeya ever get the intelligent brain cell back?

*goes off to explore fontaine* bye!

Chapter 29: Almost Paradise

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

You're not used to traveling much.

The last time you'd been on a plane was during a family vacation in your childhood, and it'd only been a two hour flight.

Now, you're about to travel hours out of the country. To a place you've never been. And you don't even know what side of the road they drive on.

Diluc, who has traveled many times, assures you that everything will be fine. He'll take the lead, so you don't need to worry.

And while Kaeya hadn't been around when you'd admitted your worries to Diluc, it's not hard for him to notice that you're a little out of your comfort zone.

"They said to take electronics out of your bag and put it in the tray. And take your shoes off too," Kaeya tells you when he sees panic flash across your face—having missed the instructions the nearest TSA agent had just yelled out.

After having your ID scanned, the agent at the entrance to the security checkpoint had sorted you and Diluc into different lines. And, too busy worrying about not knowing what to do, you'd then missed the instructions yelled out by the other agents.

You hadn't even realized Kaeya had been sorted into the same line as you until he's speaking up from behind you.

"Thank you," you mumble, hurrying to get off your shoes. You toss them into a bin with your phone, and then move to grab your luggage and heft it up as well. But to your surprise, Kaeya is already doing it for you—throwing his own suitcase up a beat later.

"Just breathe," he tells you with a little smirk, his hand gently finding your back and nudging you forward to keep up with the line of people heading to the scanners.

You meet his gaze, and for just a beat, he feels like Kaeya. Playful, yet comforting—a tiny sparkle of life reaching his eyes.

Then, you pass through the scanner and collect your things, and by the time you're ready to move deeper into the terminal, Kaeya is already walking ahead—keeping his back to you and Diluc as he steers you all in the right direction.

With a little bit of time left before your plane is scheduled to board, the three of you stop to grab some snacks and drinks for the flight, and then find a place to sit near the gate. Kaeya immediately pulls out his headphones and busies himself with his phone, leaving you and Diluc to make small conversation.

Soon enough, however, the boarding process begins. It takes a short while for your section to be called, and once it is, Diluc taps Kaeya on the shoulder, and the three of you get in line.

After your boarding passes are scanned, you slowly make your way through the tunnel and onto the plane—scooting down the center aisle until Diluc locates your row of seats.

"Any preference?" Diluc asks once the three of you have loaded your bags into the overhead bin.

"Aisle," Kaeya responds.

"I'm fine in the middle," you add in, to which Diluc nods and scoots his way into the window seat.

Once the three of you are settled, Kaeya wastes no time and quickly starts scanning for a movie to watch.

You can't help but stare at his screen as he scrolls through his options, and Kaeya eventually notices.

"Any suggestions for me?"

His voice is quiet, and your heart jumps a little at his question. Considering how little the two of you have talked lately, it's almost surprising at this point—when he talks to you first.

"Train to Busan," you supply after a moment. You reach over and scroll back through the list, clicking on the movie listing to pull up the description.

"I'm not sure if you've seen it, but if you're ok reading subtitles, I recommend it."

Kaeya cocks an eyebrow—just a little.

"Are you insinuating that I can't read subtitles?"

And there it is again—that spark of his that you've missed so much.

"No," you say, unable to help smiling. "I know you're a smart little guy. After all, you just got your bachelors."

Kaeya's laugh is soft, and you follow his hand as he reaches forward to plug in his pair of headphones.

"Look at you, being nice to me for once. Just for that, I'll give your movie a try."

"Good," you nod, your smile growing wider, and then Kaeya puts his headphones in and starts the movie.

After a beat, you settle back into your seat and take a deep breath—feeling hopeful.

Maybe this vacation will do the three of you some good—give you a chance to goof around, and escape for a bit. A chance to enjoy each other's company and relax, like how it was at Christmas…

Just you, and Kaeya, and Diluc, sitting in the snow…except this time it will be the sand on the beach, and you'll be in swimsuits instead of bundled in a million layers of clothing. But still!

It will be good, you nod to yourself, grounding your feet to the floor as the plane races down the runway and takes off towards your destination.

Adelinde, in an effort to make the trip as painless as possible, had booked you all on a nonstop flight. Which is nice, so you won't have to worry about potentially missing a connection somewhere.

But at the same time…you're now trapped on a plane for 6 hours.

During the first hour or two, you pass the time playing games on your phone and listening to music. Diluc turns on a movie, but isn't that interested in watching—instead using it as background noise as he leans his head near the window and closes his eyes.

And, to your utmost joy, Kaeya ends up completely immersed while watching Train to Busan. Every so often you glance at him out of the corner of your eye and have to stop yourself from smiling when you see his wide eyes, or his mouth agape.

However, near the climax, he pauses the movie and undoes his seatbelt. You notice him scan the aisle, and after a second, he heads towards the back of the plane. To the bathroom, you assume.

Less than a minute later, before Kaeya makes it back to his seat, a flight attendant stops at your row—pushing the snack and drink cart.

"Can I get you anything?" she asks, smiling at you.

You glance over at Diluc, who at this point is asleep, and then Kaeya's empty seat.

"Um, for him—," you point over your shoulder towards Diluc. "Can I get a coffee with two sugars, and a cookie? And for this one—," you point at Kaeya's empty seat. "Can I get some chips and a coke?"

"Of course," she says with a smile, quickly working on what you've asked for. She hands you Diluc's things first, and you unlatch his tray to set them down for him. Kaeya's things you put on your own tray, knowing he'll need to get back into his seat when he comes back.

"And for you?"

Oh, right.

"Can I get some water and a cookie?"

The flight attendant nods and quickly pours you a cup of water—handing it to you a second later along with a pack of cookies. Then, she keeps moving her way up the aisle.

Another minute later, Kaeya finally makes it back to his seat.

"Looks like I missed the snack trolley," he says with a little sigh when he realizes your headphones aren't in.

"Mm—!"

You quickly swallow the water in your mouth.

"These are for you."

Grabbing the cup of coke and the chips on your tray, you hold them out for Kaeya. He blinks in surprise and takes them from you, flipping his tray down.

"Thanks."

"Of course," you smile, and after a second ask. "So…how's the movie?"

"Oh, right, I need to finish," he says, already searching for his discarded headphones. You quietly laugh as he hurriedly shoves one of the buds into his ear and tears open his bag of chips.

However, just before he resumes the movie, he glances towards Diluc and says—

"Wake him up before his coffee cools off. He likes it scalding."

Then, he puts his other headphone in and turns away.

A few hours later, with the flight nearing its end, the cabin crew once again comes through with their final snack service.

The only issue is that all three of you are asleep. Or, trying to sleep, at least.

Diluc, who had awoken earlier to drink his coffee after you'd tapped on his arm, is dozing once again—his arms crossed and his head still leaned against the wall like a hard pillow. How exactly he's asleep after drinking caffeinated coffee, you're not sure.

With your headphones still in and music quietly playing in your ears, you'd eventually nodded off as well—your head lulled forward into a position that will surely leave you hurting later.

And Kaeya, well. Kaeya had closed his eyes a short while ago and is just barely asleep when something in the aisle brushes against his leg, and he instinctively jolts back into consciousness.

Cracking open an eye, he sees it's the snack cart.

The attendant's head turns away from your row, likely having noticed that you're all asleep and, not wanting to wake you, she inches the cart forward towards the next row of people.

Quietly, Kaeya mourns the loss of another snack, but—

His eyes slide over to you and Diluc.

He pulls one of his headphones out.

"Excuse me, sorry—"

He catches the flight attendants' attention before she can get too far, and she flashes a smile, quickly taking a step back towards him.

"Yes, sir, what can I get you?"

"Three cookies and three waters, please," he says, motioning behind him to you and Diluc, so she doesn't think he's only asking for himself.

"Good choice," she remarks, grabbing the pitcher of water. "It'll be hot when we land. Best to hydrate now."

"Before I drown myself in unlimited alcohol," Kaeya responds, which causes her to laugh.

Soon enough, she's passing Kaeya three cups of water, and a handful of cookies. Since you and Diluc still have your trays down, he places a cup of water in front of you both, and divvies out the cookies as well.

He's just about to put his headphones back in and find something new to watch when your head droops farther forward.

With a sigh—knowing you really will get injured if you get any more hunched over—Kaeya places his palm on your forehead and very gently guides you back into an up-right position. Slowly, he removes his hand from your head, but you only remain upright for a few seconds before you start slouching again.

Rolling his eyes, Kaeya grabs the side of your head and pushes you over until you're resting against Diluc's shoulder. Then, he finally gets back to his movie—paying no mind to Diluc when he wakes up a minute later and finally notices the drink and snack on his tray that he hadn't been awake to ask for.

After the plane lands and the three of you disembark, Diluc immediately takes the lead—remembering from past trips here with his father where he needs to go (and also, he'd thoroughly researched the airport and your accommodations before coming).

You and Kaeya trail behind him as he maneuvers his way through the airport and to the car rental area.

"Do we need to find a rep?" you ask him, glancing around. Diluc shakes his head, walking over to one of the nearby cars and popping the truck. You blink in surprise, wondering if he's about to just…steal a random rental car without talking to anyone, and Kaeya chuckles at the worry that flits across your face.

"She thinks you're about to get in trouble," he mumbles to Diluc as he walks forward and hefts his suitcase into the trunk. Eyes widening, Diluc glances back at you.

"Don't you need to…like…find someone to talk to and fill out paperwork?"

A smile tugs at Diluc's lips.

"No, not anymore. It's already all figured out, and this is our car for the week. The keys should be inside."

Really…the world is changing.

Nodding, you trust that he knows what he's talking about, and roll your suitcase forward. Diluc puts the handle down before loading it into the trunk beside the other luggage.

"I'll sit in the back," Kaeya says, pulling the rear passenger door open.

"No, you should sit in front," you tell him. "You've been here once before too, from what I hear. Help Diluc with the navigation."

Kaeya cocks an eyebrow at you.

"I was here over a decade ago. You think I remember where things are?"

You pout. Kaeya sighs, closing the rear door slightly so he can scoot past it.

"Good boy," you grin happily, laughing a little at the offended (and surprised) look Kaeya sends you as soon as you say those words.

Taking all of your seats, Diluc starts the car, and Kaeya immediately touches the dashboard screen—opening up the navigation panel. Diluc informs him of the name of your hotel, and Kaeya quickly plugs it in—the route popping up.

As you pull out of the airport and onto the roads, you can't help but look out of the window and marvel at all the new sights around you.

"There's palm trees, but it's not very tropical," you comment.

"Aruba is actually a mostly desert island," Diluc responds, carefully merging into traffic. "So while there are trees and greenery, it's not lush like other places."

"The beaches are nice though," Kaeya mumbles, putting in his two cents—his own gaze trailing out the window. "And the water is warm."

"Although the hotel will also have a pool, in case you don't want to go in the ocean."

You nod, realizing you'll likely have a lot of exploring to do later on.

After a relatively short drive, the three of you finally arrive at your hotel. With your suitcases dragging behind you, Diluc leads the pack into the lobby—you and Kaeya waiting nearby as Diluc gets everything settled at the front desk.

It only takes a few minutes until he returns with three keycards.

"We're on the fifth floor," he says.

You locate the elevators nearby, and soon enough, you find yourself on the fifth floor—Diluc placing his keycard on the door and pushing his way inside once the light turns green.

Inside, you find a cozy main living area—a couch and a few chairs positioned near the window on the far side of the room, and a small kitchen just inside the front door. Off to your right, there are two doors, both leading to bedrooms—both of which are filled with a queen size bed, some dressers, and a TV.

On the left side of the room, there are two more doors. One which leads to the master bedroom, and the other leading to a…surprisingly spacious bathroom. There's a dual vanity, a roomy glass-doored shower, and even a jet tub.

"Any preference on rooms?" Diluc asks as you walk to the window across the room—marveling at the sight outside. You can see the hotel pools far below, lined with endless rows of recliner chairs. And not too far beyond that, you see the golden sand of the beach, and the aqua blue hues of the ocean—small waves lapping up against the shore.

"You two can have the rooms that are next to each other, if you'd prefer," Kaeya says. "But I don't mind giving you the master bedroom either."

Diluc glances at you, waiting to hear your input.

"...are you still planning on getting up early to run?"

Since you're on vacation, you don't exactly plan on waking up before the sun is fully in the sky.

Diluc blinks.

"Some mornings, yes."

"Diluc can have the master bedroom. Kaeya and I will take these two," you declare. At your side, Kaeya turns away to hide his laugh.

"Don't want me disturbing your beauty sleep?" Diluc jokes, the smile on his face letting you know that he's not at all offended. You giggle.

"Exactly, you're so smart."

"By the way, we have the food and drink inclusive package, right?" Kaeya speaks up from behind the two of you, entering the room closer to the hotel door. He throws his suitcase up on the bed, so you assume he's officially picked his room for the next week.

"Yes," Diluc confirms. He grabs the check-in brochure that's resting on the coffee table. As he talks, Kaeya closes his bedroom door—leaving it ajar only a sliver—and after a second, you hear him unzipping his suitcase.

"The main dining hall is on the first floor, near the concierge desk. Breakfast is from 6-9, lunch is from 12-3, and dinner is from 5-8 each day. In between those times there should be snack foods set out. When you go down, just use your room card at the register, and there should be no charge."

"And drinks?" Kaeya prods when Diluc leaves out the most important part.

Diluc sighs.

"There will be drinks in the dining hall as well. You can take them anywhere. And you can also order drinks from the bar near the pool."

"Great, that's all I need to know."

The door to Kaeya's room swings back open, and your eyes widen as you realize that he has changed—his travel clothes now replaced with a pair of swim trunks, a thin cream colored linen shirt that's unbuttoned past his chest, and a pair of flip flops.

He tucks his keycard into his pocket, poses a pair of sunglasses on his head, and then heads for the door.

"Wait, you're leaving?" you say in shock, your heart jumping nervously. It's not like the three of you necessarily have anything planned, (and it's also not like you and Diluc planned to try to talk to Kaeya immediately upon arriving), but still—Kaeya running off on his own so soon isn't something you had expected.

"Best not to waste a single second while in paradise, right?"

Well, he's not wrong, but…

"If you're going somewhere beyond the hotel or beach, please just let us know," Diluc tells him, stepping up beside you. He places a comforting hand on the small of your back.

"Don't worry, I'm only planning to get a drink and lounge by the pool for now," Kaeya responds. He pauses at the door, smiles at the two of you, and then quietly slips out into the hall. The room is silent for a few seconds after he's gone.

"Let's not let ourselves waste this opportunity either."

Leaning over, Diluc kisses your head before dragging his suitcase into the master bedroom. You follow after him.

"I know, and I don't want to spend vacation all worried but…"

You bite your lip. Diluc takes a breath.

"I want as badly as you do to regain a sense of normalcy in our personal relationships with Kaeya, but…forcing the conversation probably won't yield productive results…we just need to be patient. Wait for the right moment."

What would the right moment even be…, you think to yourself in defeat, but quickly brush the thought away.

You can't let your worries about Kaeya dampen your vacation—not when it's just beginning. After all, there's so much to do and explore!

"So, after you unpack, what do you want to do?"

Diluc's been here before. He'd know better than you.

"Hm…"

Diluc sets a stack of shirts to the side, his crimson eyes glancing towards the window.

"I'd suggest we take a stroll around the building to take stock of all the amenities. And then maybe a trip to the beach? After that, dinner service should start."

You smile, nodding your head.

"Sounds good, I'm in."

Mirroring your smile, Diluc steps towards you and grabs one of your hands, bringing it to his lips.

"I'm glad to be here with you. I hope we can show you a good time this week."

Reaching up, you cup his cheek with your palm.

"Even if we do nothing but lounge by the pool or beach for the next 5 days, I'll be happy. I'm just looking forward to spending time with you guys."

Of course, the issue with that statement is that despite the three of you coming on this trip together, Kaeya's not exactly keen on sticking with you and Diluc. Which, you suppose isn't exactly against the rules. It's not like the three of you had promised to stay with each other and do everything together—so Kaeya wandering off to do things on his own is fine, but…

You miss him.

But! You try your best to enjoy the start of your vacation anyway.

The remainder of your first day, you and Diluc explore the resort and the nearby beach—Diluc smiling at you as you marvel at the color and clarity of the ocean water.

After taking stock of all the nearby sights and activities, you wander off to the dining hall. The food, to your pleasure, doesn't disappoint.

After dinner, you wander back to the beach to watch the sunset together—your head leaning against Diluc's shoulder as he slots his fingers together with yours.

And yet, while you certainly enjoy the serenity of the moment, you still can't help your brain from wondering about the whereabouts of your runaway roommate.

Once the sun has set, the two of you head back to your hotel room—exhausted from a day of traveling. You shower, change into pajamas, and lounge together until your eyelids start to feel too heavy.

"Time to turn in?" Diluc asks when you yawn. You nuzzle your face against his shoulder, mumbling.

"Not yet, I'll stay up a bit longer, but you can go to bed."

Diluc hesitates for a moment, but eventually nods his head.

"Alright, I'll turn in then."

Bidding you good-night, Diluc soon after disappears into his room—the door quietly clicking shut.

And, despite your declaration that you plan on staying up longer, it's not long after Diluc's departure that you slump against the couch arm and close your eyes.

Just for a minute, you think. But, of course, that's only wishful thinking.

Sometime later, the door to the hotel room open.

"Seriously…what are you doing sleeping out here?"

There's a sigh followed by the feeling of your hair being brushed away from your face.

Your brain finally jolts awake at the sensation.

"Are the beds not comfortable…?"

"They are," you mumble, taking a deep breath—your lashes fluttering. "I just wanted to make sure you got back safe."

You crack your eyes open. Kaeya stares at you with a bittersweet expression.

"You don't need to worry about me, Y/N," he reassures you, his voice quiet. Reaching down, he grabs your wrists and slowly tugs you to your feet.

"I know my way around."

"I know," you respond, barely managing to keep awake as Kaeya carefully leads you into your room.

"I just…"

"You just?"

"I worry. I—"

At that moment, Kaeya lets you go, and your knees immediately hit the edge of your mattress—causing you to face plant into the sheets as your legs buckle.

Your groan is muffled, and Kaeya can't help but chuckle.

"Go to bed when you're tired. I promise I'll always come home."

Kaeya pets your hair, his hand lingering for a moment, before he wishes you good night and closes your bedroom door behind him.

By some miracle, you manage to pull yourself into bed properly before passing out once again.

The next morning, Diluc decides to go for a run.

He wakes up with the sun, and heads out early—not surprised to see the lack of people out and about. He supposes he's part of only a handful of insane people who actually think about working out when on vacation, but that's fine with him.

He enjoys the sunrise alone, and after a while, heads back to the hotel.

When he walks in, it's just past 8, yet Kaeya is already stepping out of his room fully dressed and ready for another day in paradise.

Diluc pulls his headphones out of his ears, cocking an eyebrow at his friend.

"You're being awfully proactive."

Kaeya breathes a laugh.

"I've heard it's best to snag a chair by the pool or on the beach in the morning before it gets too crowded."

"Well, I can't deny that," Diluc responds with a sigh, heading into the kitchen to get a glass of water.

Kaeya follows him over, messing with the coffee pot. He makes a face at the off-brand, unappealing coffee options that are available.

"The coffee at the breakfast buffet is better," Diluc tells him, and then after a second adds, "If you want to wait a little while, the three of us can head down together."

"Y/N's still sleeping, we shouldn't wake her," Kaeya simply responds. Diluc turns to face him, watching as he shoves his feet into his sandals.

"I doubt she'd mind being awoken at this hour. And it'd be nice to have breakfast together."

Aside from yesterday morning before heading to the airport, it's been weeks since the last time the three of you properly sat down to have a meal together.

Kaeya's gaze lingers on the floor for a second.

"Nah," he says, waving his hand. He heads for the door. "Let her rest. Maybe a different morning."

Diluc frowns.

Would be it better to be more direct? Is he doing the right thing by letting Kaeya walk away every time? He's trying to be respectful of Kaeya's space, but—

"Don't mix any alcohol in with your coffee."

He interrupts his own thoughts, suddenly remembering the hotel keeps the liquor available 24/7.

Hand on the door handle, Kaeya grins at Diluc over his shoulder.

"Oh? You know me so well. I make no promises."

With that, he slips out of the room.

Once he's gone, Diluc finally sighs. With his heart feeling a little heavy, he heads into the bathroom to shower—mentally preparing himself to break the news to you that Kaeya is already gone for the day. Again.

To no one's surprise, when you wake up a short while later only to discover Kaeya has run off, you're disappointed.

Yet, like the day before, you do your best to keep positive and allow the resort amenities to keep your mind off of things. And it works for a while!

After getting breakfast, Diluc leads the two of you over to one of the nearby hotels that also has a casino, and while your lungs hurt a little as you inhale all the cigarette smoke, you still have fun. (Mostly because you hit a pretty nice jackpot on the first machine you pick, which stuns even Diluc. Of course, now on a high, you decide to press your luck, which…doesn't exactly end in your favor. But at least you don't leave the casino at a loss.)

Once you've gambled enough, you and Diluc bide your time exploring nearby shops—gathering a few potential souvenir ideas—before you head back to the hotel for lunch.

When you discover the lunch buffet has shrimp, fries, and lots of other goodies…you accidentally get a little overzealous.

"I'm gonna explode," you say, holding your tummy as Diluc guides you into the elevator. He quietly laughs, hitting the button for your floor.

"You won't explode. We'll just take a break and let you digest for a while."

You nod, and as soon as you're back in the hotel room, you immediately plop onto the couch and don't move. Diluc takes a seat beside you, turning the TV on to some random show that looks interesting enough, and you rest your head on his shoulder.

But, full of food and in need of energy to digest, it's not long before you start to fall asleep.

"Do you want to move to the bed?" Diluc asks you. You grumble.

"I shouldn't sleep…we're on vacation."

"Meaning you can do whatever you want. Besides, it's only the second day. Go take a nap if you need one. I'll wait for you."

"Mmm…I'll take a nap but don't wait for me. If there's something you want to do, go do it. Okay?"

"Okay," Diluc agrees, leaning over to kiss your head. "I promise."

Satisfied, with your eyes barely open, you get to your feet and disappear into your room.

At the most, you expect you'll sleep for an hour. Maybe a little longer than that. But certainly not 2 and a half hours.

"Okay," you groggily mumble, forcing yourself out of bed the second you check your phone and see that it's already almost 4pm. "No more napping for me…"

After dragging yourself into the bathroom to pee, you realize Diluc is no longer in the hotel room, and decide to check your phone closer. Sure enough, he'd texted you half an hour ago.

You stare at his message for a few seconds before wandering over to the window and looking down at the courtyard below. After a little bit of searching, you spot Diluc's red hair off in the corner of the pool, below the shade of a tree.

He doesn't wanna burn, you realize with a smile. You debate texting him to make sure he slathered on some lotion, but knowing Diluc, you're sure he did. So, instead, your gaze strays off towards the ocean, and you decide that a walk might be nice.

The fresh, salty sea air, the soft sand at your feet, and a gentle breeze on your face…yeah, that sounds nice.

Heading back into your room, you change into your swimsuit, throw on a cute little sundress as a cover-up, and put on some sunscreen before you text Diluc back to let him know you're going for a walk.

You pack a little bag with your room card, wallet, and a water bottle, and then head out.

When you find yourself at the edge of the beach a few minutes later, you look left, and then right, and then after a beat of consideration, take your sandals off and decide to head south down the beach.

You pass kids building sand castles, couples lounging on recliners under beach cabana's, and groups playing volleyball. The warm ocean water washes up against your feet as you walk, and gradually, the chatter and noise around you fades into the background, until the only thing you hear is the sound of the waves, and the seagulls hovering in the air, waiting to dive down and steal someone's food.

Other resorts on the strip slip past you unnoticed as you mindlessly continue meandering down the beach—your flip flops hanging from your fingers. It's only when you reach the pier, and realize the sun has started inching closer to the horizon, that you decide it's time to turn around.

So, you turn and start back up the beach—your mind wandering as you go.

And yet, it doesn't wander to any topic in particular—it just…takes a little break, like the rest of the beach goers. Although, if you were paying attention, you'd notice that slowly, the beach population has begun to thin out—people heading back to their hotels as dinner time rolls around.

By the time you finally make it back to where your trip began, your feet are starting to ache.

…and then, of course, right as you turn up the path that will lead you back into the building, you step on a seashell.

"Ow—"

You hobble over to a nearby empty chair and lean against it as you check your foot to make sure you're not bleeding. Luckily, despite the pain, you seem to be uninjured.

Sighing, you lift your head and debate tossing your sandals to the ground so you can slip them on and avoid another seashell mishap, but—just as you're about to do so, something in the distance catches your eye.

Although, rather than something, you should be saying someone.

Because there Kaeya is a few cabana's away—lounging in the shade, with only a towel separating his back from the sand.

Without thinking, you immediately step towards him—weaving your way through chairs and beach goer's belongings.

When you finally reach him—standing at his feet—he doesn't realize you're there thanks to the arm that's thrown over his eyes. And so, you watch him for a moment—taking in the steady rise and fall of his chest, and the way his hair gently sways with the breeze, and suddenly, the world slows.

Everything falls into place.

It's time, you realize.

Folding your dress against the backs of your thighs, you lower yourself to the sand, taking a seat beside him.

Despite his eyes being closed, and the sand absorbing your movements, Kaeya still must sense a change around him, because he peels his arm away from his face—squinting as his eyes adjust to the sunlight.

When he finally realizes it's you who has taken a seat beside him, his eyes widen. You smile at him softly.

"Hey," he says, surprise in his voice. He places his hand on the sand between the two of you as he pushes himself into a seated position.

Folding your legs up to your chest, you rest your cheek on your knees and regard Kaeya with a fond gaze.

"Hey," you respond calmly, despite the way your heart has begun to flutter nervously.

Gently, you reach over and grab his hand with your own—feeling the sand beneath your fingertips.

Kaeya's eyes flit from your hand atop his, back up to your face, and you take a small breath—giving his palm a little squeeze.

"I think it's time we talk."

Notes:

Aruba is the only place I've been to aside from Japan and Canada so you all get to go to Aruba! Also, I went on a business trip recently to LA and one of the managers I went with was just able to walk up to a rental car and take it and I was BAFFLED. I don't go on vacation anymore 😭 idk how things work

Originally I was intending for more to happen in this chapter, but I feel like there's been so much plot lately and I kind of missed just little meaningful moments between the trio, so I wanted to include some in this chapter. Sorry for the cliffhanger too :') but I hit 5k and was like. oh whoopsie.

I'm honestly a lil stressed about the next chapter bc the way I write the conversation that's gonna happen is v important :') and some ppl have already commented saying it feels like Kaeya just got pushed to the side. (Which is not what I intended, and not how I see what's going on, but also I'm the one writing so I see things from a different light since I know what's going to happen. So I'm sorry if it came across that way 💔). So I wanna make sure the way the convo is handled is thought through.

Anyway! I'll try my best and will update when I can ❤️ thank you for reading, feel free to comment, and I'll see you next time!

Chapter 30: No More Running

Notes:

I've read this chapter more than once and have made adjustments while proofing and :') If I try and read through it again my head will just spin, so if there's any mistakes I'm sorry forgive me ! (AHH)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Ahh…

Kaeya can feel his heartbeat in his throat.

There's no reason for him to be this nervous—to feel this guilty, and…scared. But he can't deny the panic snaking through him.

He's been avoiding this.

He honestly wants to run, but he knows he can't this time—not with your hand on his, and your gaze so patiently regarding him.

So, Kaeya does the next best thing, and decides to smother what he's feeling. He throws up his walls, and gives his nerves a second to calm down before he finally responds to you.

"Oh, really? I can't think of anything we'd need to talk about."

You can't say you hadn't expected such a response.

"That's fine," you respond, still managing to keep your nerves from showing. "Then…I'd appreciate it if you could just listen to what I have to say."

You rub your thumb against the top of his hand, and Kaeya doesn't move. Doesn't budge, and doesn't even talk. His gaze stays right where it's rooted into the sand, but…despite his lack of reaction, it doesn't seem like he's going to say no, so you slowly release his hand—wrapping your arm around your knees as you begin to talk.

Honestly…where are you even supposed to start?

"...when you first moved in, I wasn't sure what to think of you. All I knew was that you and Diluc had experienced a falling out, and that your first impression was a little…flirty, so I assumed maybe you were a debonair party animal."

You smile to yourself, remembering how despite it being your first meeting, he'd gone out of his way to kiss your hand as a greeting. You'd eventually gotten used to such gestures from Kaeya—writing them off as him simply being playful—but back then, it'd certainly been a shock.

"Of course, over time, we got to know each other better. And while I realized that you are someone who loves a good night out with friends, and has no issue breaking the ice with flirty words or gestures, that's not all there is to you. You're…like an onion. And I can tell that, over time, you've peeled back some of your layers, and have allowed me to see deeper inside of you, but…I definitely haven't reached your core yet. Which is fine, because it's never easy opening your whole self up to someone, but...I definitely think I've come to understand you better anyway."

You take a little breath, rubbing your thumb against your knee—an unconscious gesture to keep yourself grounded, and calm.

"And in opening up to each other, I think we've become a lot closer. You…are honestly one of the people most precious to me, and someone I care for greatly. Which is why…I've been missing you a lot lately."

Just thinking too hard about his absence and how much you've missed spending time with him is enough to get you a little choked up.

So, you remain quiet for a few seconds, trying to pull yourself back together, but before you're able—to your surprise—Kaeya speaks up.

"I'm sorry," he says.

Quietly sighing, he plants one foot flat on his towel, and then leans forward—resting his arm on his knee, and his chin on his arm—his gaze straying out towards the ocean.

"I can acknowledge that I haven't been around as much. I didn't realize it would upset you."

Of course, acknowledging why he hasn't been around as much is an entirely different story.

"Of course it would upset me, silly," you respond—the laugh that leaves you filled with a hint of disbelief.

Seriously, does he not realize how much he means to you?

"That's why I was looking forward to this vacation so much. It's been so long since I feel like I've had the chance to hang out with you and Diluc without worrying about school, or work, or whatever else. But…since we got here, it still feels like I haven't really been able to spend time with you. Which leads me to think that maybe there's something wrong. That maybe—back when you assured me you were happy—after Diluc and I officially got together—I should have trusted my gut when I felt worried."

You bite the inside of your cheek, feeling regretful, looking back, how things may have been different had you just pushed him a little more at the time to be honest with you. (Although, knowing Kaeya, you don't doubt he simply would have buckled down and held his stance that he really was okay.)

"Because…since then, it feels like things are different between us. And maybe you thought creating space or changing the way you act in our relationship with one another was the right thing to do since I started dating Diluc, which is something I can't fault you for. Although! If that is the case, I need you to know there's no need to change anything, because I like our relationship the way it is. But—"

You take a deep breath, trying to get back to the point.

"—basically, I just…I feel like since then, there are some things here that aren't being said. You told me everything was fine when I asked, but based on the way you've been acting, I'm starting to feel like they're not, so…if there's anything you want to say, I'm always willing to listen."

At your words, Kaeya tenses. You remain patient, yet hopeful—watching him from the corner of your eye as he eventually opens his mouth to say something. However, after a beat, nothing comes out, and Kaeya seals his lips once more—his jaw clenching.

Your heart starts to beat louder and faster—anxiety beginning to bleed through the relatively calm demeanor you've managed to keep.

"I can't fault you for not saying anything," you say with a little laugh, your fingers nervously drumming against your knees. "It's…nerve-wracking. Conversations like these. Because you can't help feeling a little scared of the outcome."

Despite the courage you'd mustered up to initiate this conversation, there's now a lump forming in your throat.

You don't want to damage your relationship with Kaeya, or possibly even ruin your friendship by bringing these things up, but…if you don't, you'll never know what his response might be. You'll never know what it is he wants, or how you can possibly make things better.

So, you have to take the risk.

"Diluc and I have been talking…," you start slowly, not wanting to rush anything you're about to say.

"And he seems to think that you have feelings for me."

You pause, intending to give Kaeya another chance to say something, but your ever-growing anxiety forces you to continue talking after only a brief second of silence.

"Of course, I don't know if that's true or not!"

(So much for wanting to not rush, now you're practically bumbling.)

"Right now it's all guess work, since we can't know for sure how you feel unless we hear it directly from you—so I'm sorry if we're wrong in thinking that, but—just. Hear me out. Please."

You take a breath, but you find that you can't slow yourself down. Your mind and heart are racing. If you don't get it all out now—air everything that's been on your mind—you doubt you'll be able to work up the courage to have this conversation again.

"Either way—whether you like me or not—I ended up thinking about you. About us. The way our relationship has changed from strangers, into good friends, and then even more than that. Of course, when you and I started hooking up, it was with the understanding that nothing would become of it. We were just friends having sex, but…then I started imagining what could have happened had we not established those boundaries. And, if I'm being honest…I realized how easy it would be for me to love you in a way that reaches beyond friendship."

You can't bring yourself to look at Kaeya—too scared to see his reaction—but if you did, you'd notice his eyes going wide, and his gaze shifting to look at you for the first time since you'd started speaking many minutes ago.

"I don't even know if it's fair for me to say that," you continue on with a nervous little laugh. "I've never been in this position before, so I don't know how to go about all of this. But what I do know is that this last year with you and Diluc has been a whirlwind of new experiences, and I've enjoyed every second of it—even the tougher moments. I…can't imagine a future without the two of you in it."

Your eyes start to sting as tears push through your tear ducts, but you manage to keep them at bay.

"It sounds incredibly selfish when I say that aloud, and it probably is, but it's the truth. And of course, I don't want to make you feel trapped in saying that. The only thing I want is for you to be happy—to be able to live your life and enjoy it to the fullest. So, if you decide that staying here with Diluc and I isn't what you want, I'll support you, because I love you, but…"

You squeeze yourself tightly.

"...if you're interested, Luc and I would like you to become a part of our relationship."

Now you're the one so nervous that you can feel your heartbeat in your throat.

"Luc and I…we talked about this already. The idea of being poly—with you. And…I'd like to try it. I…don't know how it will work, or if it will work—although I hope it does. This is all new for me too, and it would be a learning process, but—what I do know is that I miss you, and I want you. Our banter, the little affections we share with each other…they mean so much to me. And honestly, the only difference between what we've already experienced together and actually dating would be that the kisses and sex hold other, romantic meanings, which…honestly sounds nice to me. So—I want to try. Because in my mind, being with Diluc and you is already my norm."

This time, you truly force yourself to be quiet. You've said your piece, and explained your feelings. Now, you need to let things sink in, and give Kaeya a chance to respond.

It doesn't happen right away, but after a stretch of silence—filled only by the sound of the ocean—Kaeya finally speaks.

"...you can't possibly expect me to believe that you and Diluc would be perfectly fine with me butting into your relationship."

Despite the bitterness of his words, you can also sense something else—something fragile, and hopeful—his voice warbling as he speaks.

He wants what you're saying to be true, but there's no way his brain will allow him to believe it.

That Diluc? Open to poly? That's funny. The two of you are probably just forcing yourselves to be open to the idea since he's been acting so pathetic lately—

You open your mouth to refute his words, trying to figure out the best thing to say to persuade Kaeya that you're telling the truth, but before you get the chance, a new voice enters the fray.

"Actually, we'd be more fine with it than you think."

Simultaneously, you and Kaeya glance over your shoulders—your eyes widening at the sight of Diluc, who has obviously been standing there long enough to have overheard the last bit of your conversation.

Diluc and Kaeya's eyes meet for a brief second before Kaeya's gaze darts away.

Sighing, Diluc walks forward across the sand, rounds your side, and then crouches down in front of the two of you. He rests his arms on his knees, his crimson gaze soft, yet stern as he turns his attention to his friend.

"Kaeya," he says. "I know this is a lot. And if you aren't interested, we can leave it at that. But…you deserve to be happy."

Kaeya flinches—just barely—at his words.

There's a pang of sadness in Diluc's chest.

"So, I want you to think about what's going to make you happy. Don't worry about feeling selfish. Don't overthink it. Just think about yourself for once. Because Y/N and I will support you either way, whatever you may choose. But this? The avoidance, and making yourself miserable for the sake of others…it's not productive. So whatever you need, just…talk to us."

Diluc is practically begging at this point—his voice full of sincerity.

"We're here for you, Kae."

"Always," you add in, wanting more than anything to lean over and embrace Kaeya.

However, Kaeya can't bring himself to look at either of you, let alone say anything. The only indication that Diluc's words have gotten through to him—considering you're unable to see his face beyond the shroud of his hair—is the way Kaeya's chest shudders when he takes a breath.

Your heart aches.

Diluc deflates with a sigh, feeling a little guilty. However, he also doesn't believe he's said anything wrong, and doubts you have either. To Kaeya it's likely just…a lot to think about.

"Do you want us to leave you alone for now?"

"Please."

It's the first word Kaeya has spoken in minutes, and he barely manages to get it out—his throat tight.

Diluc nods, respecting Kaeya's request, and immediately pushes to his feet. He offers you one of his hands a moment later, and you take it, despite the way you don't want to leave Kaeya here by himself.

"We'll go then. Call or text us if you need us. And don't forget to eat something for dinner."

With everything having been said, Diluc tugs you away from the cabana. You can't help but glance back at Kaeya as you go, feeling torn.

"Is it really okay to leave him alone right now?" you ask Diluc once the two of you are far enough away. You gently bring him to a halt, half out of worry for Kayea, and half because you're about to walk on pavement, and want to put your sandals back on.

Diluc exhales, lending you his arm to balance on.

"Honestly, I don't want to leave Kaeya alone either, but we said a lot to him, and I think that he needs time to process—which is something he tends to do alone. So right now, giving him a little space might be the best thing we can do."

You see the logic in Diluc's words, and can't even disagree with the fact that Kaeya likely needs some time alone, but that still doesn't stop anxiety from blossoming in your chest.

The reality of the conversation you've just had begins to sink in, and ugly worries start to creep into your head.

Seeing the way your face twists, Diluc grabs your hand—holding it tightly with his own as he leads the two of you back into the building, and to the elevators. The ride up to your floor, you barely manage to keep your tears at bay—emotional exhaustion settling in—and as soon as Diluc unlocks the room door and pulls you inside, he hugs you tightly in his arms.

Finally, you cry.

Weeks worth of worries pour out of you, your tears soaking into Diluc's shirt.

He whispers sweet reassurances into your hair—his hands soothing up and down your spine.

"The moment felt right," you sob, your voice muffled against his chest. "But what if I messed things up even more?"

"Hey," Diluc says softly, his lips pressing against the crown of your head. "No matter what, I don't intend to let Kaeya run off again. We'll figure things out one way or another, okay?"

"Okay," you agree, your voice cracking as you speak—the tears still flowing.

It takes a while, but eventually, the worry and sadness inside of you subside. You're left feeling a little numb, and way too snotty, but you think that's okay. You've done what you can today—you don't need your brain for anything else.

After a trip into the bathroom to blow your nose and clean yourself up, you b-line for the couch and wrap yourself in the blanket that's been laid out nearby. Diluc walks over and sits beside you—reaching forward to pick up a menu off the coffee table.

"How does room service sound?" he asks, flashing you a little smile. Wanting to stay in the comfort of your hotel room, you nod, and lean yourself against Diluc's side as he begins listing off the menu.

A relatively short while later, there's a knock at the door, and Diluc gets up to go and retrieve your food.

The two of you eat without exchanging any words—allowing the television to fill the silence between you. And when your tray of food is finally empty, and Diluc realizes the sun has already set, he gently grabs your knee.

"If I draw you a bath, will you get in?"

"Are you trying to tell me I'm stinky?" you mumble, managing a tired smile.

"Not at all," he responds with a quiet laugh. "I just think it'd be a nice way to end the day."

"Fine," you nod, unable to disagree. Smiling, Diluc is quick to alight from the couch.

A moment later, you hear the sound of running water from within the bathroom. And a few minutes after that, Diluc finally appears in the bathroom doorway, motioning for you to come.

Unwrapping yourself from your blanket, you pad into the bathroom—spotting the tub that's now filled with bubbles and steaming water.

"You're so sweet," you tell him, almost feeling like you may cry again. Instead, you turn your head towards him and purse your lips.

"Thank you."

Diluc leans in to kiss you.

"You're welcome," he whispers, and then steps around you, grabbing the doorknob.

"Call for me if you need anything."

You nod your head, and Diluc flashes you one last smile before he shuts the door, leaving you in peace.

Now alone, you're slow to strip out of your clothing—all of your energy gone. Although, you can't help the blissful sigh that falls from your lips the second you dip your foot into the water.

Inch by inch, you sink down, settling yourself into the tub basin. The heat from the water immediately washes away some of the tension in your body, and soon enough, you find yourself closing your eyes—breathing deep as you attempt to let your stress melt away.

The next time you open your eyes, it's light out.

Heart hammering, you shoot awake—in your bed.

…but how are you in your bed? The last thing you remember is being in the bath, and then…

Ah, wait. When you start to think back on it, you vaguely remember the sound of Diluc's voice, a towel drying you off, and then being tucked in.

…you must have fallen asleep in the tub, you realize. And Diluc must have found you and brought you here…

Embarrassed, you sit up and shove the covers down your body. You're dressed properly in your pajamas, so Diluc must have managed to wrestle you into them. Or maybe you'd been semi-compliant since you seem to have been semi-conscious during that time…

Yawning, you turn your head to glance out the window.

It's still early—the sun just barely breaking past the horizon and coating the outside world with light.

Wait.

Panic strikes you as it sinks in that it's morning.

Swinging your legs over the side of your bed, you bolt to your bedroom door without thinking twice.

You and Diluc had left Kaeya alone, but what if Kaeya hadn't come back last night? You'd passed out early, and have no memory of him making it home safe, so what if he didn't come back? What if he—

You pull your bedroom door open and step out into the main area of the hotel room—your head snapping towards Kaeya's door—only to find that it's closed.

And if it's closed, he's inside, right?

Your eyes shift, and you spot the sandals Kaeya had been wearing yesterday by the front door.

Finally, you breathe a tiny sigh of relief. Glad, at the very least, that Kaeya had made it back to the room at some point last night.

…however, even if he is here, and has opted not to avoid you, that doesn't necessarily mean he's made the decision to stay with you and Diluc—as a friend or otherwise. It could just mean that his bed is here, and he'd simply needed to rest…

A distressed noise wiggles its way out of your throat, and you force yourself to take a deep breath.

Standing here overthinking and stressing about it won't do you any good. So, you opt to head into the bathroom instead—taking care of your business, and doing your morning routine.

When you exit the bathroom, you notice that the door to Diluc's room is also shut, meaning he hadn't gone out for a run this morning. Maybe he had stayed up late, or had just decided to sleep in…you'll have to ask him later.

With your normal morning items having already been taken care of, you find yourself standing in your bedroom, looking down at the empty pools below.

You could go for some breakfast, but you don't really want to go down to the dining hall alone…so, instead you wander into the small kitchen of your hotel room, and begin rummaging through the cupboards—trying to find a little snack to hold you over.

Honestly, maybe in a short while you'll wake Diluc up and drag him down to breakfast—which will give Kaeya a chance to sneak out of the hotel room if he wants to. Not that letting Kaeya continue to run off is necessarily a good decision, but at the same time, it's been less than 24 hours since you and Diluc spoke to him, so it wouldn't hurt to give him more time to think it all over, right?

You've just finished opening the final cupboard—your search ending up fruitless—when there's a noise from behind you. The sound of a door being opened.

You immediately look over your shoulder towards Diluc's room—about to tell him he has good timing, since you're hungry and there are no snacks—but your entire body tenses when you realize Diluc's door is still closed, meaning—

You see movement from Kaeya's doorway, and immediately turn yourself back around—your heart racing.

You hear the floor creak as he steps out of his room, and you remain silent, figuring that maybe Kaeya is just heading to the bathroom, and in that case likely won't want to be acknowledged on his short trip across the room. But…after a few seconds, you don't hear any other sounds.

Meaning, Kaeya is still standing somewhere behind you.

You try to act nonchalant.

"Good morning," you say—forcing a smile even though your back is turned to him. "Did you sleep alright?"

A beat passes, and Kaeya doesn't respond, so you continue quietly talking.

"I passed out early last night. Actually, I passed out in the tub , if you can believe it. I barely remember it, but I think Diluc was scolding me when I was half asleep about how I could have drowned. Although he was the one who drew the bath for me, so—"

Your words cut off when you hear more footfalls against the wooden floor. You assume this is Kaeya finally heading to the bathroom—having had enough of your small talk. However, you quickly realize that the footsteps are coming closer to you, not heading away.

Instinctively, you turn around—only to be met with the sight of Kaeya stepping directly behind you—his body so close to yours that you actually rear back a little, your eyes going wide.

"Kae—?"

The first syllable of his name, spoken in shock, barely makes it past your lips.

Quicker than you can process, Kaeya wraps an arm around your waist, grabs the back of your skull, and tugs you into a kiss.

The pressure of his lips on yours is bruising, and the arm he's holding you with pulls you so tight against him that you're unsure if it's your heart or his that you can feel racing.

"Kae—," you try to say, but he swallows up your words—kissing you again.

"Just—shut up," he bites, but there's no anger in his voice.

Despite the force of his embrace, and the pressure of his lips on yours, he feels…fragile. Like he'll fall apart if he lets you go. So, you hold him—your fingers carding gently through his hair as you return his kisses.

You repeat the motion—letting your nails drag against his scalp—until you seem to finally soothe his nerves.

The hand cradling your skull falls away, and after one, final—much softer—kiss, Kaeya quietly sighs.

Resting his arms loosely around your waist, he drops his head to your shoulder. You're quick to hug him, your hands rubbing up and down his back.

For once, you decide to say nothing. You simply hold him, and wait—until ultimately, Kaeya begins to speak.

"From the day I moved in, I could tell you were something special to Diluc, and that the two of you likely had feelings for each other. So, at that time, it was only natural for me to try and help get you two together. But then…"

Kaeya takes a deep breath, and you feel his chest shake beneath your palms.

"Then, you and I got closer. And suddenly, you were something special to me, too. Of course, I never let myself think too deeply about it, so I never realized how much I actually cared about you, and felt about you. I convinced myself I was treating you just like I would any other friend, but…you're not like my other friends. You're not like anyone I've had in my life before now. So that made things difficult."

Kaeya sighs, and, dutifully, you continue rubbing your fingers along his spine.

"When Luc was an idiot and broke your heart on New Years, and I subsequently offered to help distract you with sex, I figured it would be fine. I've never struggled with separating my emotions from sex, and in general have never even had romantic inclinations towards anyone, but…you always worm your way through my defenses, somehow.

"Because, one day, without realizing it, I found myself wanting to kiss you—and not in a way that had any sexual intent. I just…wanted to kiss you—to comfort you, and to see your smile. And that—that freaked me out, because I don't do those feelings. I don't do things that are serious. I keep myself in positions where escape is easy. As long as I don't let myself get too deep, then I can never get hurt again. But you—"

Kaeya laughs quietly, sounding a little exasperated.

"—you and Diluc, both. You guys fuck up my plans. First, that red headed bastard—inviting me into his house and into his family and his life. Making me want things that I'm not meant to have. And now you—who helped fix what Diluc and I had broken. You, who I look forward to seeing every day, and can make my heart flutter with the simplest of touches. You, who Diluc has been in love with since day one—but I still managed to fall for anyway."

His fingers curl into your shirt.

"...I feel like I shouldn't be allowed to have you. That you're not something that's meant to be mine. But…I want you. I want to stay with you and Diluc. And admitting that is…terrifying, and selfish, and maybe even horrifying, but…it's the truth."

His words send relief washing through you.

"You're not selfish," you're quick to reassure him, hugging him closer. "In fact, I'd even argue you're a little too self-less, but…it was a big step to admit all of this, and share how you're feeling, and I'm really proud of you, Kae."

He makes a little noise in his throat, uncomfortable with being praised for such a thing.

"I've admitted what I want, but I don't know how…how to execute it. I've never done relationships, let alone poly. Like, do I have to date Diluc too, or…?"

For the first time since he'd started talking, Kaeya finally lifts his head, and looks at you. There's a tired smile on his face, his chest rumbling with soft laughter at his own question, and you can't help but cradle his cheek—mirroring his laughter.

"Kaeya, this is all new to me too. I have no idea how exactly it will work, but you and Diluc are both so precious to me, and I'm sure that we can work it out."

"Yeah," Kaeya agrees, cupping your hand with his own. He curls his fingers around your palm, and drags your hand over to his mouth—his lips pressing softly against your skin.

"If it's you and Luc, I'm at least willing to try."

"Good," you smile, tears coming to your eyes. Kaeya brushes a few strands of hair away from your face, his gaze turning soft, and apologetic.

"I'm sorry if I made you cry at all these last few weeks."

You shake your head and press onto your toes, your arms wrapping around his neck.

"It's okay," you tell him, "I'm just glad you're here."

The kiss you press to his lips is soft and sweet, and Kaeya doesn't hesitate to return it—hugging you as he does.

You've missed each other.

In the background, a door quietly swings open, and Diluc steps into the room.

He'd awoken just a minute earlier—his ears having picked up on the sound of a conversation happening beyond his door—but had decided not to rush his appearance.

If you and Kaeya are having a productive talk, that's a good thing.

So, Diluc waits until things go silent to exit his room.

…which, of course, means he walks out in the middle of you and Kaeya kissing.

The sight doesn't upset him (nor does it excite him, but he thinks that's because he's not really the type of person that gets off watching others kiss). It does make him feel a little…happy? Though—knowing that the two of you must have talked it out, and come to an understanding.

Crossing his arms, Diluc nods to himself, satisfied with his own reaction. There's no hint of jealousy or other negative emotion inside him, which means he was right. As long as it's Kaeya—he really doesn't mind sharing.

"Oh!"

Finally having spotted Diluc at the rear of the room, you and Kaeya break apart—a blush rising on your face.

It's not that you feel guilty for kissing Kaeya. It's just…Diluc has never seen you and Kaeya kiss before. And realizing he's been standing there is a little embarrassing, considering you hadn't noticed him appear…

"Would you like a kiss too?" Kaeya asks him, a playful grin appearing on his face. "I don't want you feeling left out."

Diluc rolls his eyes, but can't stop his lips from twitching into a smile.

"No, thank you."

Kaeya shrugs.

"Suit yourself."

"So, can I ask if we've reached a decision on how we want to proceed?" Diluc asks, walking closer to the two of you. "Considering you two were kissing, I think I have a pretty good idea, but I'd still like to hear it."

You and Kaeya glance at each other, and Kaeya sighs, rubbing at his neck.

"You tell him, princess. I don't have the energy to say it all again."

You breathe a laugh.

"Basically, Kaeya thought it over and is in agreement with us that we should give poly a shot."

"Although I still have no idea exactly what it entails," Kaeya adds in. Diluc puts a hand on Kaeya's shoulder.

"And you think I do?" he says with a small laugh. "As far as I'm concerned, we just go back to acting like normal, and see what happens."

"Yeah," you agree with a smile. "I don't think we need to change all that much."

Reaching over, you grab Kaeya's hand.

"That alright with you?"

Kaeya's never really thought about it, but…he supposes dating really is just friendship at its core, with a little bit of romance and sex mixed in.

Huh…he thinks he can probably handle that.

"Fine with me," he agrees. Your smile grows wider.

"Okay, good! So now that we're all on the same page, can we please go get breakfast? I'm literally starving. Like, I might wither away soon."

You run off to your room to get dressed without waiting for their reply, and Diluc chuckles.

"Well, we certainly don't want you withering away."

He takes a step towards his room, intending to get dressed as well, but pauses—turning back towards Kaeya.

"You alright?" Diluc asks him softly, his crimson eyes full of warmth as he regards him.

There's still anxiety swirling around in Kaeya's stomach, and ugly beliefs in his head that he's unable to shake after years upon years of allowing them to take root, but…overall, he feels good.

Better than he has in weeks, if not months, or years.

"Yeah," Kaeya says, flashing Diluc a small smile.

"I'm alright."