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"You know, working with the knights would give you the backup you so desperately need in these kinds of situations."
A cool blast of ice flew over his shoulder, immobilizing the pyrochurl that Diluc had been dutifully chucking water balloons at. The tactical advantage of elemental reactions should never be overlooked in battle, especially when one's giant flaming claymore has little effect if the opponent enjoys being on fire. Unfortunately, he'd now traded one tedious nuisance for a one that was much more volatile. Just what he needed.
"I had that under control," the pyro vison wielder responded, pocketing his ammunition petulantly. In truth, Diluc had needed the help, his stores of water balloons running dangerously low. However, there was no way he'd ever admit it to the smug idiot with an eyepatch. Though, judging from said idiot's expression, Diluc hadn't been all that convincing.
"Ah yes, of course!" The cryo wielding knight exclaimed sarcastically, with an over dramatic gasp, " The legendary Inazuman water balloon technique, how could I have been so blind?!" he lamented mockingly.
"Sir Alberi-"
"Truly, the ultimate culmination of Mondstadt's beloved Master Diluc's travels abroad. I can see the headlines now: Wine tycoon abandons family business for water balloons-"
"Kaeya." Diluc hissed in exasperation.
"What?" Their gaze met, tired red eyes meeting an unreadable starry pupil. That starry eye used to be an open book, always giving away what his brother was pondering.
Well, clearly not always, if that rainy night had meant anything.
"Fine, fine, I'll stop. Someone's certainly grumpy tonight." Kaeya glanced around, a slight frown on his lips, "Where's your sidekick and their emergency rations? Their Palm Vortex could have at least done some damage, unlike any of your useless attacks."
Diluc crossed his arms, ignoring the barb, "They went to Liyue."
Really, the Cavalry Captain should know these things, especially considering his wide information network. Being the elder of the two, the bartender refrained from voicing that thought out loud. He wouldn't stoop to the other's level.
Kaeya's brow furrowed, "...And? If I had received a summons from the illustrious Darknight Hero himself, even if I was on the other side of the world, I would-" he shook his head with a bitter smile, cutting himself off with a sigh.
Said hero could only stare uncomprehendingly. What was that about? Was it another lie, a ploy to get him to reveal himself to the knights? Or did Kaeya....
No time to ponder that tonight, he had a mission. Diluc stalked deeper in the ruins, searching for something to hit, to get out of his head. The icy knight followed after him with light steps.
"Point is, the Traveller likes helping you and would do so. Especially if the alternative is you decimating the local Bloaty Floaty population to make water balloons," Kaeya snorted in amusement, "You should see how excited they get whenever we run across one in the wild, always rushing to shoot them down and claim their prize."
I remember when you were like that, Diluc's mind unhelpfully provided. Scowling, he slashed at a nearby stack of crates, his head filling with the sound of disintegrating wood. A Sunsettia and a slightly charred piece of fowl lay among the remains of that poor innocent crate by the time his head was cleared of any useless nostalgia.
Kaeya simply blinked, raising one eyebrow slightly and pointedly not commenting. There was nothing to comment on anyways. A starry eye brightened slightly when he spotted the food, kneeling down to scoop it into his pouch.
Bags bulging with food, picking every fruit, every berry, hunting every animal they came across because Diluc couldn't stand the discomfort that crossed his baby brother's face when even a scrap was discarded. And if he ended up being the one to carry the bags, that was fine! After all, they were brothers and brothers hel-
Diluc exhaled through his nose as he stomped down the hallway. Now was not the time for reminiscing on golden memories, not in a freezing domain, not with the Abyss nipping at their heels. One nagging thought caused him to stop short, turning to his companion with barely concealed incredulousness:
"Wait, did you just put raw meat in your bag?"
Kaeya laughed lightly, a slight huff of disbelief. The drumstick was pulled out, now encased in thick ice, "No need to worry, Master Diluc, I don't plan on going out via food poisoning," he scoffed derisively, "Now, that would be pathetic."
Diluc bristled at the implication that he was worried, speaking before he had a chance to think,"You don't think it's pathetic enough to stalk me through the ruins when there's a million actually useful things Monstadt's Cavalry Captain could be doing?"
The redhead immediately regretted his outburst as Kaeya's face split into an insufferable grin, "Ah, you're usually much quicker to lose your temper." He bounced past Diluc, heading down the hallway, "Feeling courteous tonight, Master Ragnvindr?" His voice dripped with an icy politeness that chilled Diluc to the bone.
Or perhaps it was simply a result of the cryo energy radiating from the door they had halted in front of, adorned with strange spiralling shapes and bordered by mirrored patterns along the doorframe. Why everything in these godforsaken ruins had to work against him, Diluc could only guess.
The knight continued talking, startling the vigilante out of his thoughts, "Well, this little excursion is really more of an investment." Kaeya's brow furrowed as he prodded at the locking mechanism, "Whether the results are useful or not is up to you," he mumbled distractedly.
Diluc groaned, leaning back against the stone wall, head spinning with the cryptic circles Kaeya was talking around him. The cool texture pressed against his back, grounding him slightly. Bluntness had always been most effective when dealing with the cryo wielder, even when he was just a little kid with a flair for dramatic monologues.
"Why are you here, Kaeya?"
Abruptly, he turned away from the door, blue eye searching Dilucs', grinning mask discarded for a moment. For once, it seemed his silver tongue had failed him and he was forced to actually consider what to say. The small, socially awkward part of Diluc cheered in vindication. The Cavalry Captain always knew what to say, he deserved to stumble over his words once in a while.
Kaeya then blinked, his gaze shifting to contemplate the wall behind the redhead. He triumphantly turned back to the door, ice spreading from his hand to trace specific lines, completing the pattern along the doorframe.
"Well, without my Cryo vision, you would be stranded at this door! And you said I'm the pathetic one," he snickered as the door slid open, "The illustrious Diluc Ragidivir, bested by a mere door! What a blow that would be to your reputation, why-"
The vigilante halted as Kaeya skipped through the doorway, crossing his arms,"Stop avoiding my question, just tell me what you want." He'd had enough of the false cheeriness and half truths spewing from his companion's mouth, yet another reminder of how much they had both changed.
"There's just no room for subtlety or tact with you, is there?" Kaeya sniped, spinning around to face Diluc as he walked backwards through the door.
Inside sat a pair of Abyss Mages, one pyro and one hydro. They were intently drawing plans on the floor and occasionally chirping at each other. It made Diluc almost feel bad about their imminent demise.
Key word being almost.
Upon noticing the pair of vision wielders, the mages squeaked, scrambling to grab their staffs. In the confusion, the Hydro mage sent a bubble hurtling towards the Pyro mage, leaving it soaked. It chirped apologetically as its companion screeched in dismay.
As quick as lightning, a cryo blast left both mages frozen solid, staring helplessly at their doom. Diluc barely had time to blink at the knight before he spoke with firm conviction, hand clutched unusually tight around his sword's hilt.
"I want you to come forward as the Darknight Hero."
Kaeya's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. Pinned under the intensity of his gaze, Diluc felt he had little room to argue.
That didn't meant he couldn't dodge the question.
"...I hate that name," the redhead finally responded, punctuating his statement by shattering the hydro mage's shield.
The cryo knight rolled his eyes, a light huff escaping his nose, "It really doesn't suit you," Kaeya leaned on the frozen pyro mage, absentmindedly tapping his sword on its slowly thawing head, "Well, neither does the skulking around in shadows or endless brooding but I digress."
Diluc leveled a flat glare at him, impaling the shrieking hydro mage with his claymore.
The cavalry captain continued, undeterred, "Don't worry, the Knights are great at helping with image issues! Just look at my exquisite uniform!" He did a little spin, smacking the pyro mage in the face with his cape as it finally melted the ice. "Befitting of a charming cryo Cavalry Captain, isn't it?"
The low cut shirt, the gold accents, the luxurious fur lining, it projected the image of a lazy, vapid drunk who preferred the finer things in life. Rather different from the cruel Cavalry Captain who directed his knights the peril, or the mischievous skinny boy who was nervous when asking for a birthday present.
Regardless of which mask was closest to the truth, if any were, sifting through all the hints and pointed words got exhausting at certain point. Diluc longed for simpler days, when arguments were composed of tearful shouting matches instead of cold smiles and dancing words.
On the other hand, despite the endless headaches that accompanied talking to this Kaeya, the cryo user rarely did things without a carefully considered reason. Hopefully it wouldn't take too much prodding to get him to just spit out whatever that reason was.
"Give me one reason to cooperate with the Knights when all they have ever done is be a thorn in my side and a stain on my father's legacy," he grunted, extending a fragile invitation for Kaeya to say his piece as he skewered the hydro mage again.
The cryo knight paused in his stabbing of the pyro mage as he shot Diluc a sardonic grin, "Are they a bigger nuisance than these pyro pain in the asses?" Kaeya kicked it with his foot, sending it flying into a crate. Ah, so they were going back to banter. "No offense," the knight chuckled darkly, stalking towards the disgruntled mage.
The pyro mage rose to its feet, shrieking profusely in a grating tongue as glowing runes spread across the floor. It might have been intimidating if it wasn't also doing a little jig.
Kaeya gasped in mock horror, gracefully dodging the burst of flame that sprung from the floor, "Now now, mind your language! There are children present," he chided mockingly, before freezing. Literally.
A blast of cryo shot from his sword, incapacitating the mage as the two men stared at each other.
Diluc's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and questions. Did Kaeya pick up a new language? Was he just joking around? No, but then why would he stare at Diluc with such visible panic? Was Kaeya related to the Abyss mages? Did Abyss Mages speak Khaenri'an? Khaenri'ah had ties to the Abyss Order but he didn't think they ran this deep.
His grip shifted on his claymore as he twisted it inside of the excitedly squeaking hydro mage laid on the ground. Was Kaeya the biggest threat to him in this room? Was all of this a trap to lull him into a false sense of security?
The slight shake in his companion's hands as he dealt a volley of blows against the pyro mage eased his concerns. When exposed, Kaeya was ruthless, almost animalistic in his movement. His easy going facade would not simply crack, it would shatter.
Still, this was something that warranted looking into. Later. Maybe this would help him finally transl-
Hold on, what had Kaeya just called him?
"I'm not a child," Diluc grumbled, falling back onto their easy bickering. His claymore ignited, vaporizing the hydro mage with a violent hiss.
Kaeya laughed, only a little forced, "I mean, you still drink grape juice," he quipped, with an exaggerated shrug of his shoulders.
"At least I don't lie to hapless tourists about being a pirate." The redhead remarked, crossing his arms, " I can't believe you thought the genetic eyepatch line would work on anyone."
The cryo knight pouted exaggeratedly, finishing off the pyro mage with a flourish.
"...Anyways," he drawled, changing topics, "Teaming up with the Knights means having backup so you don't have to spend all night chucking water balloons at enemies resistant to pyro." Kaeya pulled out a cloth, wiping away the Abyss residue left on his blade with a smirk,
"Besides, who will I bother in Angel's share if you're too sleepy to work your shift?"
Diluc snorted derisively, "Maybe it'll give you a chance to kick that habit." Better backup was sound reasoning but it couldn't be why Kaeya was pushing the issue this hard. That argument could have been delivered with a few quips about elemental resonance over a barstool.
"Besides, I fought alone without my vision for years, I think I've had enough experience to counteract its ineffectiveness," he continued.
The vigilante winced internally, dreading the barbed comments about the Delusion or his reliance on it. This was why he sat silently behind a bar instead of actively needling people for information. Eavesdropping was easy, talking was hard. By some grace of the archons, Kaeya decided not to address the latter part of his sentence.
Instead the cryo wielder laughed airily, walking over to the next room, "I'll never stop pestering you, Master Ragnvindr."
That was likely meant to be a threat but the smallest smile found its way onto Diluc's traitorous face. Despite the endless jabs and bickering, Kaeya's presence was always a breath of fresh air in the dim rowdy bar. While surrounded by the need to be stoic and attentive, Kaeya's badgering gave him the chance to quip back, to pretend at normalcy. For a moment, he was allowed to be an exasperated older brother getting annoyed by his persistent younger sibling, not having to be the charming winery owner or the ever vigilant Darknight Hero.
For a moment, he could forget the masks, the lies, the stormy nights that had wrenched his life apart.
That was until he happened to glance into Kaeya's eye and saw that starry pupil gleaming at him, taunting him with all he did not know.
Said eye now had a glint of triumph as the drunkard skipped back to where Diluc had lost himself in thought. His cat-like grin boded ill for what lay ahead.
"Well far be it from me to criticize the methods of our very own Darknight Hero. You know what? I think I deserve a break!" Kaeya plopped down on a barrel in the corner, stretching onto it languidly, "I've been on my feet all day, you know how it is." Yep, something bad was definitely in that room.
At Diluc's incredulous stare, he simply pulled out a flask, making a casual shooing motion, "Well? I believe you and your water balloons have a room to clear. Go on. I'm sure you'll be done in no time!"
The claymore wielder peeked into the next room and felt his stomach drop. Standing in the center was an Abyss Herald, surrounded by flickering flames. It hadn't seemed to notice them yet, focused on summoning consecutively more ludicrous pyro weapons before shattering them into sparks. This would be a daunting opponent to wear down and would require a lot more water balloons if he wanted to keep the fight under two hours. Looking at the weapons, this particular Herald seemed particularly adverse to civil discussions so any attempts at interrogation would need an elemental advantage to restrain it.
Diluc's gaze flicked mournfully towards the cryo vision clipped to Kaeya's belt. Abyss Heralds tended to be a treasure trove of information on the Order's plans and movements but they rarely had business in Mondstadt. Success tonight could bring in more information than a month's worth of investigation, hundreds of lives saved if the Abyss' plots were uncovered in time.
But was it worth his pride?
Was it worth acquising to Kaeya's demands and admitting he was wrong?
One look at his smug expression almost sent Diluc barreling into the next room, consequences be damned. But Diluc hadn't survived this long surrendering to his petty impulses.
If that were the case, he would probably have dragged his traitor of a brother back to the winery if only to stave off the bitter loneliness that nipped at his heels.
Shaking off those thoughts, Diluc groaned internally. He was done entertaining the cryo user's weak excuse of 'effective time management' as to why he was badgering him about this issue. Was the knight allergic to telling the truth?
"Kaeya, we both know you couldn't care less whether I waste my time or don't show up to work." Diluc crossed his arms, glaring at the knight. He couldn't resist adding in a slight dig, "Honestly, you'd probably have an easier time drinking yourself into a early grave without my interference."
The cryo user user's nose wrinkled, probably slightly put off by the comment on his drinking habits. And the fact he was called out on his weak argument instead of Diluc immediately agreeing to his demands.
Good. Kaeya needed to see his lies wouldn't always be accepted at face value.
"Charles is a very responsible bartender, I'll have you know. He never gives me more than 5 drinks, it's insulting! And...."
The cavalry captain was stalling for time, avoiding Diluc's gaze as he searched for another excuse. He finally stood up with a exaggerated sigh.
"Can't get anything past you, can I?" Kaeya clasped a hand on his shoulder amicably, smiling saccharinely. "You're right, I don't care about what you spend your nights doing."
Somehow, only the last sentence felt like a lie. Diluc relaxed incrementally, preparing himself for the knight's next argument. It wouldn't be the truth but it would definitely be closer than his last excuse.
"The truth is, Monstadt needs a hero to re-establish their faith in themselves." Kaeya's hands fluttered as he talked, weaving a story with his gesticulation, "The Dragon of the East attacked the city. As the Abyss Order isn't common knowledge, all people know is they were attacked by one of the sworn protectors of Mondstadt."
He looked away for a moment, chewing the inside of his cheek as the Cavalry Captain thought about his next words. It seemed that nervous habit had carried over from when they were children, "People will be looking for someone to blame so they don't end up blaming themselves. Such civil unrest will only make Mondstadt weaker. They need a hero to believe in, to show them that they're still worth protecting."
The cavalry captain spun back to stare meaningfully at Diluc, "Someone like the Darknight Hero."
Pinned under his determined gaze, the pyro wielder could barely speak. He did so anyways, "I don't see how Mondstadt's lack of a figurehead is my problem."
Kaeya sighed minutely, breath freezing in the air as his vision flashed."Fractured nations need someone to unite behind." His voice was quieter, laced with a careful detachedness, "If you don't want to see your home crumble to pieces, you step up and become that figure."
Is that a threat? Diluc's mouth wouldn't move.
For a moment, he was not standing before Kaeya, Cavalry Captain of Mondstadt, lover of fine wine.
Did you love your nation? The lump in his throat stopped him from asking.
For a second, the person before him was a child who adored his home and his people, who would do anything to protect it.
For one fractured minute, he was Alberich, failed agent of Khan'reiah, a bleeding heart torn by all the things it loved.
Do you love this one? The question lingered on the tip of his tongue.
Confronted with his little brother, hands clenched tightly in fists, clearly distraught, there was only ever one response Diluc could have.
"Don't they have Jean, the Lion of the South?" Kaeya's gaze snapped up to him, gleaming with gratitude as the claymore wielder continued to try and distract him, "Surely the presence of another of the Four winds would be enough to boost their self esteem.
The cavalry captain grinned, delighted at the mention of his superior,"Our Jean is the most capable and kind leader Mondstadt has ever known. However, she's only the Acting Grandmaster." His smile grew a touch too sharp, "Well, for now at least. Regardless, Jean doesn't carry the same carefree rebellion nor sheer gravitas that are praised in our ballads. The most diligent rule follower isn't exactly the most compelling symbol of freedom." Kaeya's eyes gleamed as he turned to Diluc, "An illegal vigilante on the other hand...."
Said vigilante scoffed, crouching to the ground to dig through his sack. Even with the blue haired nuisance's help, they would still need the advantage of hydro to get the Abyss Herald finished by a reasonable time. And Kaeya had laughed at his water balloons. "Well, they have Amber then. If you're looking for a rule breaker, she's lost her gliding license almost every other week, hasn't she?"
The cryo knight rolled his eyes with fondness, "Our darling Outrider certainly embodies freedom, but the issue is that she tries so hard not to! You wouldn't believe the amount of times she's lectured me about breaking this rule or that!" He sighed, running a hand through his bangs, "Besides, she's a little inexperienced and idealistic to really bring any form of comfort to our citizens. Mondstadt needs a symbol to light up the dark they find themselves in."
Diluc frowned, rummaging around for his extra ammo. He hadn't used that many on the pyrochurl, had he? The slight panic that shot through him distracted the redhead from thinking over his next words.
"In that case, they have you," he stated, nodding triumphantly at the balloons hidden at the bottom of his bag.
When Kaeya didn't immediately quip back, Diluc realized his mistake.
A starry eye stared back at him when he looked up, blinking in utter bafflement.
"I...me? Ar-Are you...drunk?" The words were shaky, incredulous as they left the cavalry captain's mouth. His gaze sharpened as he appraised the Diluc, searching for evidence of intoxication.
Despite everything, it seemed Kaeya had never gotten better at receiving compliments. A snort bubbled in the pyro wielder's chest, warming him from within.
It wasn't often that Diluc got the upper hand verbally.
"Yes, you. If we're talking a symbol that unites Mondstadt, you're the best person for the job," He crossed his arms stoically, staring down the gawking captain. This was surprisingly fun. "From the drunks to the nobility, they all adore you."
Really, why was the cryo wielder so surprised? He carried himself like a preening peacock, surely that wasn't all an act?
"Did you manage to get hit in the head? Is this a concussion?" At the other's raised eyebrow, Kaeya drew back with a forced laugh, "I didn't take you as the type to joke, Master Diluc. Congratulations on finally developing a sense of humour!" He clapped sarcastically, a wry grin on his face.
Suddenly, they both whipped around, remembering the Abyss Herald.
It had not noticed their bickering, sufficiently amused with the axe-mace-crossbow it had conjured from fire. Charming.
"I'm not joking." The more he considered it, the more Kaeya seemed to be the one unifying force in Mondstadt, "You should hear how the old women chortle about Sir Kaeya: The Perfect Grandson." Diluc grumbled at the memories of their prattling echoing through his head,"It's all I hear on Bingo nights, you need to stop rescuing cats or whatever it is that you're doing."
"That's rich, coming from the most eligible bachelor of Mondstadt." The sword wielder huffed, snatching a balloon from Diluc's bag to look it over with a discerning eye. "If you think you've got it bad, try living in Mondstadt two years ago. Constant speculation and gossip on our beloved Master Diluc and what sordid love affairs he may be having." Kaeya stared at Diluc with exaggeratedly haunted eyes, "It was torture."
The claymore wielder focused on attaching the hydro ammo to his belt instead of the scowl that threatened to show itself. It didn't matter what the average citizen thought his disappearance had entailed, it didn't change the truth. Time to pull out the big guns.
"Who cares about yesterday's gossip when you're the one guiding our future?" At Kaeya's embarrassed expression, Diluc couldn't help the fond twitch of his lips, "Klee, Noelle, Fischl, Bennett, Barbara, Razor, I think I've even seen you keeping little Timmy company. They flock to you like birds."
In truth, seeing these encounters had sent a pang through the pyro wielder's heart. It was like staring into a mirror of their past, where it would be him gently coaxing a young Kaeya out of his shell.
"You've somehow become a role model, despite being one of the most irresponsible people I know. Even so-"
The cavalry captain cut in with a faux casualness, waving his sword dismissively, "Yeah, yeah, we get it! I'm good with kids, what can I say? They're easily manipulated," The slight twist of his lip and clenched fist betrayed his discomfort.
If this was the kind of satisfaction that Kaeya got whenever he bounced into the Angel's Share, no wonder he did it so often. Diluc internally thanked his hydro balloon for its sacrifice, crushed in Kaeya's palm. A worthy price to see the normally confident knight desperately trying to deflect any hint of a compliment.
Said knight seemed to have found his next argument as he continued, "They may be our future but Mondstadt's veins have always run red with wine." A mischievous gleam returned to his starry eye as his tone grew patronizing, "Now, I know this is hard for you to wrap your little head around, but alcohol brings people together." Kaeya enunciated every word slowly, as if talking to a child.
It was almost like they were back at the tavern, trading quips instead of on the verge of trading blows with an overgrown Abyss Mage. Though, if they were in Angel's Share, Diluc wouldn't be the one needling his ex-brother.
This was likely a result of some horrid combination of sleep deprived delirium and the life threatening situation.
Probably.
Hopefully.
"I just serve it, reluctantly at that." The redhead huffed slightly, tugging at his left glove, "You're the one drinking alongside them, listening to their rambles and carrying them home. When people think 'wine,' they're picturing your kindness, not mine." Diluc slung his bag over his shoulder, careful not to disturb his belt of hydro ammo.
"I go through all that nonsense to get information out of targets, you know that!" Kaeya emphasized his statement by pointing his sword at the pyro wielder accusingly. A tad over the top. "Any kindness or camaraderie is fake, a tool used to divest them of their precious knowledge-"
A distorted snort sounded from the doorway, startling both vision wielders, "Now that's just bullshit." The hulking frame of the Abyss Herald was dark against the flickering flames as it crossed its arms unamusedly."I'm not a fan of misinformation."
...Perhaps Diluc had miscalculated how bloodthirsty this particular Abyss Herald was. And its talkativeness,
With an undignified yelp, three circling icicles were summoned around Kaeya in a starburst of blinding white. The cryo user stood stock still as the Herald continued forward, despite the melting ice pelting its carapace.
"Did you know that the Hilichurls in Dadupa Gorge have refused to join any attacks on Mondstadt in case it gets you harmed?" Its warped words were punctuated with steady footsteps and the sizzling sound of cryo meeting pyro, "Not just because of your bloodline, nor just the Eclipse Tribe either. All three of them refused."
The Herald's one eye burned with barely concealed frustration as it took another step forward, "When asked, they babble some nonsense about that 'Cavalry Captain promising fruity skewers the next time he drops by for an interrogation'. The tribes haven't even worked with the Abyss Order in months, yet you're still coming by with weekly bribes?"
...That did sound like something the cryo knight would do.
The utterly flabbergasted expression on Kaeya's face flashed to apprehension as the Abyss Herald loomed over him disapprovingly, receiving continuous damage from his Glacial Waltz, "This absurdity only makes sense if you are kind."
If he didn't know any better, Diluc would assume Kaeya had been burned from how red his ears currently were. Taking that as his cue to act, the pyro wielder swung his claymore at the Abyss Herald's neck. Its burning eye flicked to him as it countered with a blade that sprouted from its palm.
Kaeya kicked back into action, nabbing hydro ammo off Diluc's belt and freezing the Herald solid for his flaming claymore to shatter, skillfully dodging the Herald's spiked fireballs thrown his way. Now who needs hydro ammo? Diluc's mind taunted.
As they fell into a comfortable rhythm, the redhead couldn't help but ask, trying his best to keep the tense suspicion out of his voice. It wasn't earned. Yet. "You leave the tribes on Dadupa Gorge alive?"
"Well....yeah?" came the response. Diluc observed the cryo wielder as he melted one of the fireballs before it could explode into a shower of sparks, moving too fast to think of any convincing lie. Or maybe he didn't need one. The pyro wielder's shoulders untensed minutely as he realized he would be getting the truth for once.
"It's easy to give them territory if they stay in it and regardless of what I do, they'll just come back." Kaeya half-shrugged, stabbing a hydro balloon with his sword before freezing the Abyss Herald again.
As the ice encased it yet again, the Herald sighed frustratedly, "Yet another way you've turned the Mondstadt hillichurls against us, being a flashy fighter with creative moves." It shook its head slightly, "Even I must admit that you are a thoroughly enjoyable opponent to fight."
That wasn't ominous at all.
Dual claymores were shaped from pyro, shattering the ice around the Abyss Herald in a burst of scalding water. Diluc was dragged under an ice shield, protected from the splatter.
The Abyss Herald cocked its head in thought as its claymores each began spinning in deadly circles and chasing the vision wielders around the room. "As well, you are not the type to make death an unnecessarily drawn out process...I suppose now I understand why the various hilichurl camps have a Kaeya Kills Counter."
Dodging beneath one claymore and sending a blast of frost towards the Herald, Kaeya's face twisted in disturbed bafflement, "They have a pardon?!"
"A Kaeya Kill Counter," The Abyss Herald answered evenly, melting the frost as cold coated its carapace, "It's so they can determine who you think is the greatest threat that month and then that camp gets the good cooking pot." It paused for a moment in thought, "And flower crowns."
Oh my Archons...
A slight wheeze managed to escape, despite Diluc's best efforts to suppress the cackling laugh that bubbled up in his throat. He masked his amusement with a righteous swing of his claymore, denting the Abyss Herald's armour.
Judging from the glare Kaeya shot at him, Diluc was not successful. Luckily, the cryo captain turned his ire back onto the Abyss Herald, his face painted with pained embarrassment, "For that, I will be sure to award you your very own Kaeya Kill. A slow and painful death."
His statement was punctuated by a frosty stab into the Herald's eye, causing the pyro claymores to spin wildly out of control. With a quiet curse, Diluc crouched under one, taking the opportunity to sweep out the Abyss Herald's leg from out under it.
With an appreciative smirk, Kaeya rushed in with a large blast of cryo in all directions, extinguishing the pyro blades and slowing the Abyss Herald long enough for his companion to stab it into the ground with a claymore.
As they stood for a second to catch their breath, Diluc raised an eyebrow, taking the opportunity to say, "So if I'm understanding correctly, you managed to cripple the Abyss Order in Mondstadt by befriending even the hillichurls?" The sudden drop in temperature was enough of an answer, regardless of Kaeya's unresponsiveness, "You know, that sounds like something right out of a ballad," the redhead continued, with a wry twist of his lips.
That caused Kaeya's head to snap over, eye wide, "Don't you dare tell Ven-" he growled, ice creeping up Diluc's weapon to entrap his hands. He let go, leaving it lodged in the Abyss Herald.
The metal sizzled as pyro projectiles bombarded the frosty claymore, knocking it out of the Herald's chest. It rose to its feet, floating with what looked like pyro flails in its hands, tutting irritatedly at the gaping hole in its chest.
"Well, he really shouldn't get credit for crippling us, Darknight Hero," The Herald spoke conversationally, throwing its flaming chains with deadly precision, "My companions actually all fled the domain when you were spotted."
In lieu of a response, Diluc swung his icy blade, slicing the Herald's arm clean off. It deserved it for being a two-faced traitor with no true allegiance. The loss of an ally in his quest to embarrass his ex-brother would sting but the pyro wielder would remain steadfast in his sleep deprived fueled mission.
Though, at this point, could the lengths he's gone to really be justified only by a lack of sleep?
They cannot, but considering the true reason is too much, too painful on a night like this.
When the thing he's craved for so long seems just barely out of reach but all Diluc finds in his hand is a hollow, empty imitation of a brotherhood that never existed.
Even so, Kaeya's cackle seemed genuine enough as he danced around the Herald's attacks "See Master Diluc? You're feared by the enemies of Mondstadt, exactly as a protector should be!"
The Abyss Herald turned its need to prevent misinformation back to the cryo wielder, "Oh, no need to fret," Its casual tone was contrasted with the flaming chains twisting menacingly, "You're both feared and respected in equal measures, Cavalry Captain."
It was with a long suffering groan that Kaeya frustratedly yanked on one of its chains, sending a creeping layer of frost to encase its other arm. The Herald lurched towards the extra weight, giving the cavalry captain an opening to sweep in close and impale it on his sword.
He spoke exasperatedly, almost pleadingly, as it struggled to dislodge the weapon from its chest, "If I give you one fruity skewer, will you just shut up for the rest of this fight?"
The Abyss Herald ceased struggling for a moment, contemplating Kaeya's offer with interest. That interest disappeared into a scream of pain as Diluc's fiery claymore bore down onto the ice around its arm, shattering the flesh into pieces.
"So generous, even now," The pyro wielder dove under a pair of projectiles headed for his head, too focused on staying alive to stop himself from continuing, "You were always like that with the other knights on missions, sharing rations even if you barely ha-"
That seemed to trigger something in Kaeya, his eye flashing with something bitter and unrecognizable as he cruelly twisted his blade inside the writhing Abyss Herald.
"Speak for yourself," he muttered darkly, cryo shooting through the Herald's chest as the cavalry captain turned to Diluc, "Even all that darkness you cloak yourself in can't hide how brightly your sense of justice glows." Kaeya continued, voice tightening with a touch of wistfulness, "This is your home, you were born to fight in sunlight, with the gentle breeze flying through your hair."
His star shaped pupil burned with a strange intensity as it bore into Diluc, "You are the uncrowned king of Mondstadt so come claim your crown."
It was said with such utter assuredness that it made the vigilante's blood boil. How could Kaeya think any of that when he had spent the last four years up to his knees in blood and darkness, as far away from Mondstadt as he could be? Diluc had pursued the truth above all else and that quest meant he could never be again step into Mondstadt's sunshine as its protector.
Kaeya on the other hand...
"If there's anyone in all of Mondstadt that embodies freedom, it's you." Diluc stated, watching as frost spread from inside the Abyss Herald's chest, "You freed the Knights of Favonius from Eroch's influence, you loosened restrictions on who could join the knights and you utterly disregard any rule that doesn't suit you while still getting the job done."
The sword wielder's lip curled, clearly wanting to retort. However, he had to focus on countering the Herald's desperate pyro manipulation in an attempt to melt the ice slowly killing it. Good, because Diluc wasn't finished yet.
"Even Mondstadt's criminals trust you because you," he punctuated his statement by shattering the outer layer of ice around the Herald, "are unfalteringly kind. You work with those trapped in the dark, harshly exposing them to the light onto them until they have no choice but to change. People see that effort and appreciate you for it."
I appreciate you for it goes unsaid as a thought hit the pyro wielder like lightning. Could that be what Kaeya was doing, coming to bother him at Angel's Share so often? To remind Diluc of his childhood, of the light that still lurked within him despite all the blood that coated his hands?
That was something to mull over later, when Kaeya's laugh didn't sound as it did now, raw and bitter. His face was a collage of shattered fragments glued into the hollow approximation of a grin.
"It seems my performance has managed to trick you just as it has tricked them all," His voice was carefully controlled, cheeriness teetering on the edge of desperation to keep himself intact. Almost like it was that night. "A shame, thought you would know better by now,"
The words stung but not as much as the severe drop in temperature that betrayed Kaeya's frayed nerves.
The Abyss Herald piped up, pyro melting the ice around its head, "The real shame is that your reconnaissance skills being wasted in a dead end job trying to keep a city of booze heads afloat. However, if you join the Abyss Order-"
It was cut off with the sudden jab of a claymore to its throat, "He's not about to betray of city full of people who love hi-"
"They don't know me" Kaeya hisses, eye burning with a desperate pain. The Abyss Herald begins to speak but its mouth is filled with ice, "You don't know me either." The cryo knight deflected its pyro attacks with a furious flick of his sword, the very air freezing around it.
"You all see it is whatever I want you to, nothing more, nothing less. I can be your drinking buddy, your last hope, your brother," he spat out the last word like it hurt to speak, gaze boring into Diluc with the intent to wound, "You could never understand because you cant help how goddamn honest you are, no matter how hard you try."
His voice dropped with the temperature, a frigid statement devoid of emotion, "No one can love someone made of lies, someone they don't even know."
With that, the body of the weakened Abyss Herald was encased in thick ice, pyro attacks unable to manifest in the glacial temperature.
'I know you', Diluc wants to respond. Because he knows Kaeya, knows how he cries silently, knows when the curve of his lips is fake, knows how he deflects any and all compliments.
Except he doesn't know him.
Not fully.
Because the Kaeya he grew up with was just the tip of the iceberg, hiding whatever laid underneath the roiling darkness of the sea. And when those depths cleared slightly to give Diluc the chance to truly know his brother, he responded with a flaming claymore.
Therefore, no words were exchanged between them as the merciless interrogation began.
Though if Diluc's pyro vision worked overtime to keep Kaeya warm in the frosty temperature, it was his business and his alone.
**********************************************************
The ex-brothers exited the domain, the dying screams of the Abyss Herald still ringing through the pre-dawn air. The Abyssal shriek seemed like only a bad dream with the scent of morning dew and the gentle breeze.
The ache in Diluc's bones and the bags under Kaeya's eyes indicated otherwise. Neither had spoken a word to each other since the Abyss Herald was subdued in that frozen room. Though the venom filled words spewed earlier hung heavy between them as the two took a seat on a stump.
Staring at the sky, Diluc broke the silence, voice loud in the quiet morning air, "Suppose you feel like telling me what reason was good enough that you followed me all night, demanding I come forward as the Darknight hero?"
At Kaeya's lack of response, he turned to him clumsily, brain muddled from a lack of sleep, "Please don't give me another excuse, I don't know how many more compliments I have in me." The joke fell from his lips before Diluc could rethink his statement. It seemed the lack of sleep really was getting to him.
The cryo captain glared at him with crossed arms, though the drowsy tilt of his head somewhat ruined the effect. "Mondstadt desperately needs a symbol to unify them, it wasn't just-"
Diluc lazily held up a hand in surrender, cutting him off, "I...I know." It was far too early in the morning for any argument, grudges vaporizing like the morning dew in the early sunlight, "But it's not the reason you chased me through ruins designed to kill me and beat up an Abyss Herald." He swallowed, his voice growing softer than it had been in years, "Whatever that reason is, I'll at least consider it."
Kaeya slowly turned to him, searching Diluc's face with a hopelessly lost expression. "I..." he started quietly, turning to stare at the horizon, avoiding the vigilante's gaze.
"I don't want to plan another Ragnvindr funeral." he whispered, the words an exhausted whisper caressed by the wind. They sounded like they had lacerated the sword wielder's throat, fragments of tenderness too fragile to withstand the harsh sunlight.
Warmth bloomed in Diluc's chest, that tiny traitorous part that would still give up the world for his baby brother's smile.
"Kae..."
The nickname just slipped out, as natural as breathing. However, the cryo wielder's shoulder's jumped up in response, eye flickering anxiously towards Diluc.
"It's just, they're so tedious!" The words tumbled out panickedly, another mask to hide any trace of weakness, "Pick a casket, pick a plot of land, flowers, guests, invitation designs, it's the worst!"
He pouted exaggeratedly, gesticulating accusingly. As if that would be enough to hide how much the idea truly bothered him. "Why do you rich people need to be so extravagant on literally every occasion??!!" Kaeya whined, slouching over to sit on a boulder.
"Yes of course, I'm the extravagant one," The light-hearted teasing grew easier by the second, harsh tones softening in the sunrise.
The cryo wielder gasped in mock horror, arm to his chest, "I'll have you know the cape is for combat purposes only! I've dazzled many a hilichurl to death." Kaeya tilted his head in mock arrogance, only the soft glint of his eye betraying his amusement.
"Oh, so that explains the blinding gold of your accessories." Diluc said wryly, unable to contain the tiniest smile that spread across his face as the knight wordlessly raised a judgemental eyebrow at the tassels decorating his overcoat.
After all, this conversation would not have been out of place five years ago, while they were getting dressed for the day, sunlight beaming through the mansion's windows.
Despite the lies, despite the time apart, they could so easily fall back into playing the role of brothers.
Though, judging from the utter sincerity in Kaeya's smile, perhaps he was never playing a role.
So that would mean it was Diluc who had-
A quiet exhale drew the pyro wielder from his thoughts as his ex-brother shifted slightly. His gaze dropped from Diluc's ostentatious coat to the Dawn Winery cradled at the base of the hill, still swaddled in the dark blanket of night, edges glowing from the faint sunlight. Kaeya's starry eye sobered, turning back to the vigilante with newfound conviction.
"So now that you know my utter distaste for the nuances of casket wood, you will be joining forces with the knights?" It was not a question, more a command delivered in the assured determination of a cavalry captain. If he had not previously been the one delivering such orders, Diluc may have folded under the weight of Kaeya's authority.
It was precisely because of such authority that the redhead sighed, shaking his head sleepily, "I can't."
The cryo captain's tone took on a desperate note as he leaned forward, "If you're worried about Huffman, don't be. He won't bother you." Kaeya's hand balled into fists as his voice bordered the edge of pleading, "The rest of the Knights will leave you alone, just take them for backup or if you need hea-"
He didn't get it, did he? Diluc's gaze hardened as he shook his head more fervently, "My answer is no. There's too many diplomatic restric-"
Kaeya's eye flashed with an icy rage as he leaned forward, a furious curl to his lip, "Oh, you wanna talk diplomacy?" His voice was more a wild hiss, barely contained by a razor thin string of false cheeriness, "How about the diplomacy I'll need to employ when I show up to the winery with your bloodstained coat and inform Adelinde that you had died cold and alone on Dragonspine, slowly choking on your own blood?" The sword wielder's swallowed harshly, a pained, manic smile twisting his lips.
"Or perhaps you'll run astray a Fatui Pyro Agent and all I'll have to show them are your charred remains?" His voice grew higher as he fought to maintain his composure, "Or maybe you've simply been missing for months and we don't know if you're alive or dead or...or..."
They weren't talking about the Darknight Hero anymore.
Kaeya finally took a breath, slow and shaky, shimmering eye fixated on Diluc. Nodding slightly to himself, he took another breath, this time slightly steadier, slightly deeper.
Realizing he had been staring, Kaeya's gaze darted to the ground, focusing on a small lampgrass growing by the tree, still glowing in the relative darkness.
"...Sorry," he finally whispered, still staring at the flower "Long night, overactive imagination. You know how it is," The cryo wielder's voice was flat, all emotion damped as he moved to stand.
His tone grew airier, false flippancy smoothing over the notes of pain with a bright smile, "Well Master Ragnvindr, I really can't do much if you refuse to work with-"
They had been brothers. Regardless if some of it was a lie, they were still once brothers.
If Kaeya had loved him, even a sliver of how much Diluc had cared for him...
If his little brother had suddenly disappeared one day when they were younger, Diluc's nerves would have been alight with constant worry, an endless streams of what-ifs and regret until his brother was safely home.
He had put Kaeya through that sort of hell for years.
To a lesser extent, he had inflicted that on Adelinde, on Elzer and on Jean.
But Kaeya would have been hurt most of all.
How long does it take for someone's love to burn out when all it's met with is deafening silence and scalding flames?
"...I'd work with you," The words manifested before the pyro wielder could think, hand darting out to catch his ex-brother's wrist.
The departing captain's head snapped back towards him, cautious confusion piercing his icy gaze, "What?"
Diluc let go of Kaeya's hand, fiddling with his glove as he spoke haltingly, " I can't work with the Knights because of all the..." He gestured vaguely, still avoiding the sword wielder's befuddled gaze,"...complications. However....you know how to be discreet." Diluc could see the cryo captain's lips purse, likely holding back a deflection, " And..."
Their eyes met, red eyes meeting a starry pupil, "Some competent backup wouldn't hurt."
Silence hung between them as Kaeya slowly nodded, processing this with a furrowed brow, brain completely disregarding the compliment, "Okay. So are you sending a falcon before you plunge into dangerous situations or am I having someone tail you or...?" His mind was already whirring, sifting through the logistics of this proposal without any protest.
It was so similar to how they had operated within the Knights that it made Diluc's heart ache with nostalgia.
Pressing his lips together, the redhead mulled over their options, "Neither of those are realistic considering our resources. Perhaps...we could..." He paused, hesitant to cause such a drastic shift in whatever relationship they now had. Or shatter it again. "...we could meet to discuss our plans? Once a week maybe?"
The Winery would need a lot of work before it would be suitable to host Kaeya, even if it was only once a week. There were sensitive documents to conceal, sheets to replace in case of an overnight stay, armouries to be locked... After all, even if Kaeya had once cared for them, there was no guarantee he still did now. Especially after that rainy night that had ended with him banned him from the Winery in the first place.
The cryo captain cut into his thoughts with a hum of affirmation, "Sundays would work, right?" He drummed his hand against the tree bark, thinking, "Angel's Share closes early, that leaves plenty of time for covert discussions."
...That made far more sense than meeting at the Winery. A slight scowl crawled onto Diluc's face as he sullenly crossed his arms, "I do have work to do, you know," he stated flatly.
Kaeya shrugged, his attempt at casualness marred by the slight tension in his shoulders, "Well, you know, four hands are faster than two." Golden memories flashed in Diluc's mind, a young boy on a stool quietly washing the dishes, a gangly teen rushing inside to help the maids get a headstart on supper, a blue cape flashing in the corner of a bar as drinking glasses are mysteriously cleaned.
"You're not getting out of this arrangement that easily, you know," Kaeya quipped, flicking Diluc on the head and drawing him back to the present.
Rubbing at the spot on his forehead, the pyro wielder rolled his eyes, "Wouldn't dream of it." He was looking forward to it actually.
The cryo knight's eye crinkled into a half moon before becoming hardening again, narrowing at Diluc, "You'll tell me about any and all missions you've got planned, right? After tonight, I don't exactly trust your definition of 'dangerous situation'" His voice was light but the sharpness of his eye betrayed his genuine concern.
The vigilante barely had to consider it for a second, ignoring the sting of his pride, "I will." His activities tended to be based on weeks of planning so it wouldn't be too difficult, "Well, as long as you do the same," he added, staring meaningfully at the Cavalry Captain.
Kaeya startled slightly, blinking at Diluc uncomprehendingly with narrowed eyes, "But...why?" he finally asked.
A slight grin ghosted the redhead's face," We can't have Mondstadt's beloved Cavalry Captain out of commission, can we?" His ex-brother's face fell as the pyro wielder continued with a hint of glee in his voice. He really needed to start giving Kaeya a taste of his own medicine."The elders of Mondsatdt would be beside themselves with grief."
With a slight shake of his head, Kaeya buried his face in his palms, ears slightly flushed. He mumbled something incomprehensible before looking up to glare at Diluc.
That glare softened with a thoughtful tilt of his head as he gaze turned more appraising. After a moment of silence, the cryo knight acquiesced with a soft sigh, "Whatever plans I have for that week by Sunday, you'll be the first to know."
It was the best that the vigilante was going to get out of him. Kaeya's actions were either meticulously planned or completely spontaneous and to expect anything else would be foolish.
"I'll be holding you to that then," Diluc said, extending his hand.
After a second's hesitation, his ex-brother clasped it tightly, his small smile echoing a thousand handshakes, when there was only soft warmth and golden light.
But maybe they could forge a new brotherhood, in this space between the dark and the dawn.