Chapter Text
Diluc blinked in shock. “Come again.”
Lumine slapped his chest with a scowl on her face. “You heard me perfectly Master Diluc.”
“I know. I just wanted you to repeat it to be sure.” Diluc hid a smile. “I’m sorry.”
Lumine paced back and forth across the master bedroom. “I don’t know what to do. Are you… Do you want kids?”
Diluc froze in putting on his gloves. He thought that question over. “I’m not the best with kids, I’ll admit. I tend to appear cross and I have heard some say a little cold. But… I think it will be a good experience. I’m not opposed to the idea.”
Lumine snorted. “It’s a little more than an idea at this point.” She reached down for her dress and slipped it over her head.
Diluc had a thought. “Where are you staying?”
Lumine eyed him before tying her dress up. “At the adventurer’s guild’s headquarters.”
Diluc opened his mouth to invite her here but Lumine held up her hand.
“No.” Lumine slipped her boots on.
“Lumine? You can’t-” Diluc protested.
“Let me stop you right there, Diluc.” Lumine placed her hands on her hips. “No one will tell me what to do. Starting a sentence with you can’t is the worst thing you can do right now.”
Diluc backed off. “I just…” Diluc huffed with frustration. “Be safe. I will check in later.”
Lumine nodded and headed for the door. She paused with her hand on the knob. “Give me a few days to sort things out. I promise I won’t make any big decisions without you.”
Diluc watched her go. His jaw clenched. He scowled down at the bed. He dropped to sit on the edge. What did he do?
Lumine was the one who decided on a friends-with-benefits relationship as she called it. Slowly over the last four months, he had fallen deeper in love with the famed blonde traveler. He loved her but it appeared she didn’t love him. Not enough to stay.
He knew she could have asked anybody and they would have jumped at the chance. Kaeya would have been first in line. But she asked him. That had to count for something right.
And now she had the next Ragnvindr heir and she didn’t love him to stay. What was he going to do?
******
Diluc was tending the bar that night. His mind was elsewhere. He had already messed up four drinks.
Charles had taken one look at him and shooed him from behind the bar. He was now cleaning tables and glasses.
“Oh my. When I heard that poor Charles was manning the bar all by himself on your busiest night, I simply had to see for myself.” Kaeya’s butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-my-mouth tone grated on Diluc’s nerves.
He clenched his hand around a rag and shot him an irritated glare. “Go away, Kaeya.” He growled.
Kaeya didn’t listen and leaned against the table where he was picking up glasses. “I saw a certain blonde traveler today. She looked a bit unwell. Is there trouble in paradise?”
Diluc felt himself heating up. Of course, he knew about their arrangement. What didn’t he know? “Drop it.”
“Oh ho. Have I hit a nerve?” Kaeya’s eye was glazed and his cheeks were flushed with the alcohol in his system.
Diluc took a deep breath. Kaeya was a high-ranking official in the city. Diluc cannot fight him in his bar. “Kaeya? You have two seconds to back off.”
“Touchy subject. Noted.” Kaeya took a step back. “Now why is the traveler all on her lonesome when she is sick? Anyone could step in and-”
Diluc felt his emotions get the better of him. He took one step forward and punched Kaeya in the jaw. Kaeya let out a shout and toppled back onto a table. Luckily an empty one. All heads were facing their direction. Diluc ignored them and started cleaning up the empty glasses left behind by a group of merchants.
“Luc?” Kaeya stood up and brushed off his clothes. “What is eating you?”
Diluc didn’t answer and stared down at the full tray. Kaeya. He punched Kaeya all because of some teasing words? That was not like him.
“Out,” Diluc ordered. “We are closed.”
Everyone scurried out of the tavern. Whispers were exchanged behind hands. When only Kaeya remained, Diluc sighed and sat down at the table. He wrinkled his nose and shoved away the glasses that reeked of wine.
Kaeya walked away before coming back with a chilled bottle of Death After Noon. He pressed it to his swollen jaw. “Explain.”
Diluc stared down at his hands. “Lumine and I have an arrangement. No feelings just letting off steam.”
Kaeya nodded slowly. “I know about that. What happened?”
Diluc ran his hand over his chin. “I caught feelings.” He deadpanned.
Kaeya pulled the bottle away from his face and opened it. He took a long gulp out of it. “She doesn’t feel the same?”
“She doesn’t know,” Diluc admitted. “I haven’t told her.”
“Then what’s bothering you? I haven’t seen you this riled… ever.” Kaeya raised the bottle to his lips.
“She’s expecting.” Diluc dodged the fine mist of alcohol that came pouring out of Kaeya’s mouth. He scowled and backed away. “Disgusting. Did you have to spray it everywhere? You are cleaning that.”
“Come again? I think I might have something in my ear. You said that the Honorary Knight is expecting what?” Kaeya put his finger in his ear and twisted it.
“My kid.” Diluc felt a sort of soft thrill come over him at those words.
“Right.” Kaeya took another long drink from the bottle. He set it down with a thud. “What’s the issue exactly?”
Diluc groaned in exasperation. “I told you already. We have an arrangement. No feelings. I love her. She doesn’t love me. She is going to have the next heir. I don’t know what to do.”
“I find it simple.” Kaeya leaned back in his seat. “Woo her.”