Chapter Text
Taken Place Around Chapter 2
Diluc Raginvindr was a name and individual all in Mondsadt knew of very well. From his iconic flame-colored hair and eyes to the graceful and powerful way he carried himself, any true native to the land of wine and song knew who the uncrowned king of Mondsadt was and what he stood for.
But there was a lesser known fact that many did not know about the former youngest captain the Knights of Favonius had ever seen. No, it wasn’t the fact he was the Darknight Hero or what he had been up to all those years alone in the icy terrain of Snezhnaya. It was the fact that Diluc Raginvindr was petty.
Very, very petty.
It had taken him over an hour to catch that rat (and he had done it completely by accident when he crashed into the building, fell into a trash bin, and landed directly on top of the creature, stunning it long enough for him to catch and kill it), but hearing Kaeya’s horrified shriek made it all worth it.
It was rare to see Kaeya Alberich truly and utterly pissed. While the man tended to get mad or annoyed, being livid was an emotional state more akin to the elder brother. So seeing the spark in Kaeya’s eye shift from horror to fury as he realized who had just managed to fling a dead rat directly on top of his head was more satisfying than Diluc had thought it would be.
Served the man right for being so obtuse he clearly didn’t look twice at the owl who was very clearly not a normal variant of the species he had turned into. Honestly, did Kaeya not realize that eagle owls weren’t tinted red? Nor did they fly around during the day? Nor was his behavior of allowing Lisa and other’s handle him in a docile manner typical bird behavior?
The one person Diluc had thought might actually have a shot of realizing who he was being a complete and full ass.
The owl wobbled in the air as he clutched a rotten apple in his talons. Trying not to wince in disgust at the feeling it caused by smooshing and smearing all over his feet. The discomfort was worth it as he spotted his brother below. Clearly more than a little paranoid now as he ducked under shop doorsteps, squinting up into the darkness of the night. Waiting for Diluc to return once more after a night of skyward attacks.
Too bad for him it was a cloudy night, allowing Diluc’s dark silhouette to blend seamlessly against the sky above. He released the apple, twisting his head and neck to watch it sail forward before falling directly. Smashing against the pavement near Kaeya’s feet as the cryo user managed to catch sight of the apple hurtling towards him at the last possible second. .
“Hah!” Kaeya called up to him with a smirk on his voice. “Missed!”
Diluc huffed as he flew ahead. Passing Kaeya and the street he was on below. The cursed man shifted his tail feathers in an attempt to turn around and try to get his brother’s attention once again, but instead of allowing him to go back his tail dipped down dangerously as he miscalculated its angle. He hurried to right himself, but it was too late. He crashed hard onto the roof of a building tail. Rolling undignified across the clay roofing tiles. Diluc’s frightened shriek and talons did little to stop him as he tumbled off the building and into the grass below.
He landed in a winded, tangled heap.
The owl groaned. Archons he was going to kill Kaeya. How did Kaeya not know it was him yet? He had followed him everywhere. He had used their code. He had shown clear signs of intelligence that were atypical for normal birds. And he was fucking red for archon’s sake.
Diluc managed to flop over onto his stomach, flapping his wings in distress as he tried to right himself. Gods.
What else could he do to get the captain’s attention?
Anger coursed through his tiny feathery body. His feathers were all disorderly and grimy from the inability to or lack of knowledge how to properly clean them. He hadn’t eaten or slept properly in days . He was exhausted from the journey of getting from Stormterror’s Lair to the city and then having to follow his brother around like some deranged dog begging for attention from its master.
How long was it going to take for people to realize he was actually missing ? That something was wrong?
Not even for his sake, but for the rest of Mondsadt. That Lector and Mage were still out there. Who knew how many other victims it would create before the Knights even figured out something wasn’t right.
Diluc sniffed and shook his head as he glared at the ground below. Angry that he was at a place in his life that it had been nearly a week since he had turned into a bird and still no one was worried about him.
He supposed he really had done a good job of not relying on others after all.
The owl’s head snapped up as he noticed movement to his left. His feathers flared out as he noticed a cat staring at him from beneath a tree, its paw hovering above the tainted soil as though his crash landing had disturbed it in the middle of digging.
Diluc would have smirked in that moment had he still been able to. Knowing exactly what the next object he was about to throw on Kaeya was going to be.
He didn’t miss that time.
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Taken Place Around Chapters 6 & 7
“I’m fine to rest on my own, Master Diluc,” Jean insisted as she made her way out of the Grand Master’s office and towards the front entrance of the Headquarters, glancing down at the owl that followed after her.
Diluc hooted solemnly at her in return. After Albedo, it wouldn’t be wise to allow someone as important as Jean going off by herself with no one to keep an eye out. The last thing they needed was to lose the Acting Grand Master to the curse as well.
While Jean could not speak owl, she knew her former senior well enough to know he was insisting on following through on Kaeya’s request to go with her to ensure she stayed safe as well as actually get some sleep.
“At least let me carry you,” Jean squatted before him, offering her arm. “I’m so tired I might accidentally step on your tail otherwise.”
The bird huffed softly as he accepted her invitation. Knowing he’d probably slow her down anyways. It would be better for Jean to carry him so she could actually get to sleep faster. He settled on her shoulder. Twisting his head about to make sure nothing snuck up on the two of them as they headed towards the Knight’s dorms.
The owl made no attempt to communicate, but after making sure no one else was around, Jean spoke.
“I’m worried about him.”
Diluc looked back down at her. Blinking in question though he had a good idea of who she was talking about.
“He has a bad habit of rushing off into danger before anyone else knows what is going on,” the anemo allogene’s muscles tensed under Diluc’s talons as she clenched her fists in worry. “I’m afraid he is going to do something reckless in an attempt to stop the Lector. It worries me that he was gone for so long earlier and no one knew where he was. He doesn’t care about his safety like I wish he would.”
Diluc blinked at her again. Listening to the whispered confession.
“He is clever and capable,” Jean continued with a sigh, “And I trust him with my life, but I don’t trust him with his. He doesn’t see its value.”
Diluc’s heart clenched as Jean turned her large piercing eyes towards him. “Master Diluc, I know I and the Knights have already asked you a lot with this entire curse business. But might I ask you to do me one more favor?”
The cursed man hooted softly. Nodding. Of course, he would do whatever Jean asked. While Diluc had an issue with the Knights as an organization, he had no qualm with the Acting Grand Master. He knew how good she was. How hard she worked to be the type of knight that would be a shining beacon of an example for all to see. One pure and good.
“Can you just try to keep an eye on him?” her eyes burned into him. “I know you two have your differences now, and that that is something only the two of you understand, but I also know what it is like to have a younger sibling.”
The anemo allogene broke eye contact long enough to look worriedly towards the Cathedral in the distance. Her shoulders slumped with emotions.
“I once told Kaeya that I felt like Barbara didn’t need me any more. Not after I failed to be a proper big sister to her,” she sighed heavily. “Do you know what he said to me?”
Diluc shook his head. Watching his friend closely.
“He told me ‘a little sibling always needs their big one’,” Jean gave him a knowing look, causing the owl to turn away.
Sure. It was easy to see how Barbara could need Jean in her life, but Kaeya needing Diluc? That was a laughable thought. But Diluc did suppose it would appear that he and Kaeya were similar. For, as far as he could tell, Kaeya never told her what happened on the evening of his 18th birthday, and Diluc certainly never did.
Jean wouldn’t say such nonsense if she knew what he had said to Kaeya. What he had done.
“I know he misses you,” Jean turned around as well, finally reaching the Knights’ dorms. She climbed up the steps and headed inside. Nodding a greeting at the doorkeeper before she made her way to the Grand Master’s suite upstairs. “And, despite the theatrics, he does listen to you. He cares about what you think, Diluc.”
The owl sighed deeply. Shooting her a look that clearly said ‘ Sure, he does’ in a sarcastic tone.
“Even if you don’t believe it, I know it,” Jean insisted as she reached the door and shoved it open. Stepping inside to a neat and tidy room that had its own bathroom attached to it, unlike the rest of the rooms who shared a common one. “Kaeya might have pretended to change while you were away, but deep down he is still that shy-soft spoken boy.”
Diluc carefully hopped from Jean’s shoulder to land on the baseboard of the bed. Giving her a disbelieving look once more.
The anemo allogene sat on a nearby chair and began to pull off her boots and accessories. “I can tell you still don’t believe me. Be that may, will you keep an eye on him? Help me keep him safe?”
The owl nodded solemnly.
The Acting Grand Master smiled and some relief seemed to be given as he agreed. “Thank you, Master Diluc.”
Diluc nodded once more as he settled a bit more comfortably on the baseboard. Watching as Jean stood and went to the closet and opened it. SHe pulled out a bag with her initials on it.
“I keep spare clothes here,” she admitted at the owl’s inquisitive stare. “Don’t tell Kaeya or Lisa, but I’ve spent quite a few nights here when things are hectic. They don’t think to look for me here so I can get work done.”
The cursed man sighed, giving her a shrewd look.
“I’m going to go wash down,” she ignored it. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t wait for me. I know you need some sleep too.”
Diluc sighed as the door clicked shut behind her and his head bent down, allowing him to gaze at the floor. Thinking over the Acting Grand Master’s words.
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