Chapter Text
Diluc doesn't celebrate his birthday. He hasn't in three years, it's not going to change now.
There's nothing to celebrate, really. Yet there's so much to mourn.
The death of his father and the loss of his brother.
Both of which are his fault, and it brings Diluc a twisted sort of amusement as he looks in the mirror. The Ragnvindr prodigy, a Vision at ten and a Cavalry Captain at fourteen.
A murderer with a second attempt at eighteen.
His father's perfect little son to the man's killer.
His brother's fiercest protector who then made an attempt on his life.
It's ironic. It's twisted, and bitter, and Diluc dryly chuckles as he feels bile rise up in his throat. He swallows it back down with a burning sensation, still staring at the mirror.
He looks like shit. Bags deep as a trench and skin pasty white like a ghost. He looks like he hasn't slept in a week, and maybe he hasn't. Diluc can't really tell, he always tends to slip around his birthday. It's in a week, and he doubts he'll be back to normal for another two. An entire month that he's out of commission, all because of a few nightmares.
Of course, it hadn't been half as bad as it is now, but perhaps when you're literally running from your problems they don't hit as hard until after you lay down and give up.
"Master Diluc, may I come in?" Adelinde asked, and Diluc sighed, doing his best to steel his appearance for the day to come before moving to the door.
"What is it, Adelinde?" DIluc asked, his voice unusually scratchy as he opened the door and adjusted his glove. He hoped Adelinde would not ask, and knowing her, she probably wouldn't. Despite how much she cares for the wine tycoon, she knows better than to pry when it comes to Diluc. Knows that the redhead would rather keep silent than shed the slightest light on his troubles.
Maybe he would have, three years ago. He knows that back then, he'd so often chat with Elzer and Adelinde about his issues. They'd always been good at resolving it as well.
That just wouldn't work anymore. Not after what happened.
It wasn't like Diluc had only turned his back on Kaeya back then. He'd gone against what his father would have wanted, gone against what Adeline or Elzer would have advised.
And look where it's gotten him?
Scars in places that no enemy could reach.
"Are you feeling unwell, Master Diluc?" Adelinde asks and he waves a dismissive hand.
"I'm fine. Just tell me what you need," Adelinde sighs, but doesn't push.
Diluc is thankful for that.
Diluc's birthday is coming up, and Kaeya finds himself downing more wine than normal. Not enough to get drunk, he rarely drinks that much, but enough to get a buzz. Enough to not feel dead on his feet. Enough to not look in the mirror and want to claw his eye out.
It's enough to get him through work without damaging its quality.
The only annoying part about alcohol is when it finally leaves his system. The low always hits hard, and Kaeya hates it. Hates when the buzz fades and he's left to face his thoughts without the liquor.
Kaeya lays on his couch, watching the flickering fireplace as he clutches a bottle of dandelion wine that's already half empty. Maybe he should drop by Angel's Share, if he's around people it will be a lot easier to control his drinking.
Mainly because having Diluc ignore him sobers Kaeya up as much as it makes him want to drink more.
Ah, Diluc. Kaeya can't help but take another swig of the bottle as he thinks about his bro- about the Ragnvindr. He'd changed a lot in three years. Gone was the Diluc who was always smiling, the one who almost never seemed down. He'd barely ever look at Kaeya with anything other than annoyance, and it stung. He didn't stay and chat when people talked to him, he constantly criticised the knights, and he barely even spoke with Jean.
Diluc had changed, all because Kaeya was an idiot.
Crepus made a mistake taking him in.
Kaeya groaned, going to take another sip from the bottle only to find it empty. Just his luck. He has work in the morning anyways, he shouldn't be drinking anymore but he's managed to think himself into needing another bottle. Really, the fact he manages to do so easily is annoying.
A knock comes from his door, and Kaeya sighs, getting up and putting the bottle on the table before hopefully fixing his appearance. He can't really tell, as there's only one mirror in his home and he's not about to go all the way over to it.
"Hm?" Kaeya opens the door, leaning against the frame and smiling.
Venti was there, giggling away with a flush on his face and two bottles in his hands as Rosaria stared at him.
"Seee! I told you Kaeya'd be up!"
"It's already past midnight, none of us should be up," Rosaria states and Kaeya quirks a brow. He's a bit surprised that the two are here rather than Angels Share, but he hasn't exactly kept track of the time so if Rosaria is right, it's likely closed by now. Perhaps that's why Venti has dragged the Sister here.
"What, you got a bedtime or something, Rosaria?" Kaeya asks, a hint of amusement in his voice despite not really caring for the situation. Rosaria glares at him crossing her arms.
"I'd rather not be dealing with a hungover bard while sleep deprived," Fair enough, Venti did hang around the Statue of Barbatos near the cathedral. Barbara already deals with creeps so the other Sisters would no doubt send Rosaria after Venti. Or she'd decide to deal with him herself.
"Areee you gonna let us in, Kaeyaaa?" Venti asks, and Kaeya rolls his eye.
"I'd also rather not work without my beauty sleep, so I'm afraid you'll have to drink somewhere else tonight," Kaeya responds, and Venti groans, going to speak more before Rosaria grabs him by his collar.
"Good, I'm going to toss him into Cider Lake and see if that sobers him up,"
"You'reee so meeeeannn!" Kaeya watched as Rosaria dragged the bard away, Venti waving his arms and spilling alcohol from the bottles all the while.
Kaeya shut his door, making sure to lock it before stumbling over to the ice box.
One more bottle before he sleeps.
Just one more.