Chapter Text
There was no sound in his office besides the occasional thunk of a dart hitting its mark, the rhythmic ticking of the clock above the door and light scratching of pen on paper.
Kaeya had fallen into the monotonous action of signing and filling out paperwork, completely in his own world, but still aware of his brother draped across one of the seats opposite his desk. His legs were kicked up over the arms of the chair as if he owned the place (which he did at one stage) and was throwing darts at the board to Kaeya’s left.
He eventually ran out of darts and stretched in the chair, letting his heels kick the side of it. Resting his head on one hand, Diluc looked at his brother’s concentrated frown, brows furrowed and eye locked onto the words in front of him. He looked up at the ceiling, counting each candle on the chandelier before sighing.
Glancing again at his brother, he sighed once more.
No reaction.
He scowled and throw his head back dramatically, letting out a long, drawn-out groan/sigh.
“If you’re so bored then why are you in my office? I told you I’d be working on reports.” Kaeya didn’t even so much as flinch nor look up at him. Diluc pouted and shifted until he was sitting properly in the chair and looked over at the many papers on his brother’s desk. There was one of a dark sketch of a person, half hidden underneath several other papers.
“I’m here to annoy you. Which you are proving to be a difficult task.” He said, slipping delicate fingers in between the papers and pulling out the sketch without causing a single crease. How ironic. It was a fairly good sketch of the Darknight Hero.
Too bad they were completely wrong.
“Huffman.” Kaeya confirmed, flicking a page to read the next one underneath. “He’s very adamant on catching you. He’s convinced you’re his arch nemesis.” He said with a humorous huff.
“Poor man. Wonder what he’d do if he found out it’s me.” Diluc said, nonchalantly.
“If you keep talking that loud the whole compound will know.” They fell back into a comfortable silence as Kaeya’s whole attention was redirected to the paperwork. Which Diluc apparently did not like.
Tracing his fingers along the grooves of the wooden desk, he met the inkwell and lightly nudged it, testing the waters of his little brothers patience with him for the day. When no reaction came, he nudged it again but harder.
Any second now...
He sighed again, pushing it about a two inches closer to the edge. Another glance up to his brother’s face. Only the slightest hint of annoyance in the way his lips twitched. He held back a snicker and pushed it again.
Come on...
Suddenly, he sat up straight, pulling his hand away and looking towards the clock. He could feel Kaeya’s gaze on him, anticipating his next move. Once the cold stare of his brother disappeared, he relaxed again and walked his fingers towards the inkwell once more. They hovered right next to it, barely an inch away from the edge of the desk, as he looked Kaeya dead in the eyes. Or, well, eye.
“Don’t.”
Diluc grinned.
Flick.
Thankfully, Kaeya’s limited eyesight didn’t hinder his reflexes at all and before the inkwell could hit the floor, he caught it.
“That’s it. Get out of my office. You’re so- You’re supposed to be the older brother, not the younger annoying one. You’re taking my job from me.”
“Oops.” Diluc grinned.
At least he’s smiling, Kaeya thought. It’s been a long time since he’s seen that carefree smile.
“Don’t you have any important winery owner bullshit to deal with? Or anyone else you can go bother?” Kaeya grumbled, placing the inkwell back on the desk, away from his brother’s reach. Honestly, he was like cat, always knocking your things over with a smug grin. He looked back down at the report in front of him, reading a line before realising that Diluc had gone silent.
Immediate regret filled Kaeya as he looked up and saw the distant look on Diluc’s face. The redhead was staring at a speck of dust on his desk, refusing to meet Kaeya’s gaze.
It had been about a month since the... incident (Kaeya liked to pretend that it had never happened sometimes) and while Diluc showed no signs of attempting to hurt himself or worse, he was still incredibly depressed. Obviously, Kaeya mentally kicked himself. Obviously he would still be fucking depressed, it’s not like all of his trauma and issues were fixed over one barely coherent conversation and a few hugs.
They’d been getting along fairly well, still slightly awkward at times as they were readjusting to being a constant presence in each other’s lives. Kaeya had gotten so wrapped up in his excitement about having his brother back that he hadn’t stop to think about it.
Diluc didn’t have any friends.
Well, excluding him and the Traveller, but Lumine was very often out of Monstadt and hard to reach.
Diluc didn’t have anyone to spend his free time with besides Kaeya, and most times their schedules didn’t line up. Kaeya would be working whenever Diluc was free and vice versa.
In the thick, heavy silence, Kaeya could see the blush rising in Diluc’s cheeks as he put two and two together. Diluc had always been much more outgoing than Kaeya, always being content to freely walk up to a stranger and start a conversation whereas Kaeya would hide behind him with anxiety. Though he may still be fairly introverted (along with some weird quirks that Kaeya had a suspicion about), Diluc was a people person.
He had been derived of normal, healthy social contact for years and was most certainly yearning for it.
No wonder he had put aside his distaste for the Knights just to see Kaeya while he was at work.
“Diluc-“ Kaeya started, but was immediately cut off.
“I’m fine.” Diluc rushed, waving his nonchalantly. It was a gesture Kaeya was all too personally familiar with. “It’s better if I don’t get close to people. Vigilante stuff and all that.”
He feigned a look of indifference, picking at his nails instead of looking at Kaeya.
“You’re lonely.” Kaeya stated blankly.
“I work at a tavern,” Diluc snorted. “I’m never alone.”
“Using humour to deflect away from your problems isn’t your usual tactic.” Kaeya stated, setting his fountain pen down and leaning back in his chair, all of his attention on his brother. Diluc shifted nervously under his accusatory gaze and scowls. “That’s my thing, not yours.”
“What is this? A therapy session?” He snapped, clearly getting more and more uncomfortable with having to confront his issues.
“Don’t get defensive, I'm trying to help-“
“I'm not getting defensive.” Diluc cut him off, hands gripping the arms of the chair so tightly his knuckles were going white. Kaeya could see the agitation swirling in his eyes, but he could also see the panic lying underneath. Waiting.
“You are.” Kaeya replied cooly, maintaining a calm composure. It wouldn't help if the both of them got angry, and he was hoping that the soft tone would ease his brother’s rising anxiety. Even from small snippets of each other's private lives over the past four years, Kaeya managed to conclude that Diluc got easily agitated when he was anxious. And then he’d get angry.
Kaeya remembers the last time Diluc was angry when they were alone.
“No shit, I'm getting defensive. You’re being- You-“ Diluc stuttered over his words, knowing he has no way to win this since they both know he's in the wrong.
Let go of your pride, Luc.
Diluc’s frustration only grew as he struggled to speak. His right leg started bouncing rapidly and his nails were scratching against the fabric of pants as he fought to control his breathing.
“You’re getting angry-“
“I know!” Kaeya flinched, eye wide in shock at Diluc’s suddenly outburst. His brother seemed just as surprised as he sat there, completely still and wide eyed as he stared at Kaeya. It was silent as they watched each other, memories of a night they’d both kill to forget (Diluc had even tried) bubbling at the surface of the tension in the office.
It’s fine, Kaeya. Just breathe.
He won't hurt you.
Again.
“I’m sorry.” Came the gentle whisper from the redhead as he all but deflated in his seat and looked down at the ground in shame, avoiding Kaeya's gaze once again.
“It’s okay.” Kaeya said, forcing his voice to stay steady, taking subtle deep breaths to beat down the panic steadily rising. “I shouldn’t have pushed you.”
Diluc nodded solemly, still staring at the ground, fingers going back to picking at his nails.
“But...” Kaeya said through an exhale. Diluc tensed. “You know I’m right. I know you don’t believe it, but there are people that want to be friends with you. I can name at least five right now.”
The shy, disbelieving look he received was enough to make Kaeya’s heart shatter into tiny pieces. Did he really believe that no one liked him? Kaeya could understand that. Sometimes he wonders if any of his friends truly like him, wonders what they’d do if they all found out...
But still, Kaeya couldn’t do much to help his brother if he doesn’t open up. He has absolutely no idea what’s happened to Diluc in the past four years but he knows its left some pretty deep scars.
“For one,” He continued, kicking his feet up onto his desk with a laid back smile and raising his hand, counting on his fingers. “our little outrider, Amber, finds you particularly interesting. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say she admires you.”
Diluc barely concealed a scoff and Kaeya chose to ignore it.
“She read about your deeds as a Knight in one of the record books and has been begging me to pass on a good word to you. She’s a very passionate and fiery little thing. Reminds a bit of a certain someone as a child...” Kaeya trailed off, pretending to ponder. He gave Diluc a knowing smile that only grew wider as his brother rolled his eyes at him. The tension eased away with every second that passed and Diluc’s gentle smile came back.
“I don’t think... making your friends hang out with your brother is an appealing idea.” Diluc said, something hidden within the tone of his voice and in his eyes that used to be so bright.
“Ah, but you see, I’m not making them. They’re all friends with me and Jean, I suppose it makes sense that they’d find some interest in befriending you.” Kaeya shrugged, Diluc just stared at the ground. “Just give it a chance?”
“Yeah, okay.”
-
The Whispering Woods were, contrary to the name, completely silent in the early mornings. All the nocturnal animals already settling in for the day while the diurnal ones come out to play. The sun hadn’t risen completely, magenta and golden hues casting a soft glow over the city and treetops as the deep blue slowly faded away. Deep within the woods, fireflies and lamp grass light up the pathway with gentle twinkles.
Diluc quite enjoyed it in here. It was quiet but not the type that leaves room for dark thoughts and memories to spring up like a plague. An owl glided across the path in front of him, disappearing into the dark as quickly as it had appeared, soon followed by a few fruit bat’s that flittered through the branches. He had come out here to pick some lamp grass for Adelinde and Elzer like he always did once every month ever since he came home.
Home.
Could he really call this place home? Everyone he cared about and loved was here in this city, only an hour’s horse ride away from the Winery. They were always in close reach. So, why did he feel so out of place here? Why did it feel like something was missing?
Wrapping the stems of small bunch of flowers together with a thin string, Diluc stood for a moment, looking out through the branches and across the river at the city walls. Everything he had was here. Was he so insatiable that this wasn’t enough for him? Could he not be satisfied by the simple knowledge that everyone in his life right now was alive in those walls? He wondered if, perhaps, it was because his father was no longer alive. Perhaps his absence was the thing leaving him so empty and yearning.
It shouldn’t be. He can still talk to his father. It may not been what he used to have, but it was enough. The hallucinations and images the delusion gave him were enough to satiate that desire to be within his father’s company again, even if he never felt that same familiar warmth again.
Quick footsteps coming down the path pulled him from his thoughts. Diluc’s whole body was put on alert, tensing and preparing for an attack. Was it the Abyss Order, or did the Fatui send another assassin? It wouldn’t be the first time, nor the second, nor the third, nor the-
They wanted him dead, okay?
Waiting to see the black red uniform of a pyro agent, he was both relieved and annoyed to be presented with the bright red and white of a certain little Knight of Favonious. Amber stuttered to a halt once she saw him, panting and sweating but standing with her back straight and her head high. At least she made an effort.
“Good morning, Master Diluc!” Her voice was way too cheery and happy for him, it grated on the small part of his brain that was still half-asleep. He managed to force a polite smile however and, for some reason, it seemed to make her even more ecstatic. “What are you doing out here so early in the morning?”
“I’m just...” Diluc glanced down at the flowers in his hand, stems bending in his grip that was still tensed. He loosened his grip and held them up for Amber to see. “Flowers.”
Oh, real intelligent, Diluc. Absolutely wonderful. 10/10 on the social skills.
Amber’s smile didn’t seem to fade nor did she show any signs of being put off by his cold demeanour. He really didn’t mean to be like this, it’s just been a very long time since he’s held a normal, non-life threatening conversation with someone that wasn’t an employee. Or a drunk bastard. (And, honestly, he had always spoken in a fairly monotone voice, something that had been trained out him by tutors. Apparently, it’s not polite to not speak like you’ve got the sun shoved up your ass at all times.) In fact, she actually came closer, a spring in her step as she peaked at the flowers.
“Oooo, they’re so pretty. Is it for a special occasion or just because? I love picking flowers for fun, it’s so nice and therapeutic.” Amber rocked on the balls of her feet and her eyes flittered all across his face, never looking at one particular spot.
“They’re actually for Elzer and Adelinde.” He said, pleasantly surprised that he hadn’t stuttered or paused once. Getting better at socialising there. Now, try not to throw a knife at her if she startles you.
“Oh, that’s so nice! Maybe I should pick some for Jean...” Amber hummed, a gentle twinkle in her eyes as she gazed at the flowers, pondering. Diluc tensed at the mention of the Acting Grandmaster, wincing as he remembered that he hasn’t spoken to her since the incident with Dvalin. Guilt gnawed away at him but he pushed it back, filing it away for another day. He already has a plan, he’s just... building up the courage to face her.
“Oh!” Diluc flinched at the sudden shout, but he didn’t pull a knife out and stab the girl in the stomach, so he’ll count that as a win. “I’m so sorry! I’m keeping you, aren’t I?”
Diluc shakes his head, opening his mouth to reassure her that he literally had nothing to do until midday, but the little outrider continued.
“Ugh, I’ve been told so many times that I can get carried away when talking to people that I just keep going on for ages and I can sometimes hold people up when they’re busy. I’m really sorry if I’m doing that right now, you can tell me if I am, I’m not gonna be upset or anything. I just can’t really help it, you know-“
Amber stuttered to a pause when Diluc chuckled softly.
“It’s alright. In all honest, I’m guilty of the same.” He reassures and the look of borderline astonishment he gets in return is almost enough to make him regret coming out here in the first place. Seriously, does everyone think he’s incapable of smiling?
“O-oh!” Amber recovers quickly though, to Diluc’s relief, and she’s back to smiling too brightly and practically vibrating on the spot. “Would you uhhh… would you mind if I accompanied you back to the winery?”
No. Is what he wants to say, but his brother’s grating voice is whispering in his head again and he’s falling victim to it.
Would it really be such a crime if he made some friends?
“Sure.” And, whether he’s conscious of it or not, Diluc decides in that moment that he would do everything in his power to protect that smile of pure joy on Amber’s face.
His brother’s insatiable sweet tooth hasn’t changed.
Kaeya smiled as Diluc’s eyes lit up upon seeing the white box adorned with a pink ribbon. There was only one bakery in the whole of Mondstadt that Diluc had fallen victim too as a child and it seems that his favouritism still stands to this day.
Ducking his head as he steps into the small wooden shed-turned-aviary, Kaeya cooed at the bird hopping about on a wooden platform sat just above Diluc’s shoulders. Neither of them said any greetings nor pleasantries, but Kaeya liked that. It was just like when they were younger – they didn’t have to be “well-mannered” and talk to each other, just the other’s presence was enough.
Kaeya leaned back against the wall beside the door, giving Diluc the room to do whatever he was doing with the bird. It wasn’t one he’d seen before, with light grey plumage and a pink under belly. It chattered happily, hopping towards the edge of the platform where Diluc held out a hand full of seeds. With his hand still outstretched, he walked slowly down the platform, the bird hopping along after the food. It lost its balance and fell onto its face, but just as quickly as it had fallen, it got back up again and kept following his hand.
It only has one leg, Kaeya realised. What was left of its right leg was nothing but a recently healed stump. It looked lacerated, like it was torn or bitten off. Probably by a cat or a fox.
The white crest upon its head raised slightly as it chattered, soft clicking noises coming from its beak. Kaeya had to admit, he didn’t think a lot of birds could be classified as cute, but this bird was fucking cute.
The bird followed Diluc’s hand up and down the platform a few more times until it could do it without tripping and the look of absolute joy on Diluc's face was contagious – Kaeya couldn't hide his own smile. The redhead placed the pile of seeds down on the platform and let the bird be, turning towards Kaeya and joining him against the wall as they watched the bird feed.
“In all my life, I-“ Kaeya started before being rudely interrupted by the loud flapping of wings as another bird flew into the shed from the large open window in the roof. It landed a bit off balance on a branch from a small tree planted in the middle of the shed, stripped bare of leaves with small containers of seeds and water tied to branches.
Kaeya was astounded.
Though it wasn’t from the various obstacles and platforms his brother had made, it was from the actual fucking hawk that had just flown in like it was a normal occurrence.
Pointing to the large bird, he says, “I’m going to get to that in a second,” Diluc barely concealed his smug grin. “But first, what type of bird is that?”
“It’s a galah.” Diluc says, as if it's common knowledge.
“A what?”
“A galah.”
“Okay, you saying the name again isn’t going to help me.”
“You asked me what it is. It’s a galah.”
“Shut up, you bastard. You know what I mean. Where did it come from?”
At this, Diluc shrugs his shoulders. “They’re native to Natlan and can, occasionally, be found in parts of Sumeru but I have no idea how he ended up all the way over here.”
Kaeya hummed, observing the bird as it hopped to adjust its balance as it ate. It wasn’t a small bird, quite large in fact – from head to tail, it was probably around the same length as his forearm – but it looked so small compared to the hawk.
“What happened to its leg?”
“Well, my theory is that it got attacked by a cat or something, got lost from its flock and ended up over here somehow. But I don't have a clue.”
Kaeya tried not to snicker at the ‘My theory’. God’s, he's such a nerd. A cool nerd, to Kaeya’s distaste, because what the hell-
“Going back to the fucking hawk-“
“Eagle.”
Kaeya was speechless.
“That’s an eagle.”
“Yes.” Diluc says, moving over to where a torn sheet of cloth hangs over a door frame, pulling it back to show another room, though much smaller than the one they were in. Inside it, was another large bird, sat all high and mighty on a dead tree branch with a mouse in its talons and its guts spilling from its beak. It stops eating to stare at them, chirping once before ignoring them for its meal.
Diluc turns to him, face neutral, but Kaeya can see that stupid fucking smugness in his eyes. He knows he’s a bad ass. He points to the bird eating the mouse, “That is a hawk,” Turning back to the massive one staring right at them, “that is an eagle.”
“You’re like a crazy cat lady but with pet birds.”
“They’re not my pets.” Diluc says, wrinkling up his nose.
“Uh huh.”
“They’re not,’ He says as he steps forward to pet a fucking eagle as if just any one could do that. It blinks and nuzzles back into his hand, further proving Kaeya’s point. “I just feed them whenever they’re around. Birds are like that. If they find a reliable food source, they’ll come back for it. Though, not so much birds of prey. They usually hunt but they’re also opportunists and will take literally any chance at getting food.”
Kaeya just stands there and stares, speechless, as Diluc continues petting this massive fucking bird. It’s talons are massive! It’s HUGE!
“And what type of eagle is that?”
“Wedge tailed.”
Ah, Kaeya’s heard of this one. Never seen one before, but he’s heard of it. Probably from Diluc, if he thinks about it.
“They’re really common around the Sumeru desert and parts of Natlan but they kind of just travel wherever they want.” Diluc continues, lost in his own world as the bird lifts his talon to place it on his arm like a dog begging for treats. “Though, the only place they're not very fond of is Inazuma. For obvious reasons.”
“You really need to get laid.”
Kaeya was unsuccessful at missing the handful of seeds his brother threw at him (Where did he even get those?) and he now had them stuck in his hair, but it was worth it to see the bright red blush on Diluc’s face as he pretended not to hear what Kaeya had said.
Kaeya, like an absolute child, snickered to himself, only getting louder when Diluc’s blush increased. Turning away from his brother, Diluc gave the eagle all his attention, much to her delight. His brows furrowed in a mix of concentration and concern as he checked her eyesight. Her left eye seemed to be fine as she noticed his finger when he held it up, but she had to turn her head around to see on her right, startling slightly when she was reminded that Kaeya was in the room as well.
“Hm. She’s still blind in her right eye.” Diluc said aloud, also forgetting that Kaeya was there for a moment before his brother spoke up.
“So, are all your birds injured in some way?” He asks, eyeing the eagle as she turns her head, bobbing it up and down to see him. Diluc continues to pet her, running the back of his gloved knuckles over her wings so gently.
“Not at all of them, but most. Yes.” Kaeya smiles at that. Diluc’s always seemed to have a soft spot for injured things. “If there’s one thing that I’ve learnt from my… ‘adventuring’,” Kaeya ignores the way he says it with such a cold and defensive tone. “It’s that any living thing deserve a least a chance at life. No matter how bad or evil it may appear to others.”
This is one of those moments where Kaeya should be agreeing with him whole heartedly, but instead, all Kaeya can think about is how sweet his brother is. Truly. Ever since they were children, Diluc had always been so caring and empathic and despite all he’s been through and what he’s seen, he still sees the small goods in the world.
Kaeya could only dream to be like that.
“Maybe its some weird saviour complex or whatnot,” Diluc continues, drawing Kaeya out of his thoughts and back to the topic at hand. He straightens up, listening intently since its not every day Diluc decides to open up, even a little bit. “I… I don’t know. It feels pathetic to say aloud, but I can… sympathise with these birds.”
Kaeya glances back at the eagle, having to swivel her head around so far just to see to her right through her left eye. Yeah, he thinks. I think I can sympathise with them too.
“Originally, I was going to leave the galah. He didn’t look like he was going to survive so I was just going to leave him for a fox or something.” Diluc paused for a moment, still stroking the eagle as he debated what he was going to say next. “God’s, this sounds so lame but… A flock of birds flew past just as I was about to walk away and I stopped to think of how he could’ve felt, getting left behind because of a disadvantage he can’t help…”
He trailed off and Kaeya stood silent. He knew what Diluc was referencing. All through their lives growing up, Diluc had been… different. It effected their private lessons and more than once had a tutor quit and left because they couldn’t deal with him. Kaeya knew it had complicated a few things for their father, but he would be damned if he let his son believe that he was stupid. Which he was certainly not. Kaeya was intelligent in the way that he was quick, witty and meticulous, skills that had gotten him quite far in the detective side of his job. Diluc tended to overlook his own intelligence because he wasn’t “book smart”, which Kaeya thought was a complete lie. Diluc has read almost every single book that was in Ragnvindr Manor and Kaeya has lost count of the amount of times his brother has barged his way into his room to tell some unprovoked trivia fact that has turned out to help Kaeya a great amount in his life.
But, Diluc doesn’t know that, does he?
Of course, he doesn’t. He left for almost four years, how could he know what you’ve been doing?
“I know I made things difficult for him-“
“No. Don’t think like that, you know he never had any issue with working around-“
“Exactly. He had to work around me. He had to change things just because I couldn’t fucking handle something like a normal person.”
Kaeya scowled. He was seriously getting pissed at this point, but it wasn’t at his brother. Kaeya could never get mad at Diluc for something he was born with. “You are normal. There is nothing wrong with you. Just because you think differently doesn’t make you stupid or any less human. Fuck, it’s not like I made things any easier!”
Diluc flinched at his raised voice, looking away as he stayed quiet. It was silent now, neither of them uttering a single word. Kaeya couldn’t tell if he had a crossed some sort of line or if Diluc was upset with him now but he didn’t have time to dwell on it before his brother raised his head and nodded towards the box that had gone forgotten in Kaeya’s hands until now.
“What’s in there?”
“Dinner first, then you can find out.” Diluc pouted. Like, actually pouted. “Those puppy eyes don’t work on me, bitch. You can wait.”
Diluc rolls his eyes but now there is a soft smile back on his face and Kaeya returns it, only now aware of the nervousness he was feeling before. They’re still a little rocky, but Kaeya’s pretty confident that they’ll be alright. They have to be.