Chapter Text
“The body of a man was discovered in a container in downtown Mondstadt this morning. The police are still investigating the man’s identity. While the cause of death has not been determined yet, they are investigating it as a suspicious death. Several bodies have been found the last few months, causing paranoia to spread in the streets of Mondstadt-”
Kaeya frowned, and turned down the volume of the TV.
“Jesus,” he mumbled, his gut twisting. “What is going on lately?”
He heard a quiet, uninterested grunt coming from behind him. Peeking above the back of the couch, Kaeya saw Diluc nestled into his favorite armchair, deep into one of his textbooks.
They had thrifted the weathered leather armchair years ago, and although Kaeya himself preferred lounging on the couch, the chair had become Diluc’s reading nook.
“Does it not worry you?” Kaeya asked, trying to get his attention.
“It’s a big city, there will always be crime,” Diluc mumbled, flipping the page.
Kaeya looked back at the TV, watching the news lady interview a bypasser.
“I guess… It just seems like murders have become more frequent.”
He sighed, and hauled himself up from the couch. He quickly checked the time on his phone. Shit, he was gonna run late.
“I gotta go. How do I look?” Kaeya asked, ruffling his hair and changing his mind about which shoulder he wanted it to fall over.
Diluc looked up for a second. “Fine.”
“Fine? Just fine?” Kaeya asked, raising a brow.
“Good. What else do you want me to say?”
So. Goddamn. Clueless!
“Whatever,” Kaeya mumbled under his breath. “Eat dinner without me. I have a date so I’m not sure if I’m coming home tonight.”
Diluc closed his book. “With who?”
Kaeya raised his shoulders. “Some asshole probably.”
“... Okay. Be careful then. Call me if he’s a tool, I’ll get you out of it.”
“How gallant of you,” Kaeya said. “Thanks.”
Diluc Ragnvindr.
What a confusing guy.
Childhood friend turned roommate. Kaeya could honestly say Diluc was a huge part of his life, perhaps the most stable and trustworthy part. Through Kaeya’s family issues, through all of his insecurities and rebellious teenage years, and even through the scary start of adulthood, Diluc had always been there.
A constant pillar of support.
Kaeya admired him, he really did. He was kind and helpful, protective and hard-working. Diluc took care of him well, but… He was also a little bit dense.
Scratch that, very dense.
Kaeya had fought so hard to get rid of the ever looming childish crush he had on Diluc, but even now, it still took Kaeya by surprise whenever his heart would skip a beat in his presence.
Unfortunately, even though Diluc did care about him, it would never turn into something more, Kaeya had realized.
Hence why Kaeya had become notorious for dating around. If he ever were to lose that childish crush, he needed other people to distract him.
His night, which he had hoped would consist of chemistry that sizzled in the air, never-ending laughter, and a fun outing ending with body parts brushing against each other and the whispered suggestion of Kaeya coming home with him, had been cut short.
Kaeya knew the telltale signs of an asshole. Tristan had that smug look in his eye - which sometimes was a major turn on for Kaeya - and a bright, big smile that made his legs wobble. But, and there was always a but, his eyes kept wandering.
Blatantly staring down other attractive people walking by, even in the midst of Kaeya speaking, he just wouldn’t listen.
The topic would always return to Tristan and all the great things he had done.
The only time he seemed genuinely interested in him was whenever Kaeya made a flirty remark.
By the end of the dinner, Tristan asked him if he wanted to go to his place.
Kaeya had said yes to plenty of assholes before, but he was becoming tired of the type of guys who only wanted him for sex.
“Sorry. Perhaps some other time, after talking more?”
He could potentially say yes to another date, and give Tristan the benefit of the doubt… But apparently, an actual connection was not something Tristan wanted.
“Seriously?” Tristan asked, raising his brows. “So you’re just totally wasting my time? What, do you want me to pay you or something, are you that kind of slut?”
Kaeya’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You must have the wrong impression of me,” he said, coldly.
Tristan got up. “Everyone says you sleep around, but whatever. Suit yourself,” he said, and left without another glance.
Kaeya was left alone with the bill at the table.
“Luc?” Kaeya slurred into the phone. “Sorry, ‘m a little drunk right now,” he said, swaying in front of the bar.
It hadn’t been that late when Kaeya checked, although did the phone show midnight? He wasn’t sure, his sight was starting to blur.
The music was loud and he couldn’t hear a word Diluc was saying, but at least he felt the vibration of the phone when Diluc had called.
“Wanna know somethin’ funny?” Kaeya giggled. “I was totally right about that guy being an asshole… He even called me a slut, can you believe it?”
His giggles slowly died down. “Maybe it’s true… Whatever, I’m gonna drink more,” he said, drawing out his words. “Don’t stay up for me, ‘kay?”
He hung up, and ordered another shot from the bartender.
Apparently Kaeya was known for being a slut.
Fine.
If that’s what everyone wanted from him… He could give it to them. If it kept people from leaving him.
Finding the bar Kaeya was at wasn’t exactly difficult. Angel’s Share was Kaeya’s favorite, and bartending there was Diluc’s former part-time job during the start of his studies.
Diluc wasn’t much of a drinker, but Kaeya on the other hand… He didn’t like to see Kaeya getting drunk, but thinking back to his late shifts when Kaeya would keep him company by the bar was somewhat nostalgic.
Seeing Kaeya shit-faced having a stranger grinding up on him certainly did not fill him with warm feelings of nostalgia.
“Get off him,” Diluc growled at the walking waste of breath.
“Luc!” Kaeya yelled excitedly when he saw him.
“We’re going home,” Diluc simply said once he had shoved the guy away.
“But the party’s just started!”
“You can barely walk,” Diluc snapped, as he held Kaeya up while exiting the bar.
Kaeya hiccupped. “You-you’re mad at me?”
“No! Just get in the car.”
“But you are,” Kaeya mumbled as Diluc helped him into the passenger seat and secured the belt.
Diluc didn’t answer, and closed the door.
They drove home in silence for most of the drive. Diluc made sure to look over at Kaeya routinely. His head bobbed with the movements of the car, looking like he could fall asleep any minute.
His hair was falling over his eyes, making it difficult to see his expression.
Diluc had almost assumed he was asleep, until he heard quiet sobs coming from him.
“Kaeya?” Diluc asked, starting to worry. He had upset him, hadn’t he?
“I’m sorry,” Kaeya mumbled.
He sniffed and wiped his eyes. “I’m just being a burden.”
Diluc pulled up into the driveway by their apartment, and slowed the car to a stop.
He looked over at Kaeya. “You’re not a burden.”
“You’re so busy with your thesis and stuff but then I’m just being a complete disaster making you take care of me like you always do. I didn’t even want to drink too much tonight, but… I just feel like shit.”
He saw his expression now; tearful, blood-shot eyes, red lips and puffy cheeks.
Diluc felt slightly disgusted with himself for finding Kaeya utterly irresistible like that, all vulnerable and sad.
“He had all the red flags but I really thought maybe this time I’d find someone who actually liked me. He just wanted to fuck me. That’s all.”
A deep-rooted resentment grew inside Diluc’s gut. It wasn’t towards Kaeya and his habits, of course he didn’t want him to sleep around with assholes, however… It was the ones who made him cry that were pure filth.
“He’s nothing but dirt,” Diluc said, rather uncharacteristically for him to say out loud. “They don’t deserve you. They deserve nothing, what they deserve is-” He stopped himself.
Kaeya was looking at him now, with blank eyes.
“Don’t even think about him. Good riddance, right?”
Kaeya sniffed one final time, his tears almost dried up. “Yeah. You’re right.”
“Come on. Let’s get you to bed.”
While Kaeya was getting into bed, Diluc found him a glass of water and a bucket in case he was nauseous. Walking back into Kaeya’s room, he saw that Kaeya was only half-way into bed, fully-clothed on top of his duvet.
Diluc put the glass down on his nightstand.
“Let’s get your clothes off. I know how you hate waking up in clothes smelling like alcohol…”
Kaeya didn’t resist Diluc helping him with rolling his pants down. They were tight leather pants, and as form-fitting as they were, it wasn’t exactly easy getting them off.
Diluc held his breath as they finally came off, exposing Kaeya’s smooth, shaven legs.
And to think random, useless people got to see this?
Fucking criminal.
It should’ve been a sight only reserved for him.
Kaeya’s eyes were closed. He was about to fall asleep, if he hadn’t already.
Diluc could take his time like this, studying him.
Admiring the shape of his body, the slight shine on his skin after hours of dancing and moving around.
Diluc removed his sweater, hands brushing against Kaeya’s chest as he lifted it over his shoulders.
Kaeya only groaned quietly.
He could almost fool himself to believe it was a moan, and the thought immediately sent desire coursing through his veins, pooling by his groin.
Fuck, he was so open like this.
Already unconscious, but still responsive to Diluc’s touches.
A lesser man would easily take advantage of him in that situation.
It’s not like Diluc’s thoughts were so pure… Sometimes it even frightened him how inappropriate and violent his thoughts were. But he knew the difference between only thinking about it, and acting on those thoughts.
That was what separated Diluc from lesser men.
Kaeya, the gem that he was, did not deserve their filthy touches. He should’ve been worshiped instead, protected and loved. Nobody but Diluc knew just how deserving he was of that kindness. He had grown up alongside him, seen all the pain Kaeya had to bear, only to turn into a beautiful, charming young man who brought sunlight into the lives of his friends.
Nobody could compare to Kaeya, and nobody could ever understand him the way Diluc did.
All they saw was his beauty, an object to be used and then discarded once they had their fun.
Having the audacity to reduce him to a slut.
It filled Diluc with unimaginable fury, blinding him and distracting him from the lust that had been building up. He quickly found a clean t-shirt in Kaeya’s closet, and put it on him.
And the worst part, simultaneously being Kaeya’s greatest and weakest asset, was that he never did anything to harm those who degraded him. He was too good for that; his tongue could be sharp and venomous, but he never once struck someone who so obviously deserved it.
As frustrating as it was, Diluc also loved that about him. He had accepted this part of Kaeya, and now he had come to the conclusion that he wanted to preserve that part of him. Instead, Diluc would be the one to strike them for him.
Diluc wasn’t one for using fancy, excessive words like vigilante, knight or hero. He didn’t need to see himself as some religious savior or an angel. No, Diluc was also aware that his actions weren’t particularly saintly either.
What he could consider himself as though, was a self-appointed guard.
When Kaeya was hurt or could potentially be hurt by someone, either physically or mentally, Diluc would be there to bring justice to him, or prevent it from happening altogether.
That was his calling.
After tucking Kaeya properly into bed, and stealing one last look at his face, still slightly red and plump from his crying earlier, Diluc stopped by his own room.
He pulled a black duffel bag out from under his bed, heavy with his usual equipment. From the side pocket, he pulled out two black leather gloves and slipped them on.
Then, he gathered his hair into a bun, avoiding his usual distinctive ponytail.
All that was left before heading out, was doing a little bit of research.
Tonight, bringing justice to Kaeya mattered more than working on his thesis or getting a full night’s sleep.
Waking up to pounding headaches wasn’t exactly a rare occurrence for Kaeya. While his partying had definitely been at its worst in his late teenage years, even now having a night out weekly was to be expected.
It always seemed like such a good idea until the next morning.
Yesterday hadn’t been a good idea though, he knew that.
It wasn’t the nausea or headache that bothered him the most; it was the anxiety and memories that slowly came creeping in with Kaeya’s consciousness.
Drinking because he was bummed out was never the best solution… Kaeya remembered Diluc lecturing him about that as a teen, something he used to find annoying.
He never really lectured him much about it anymore.
Oddly, Kaeya almost missed it.
Was it because he had given up on him?
Maybe if Kaeya had pulled himself together instead of settling for being a trainwreck, maybe then Diluc could potentially think of him as more than a friend or a roommate.
God, and of course he had to embarrass himself right in front of Diluc. Make him all worried and have him pick him up, crying and feeling sorry for himself in the car.
Yeah, I sure wonder why he doesn’t like you like that.
Kaeya rolled over on his side, and peered at his phone. It was already past noon.
He dragged a hand across his face.
He faintly smelled the lovely scent of coffee coming from the kitchen. Brewing coffee was Diluc’s method of getting Kaeya out of bed, almost always guaranteed to work.
Kaeya walked into the open kitchen connected to the living room, following the scent. He didn’t bother getting dressed, only wearing his boxers and a t-shirt Diluc must’ve put him in. Of course he helped him undress too, like a toddler.
That was essentially what Kaeya was in this apartment; an annoying plague constantly in need of attention.
Toddlers were cuter too, and they didn’t know any better.
Kaeya was just a disappointment.
Diluc was sitting with his back towards him by the kitchen table, sipping coffee and typing emails on his laptop.
He only turned his head a little. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
Kaeya didn’t really answer, and poured himself a cup of coffee. He leaned against the counter, a mixture of nausea, anxiety and coldness swirling in his stomach.
“Maybe I should move out,” he blurted out.
With that, Diluc turned around fully, looking at Kaeya with a shocked expression.
“What?”
Kaeya sighed. “Over and over again, I fuck up and do dumb shit-”
“What has that got to do with anything? And you don’t do dumb shit, first of all-”
“I do,” Kaeya muttered stubbornly.
“Who in their twenties does not get drunk, or go on bad dates? Come on.”
Kaeya raised his brows. “Well, you.”
Diluc closed his laptop. “Because I don’t like to drink, which makes me odd. You don’t need to be like me.”
“But you always end up helping me, and I feel like such a burden. A-and you pay more of the rent than me, you spend the most on groceries-”
“I do that because I can. I’m privileged thanks to my family. And as far as I’m concerned, and my father thinks this too, you are also part of this family. Family takes care of one another, that’s how it should be. Especially since you weren't dealt a winning hand.”
Kaeya looked down. “Still… Causing you to worry and pick me up wasted in the middle of the night doesn’t exactly show how grateful I am.”
Diluc’s face softened, and he got up. He seemed a little hesitant at first, but ended up putting his hand firmly on Kaeya’s shoulders.
His hand slid further up, warm and inviting against the back of Kaeya’s neck.
It made Kaeya’s knees weak.
How could such a casual touch feel so good? And safe?
He couldn’t help but be locked with Diluc’s piercing gaze.
“You’re not moving out. If you did, you’d have to move in with some shitty roommates who never take out the trash or something. If you tried to find a place for yourself it would end up being some overpriced, miserable space the size of our entryway. Is this apartment not good enough for you?”
“No, it is!” Kaeya quickly said. “I like it here, it’s just that-”
“Do you not like living with me?” Diluc asked, and the way his eyes dropped made Kaeya’s heart clench.
“Of course I do, Luc. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Diluc raised his brows. “Then why even suggest moving out? You’re staying, and that’s final. What the hell would I do without your Friday night pizza, anyway? And you buy nice smelling soaps and those, uh, twigs-”
“Incense sticks,” Kaeya corrected with a small smile.
“Exactly! You make this space livable. You know I’m bad at that kind of stuff.”
Diluc released his hold, and it almost felt like he had taken all the heaviness from Kaeya’s shoulders.
“It’s just the hangxiety that’s got you all messed up. I’ve seen it plenty of times,” Diluc comforted. “You’ll be energetic and confident soon enough.”
Kaeya sighed. “... I should drink less.”
Diluc put his hands up. “I said nothing of the sort.”
“I’m saying it.”
“Well, then… Let’s make next weekend sober. I’ll take you hiking or something.”
Kaeya smiled. “That sounds nice.”
“It’s a date,” Diluc said, returning to his laptop.
Is it though? Kaeya wondered.
Even if Diluc did enjoy his company, and even considered him family… That was perhaps all he was to him. Like a little brother to care for.
Firm knocks against the front door, followed by the door bell ringing, disturbed the newfound, tranquil peace inside the apartment.
“Expecting anyone?” Diluc asked, and Kaeya shook his head.
Diluc opened the door, revealing two cops waiting for them.
“Kaeya Alberich?” they asked, looking at Diluc.
A chill went down Kaeya’s spine. What the hell did they want with him?
He stepped forward. “That’s me.”
After introductions, Diluc invited them inside.
“Coffee?” he asked the cops, but they declined.
How was he so calm? Kaeya was freaking out, and he literally had no reason to either! Worst thing he had done was get drunk.
“What’s this about?” Kaeya asked, anxious to get the conversation over with.
“Do you know someone called Tristan Werner?” the cop asked, avoiding his question.
Kaeya raised his brows. “Yes. Well, slightly. We, um, went on a date yesterday.”
“When?”
“We ate dinner at seven, at Good Hunter. Lasted for about an hour and a half,” Kaeya mumbled. “He left me with the bill,” he added, chuckling slightly.
He wasn’t sure why he decided to share that.
The cop narrowed his eyes. “Not a good date, I take it?”
Kaeya raised his shoulders. “It wasn’t… terrible. But um… He wanted to take me home to his and I wasn’t feeling it. So… That’s where it ended.”
“What did you do next?”
“I went to Angel’s Share, a bar. Drank, danced… until my roommate picked me up,” Kaeya said.
“And when did you leave?”
Kaeya tried to think.
He could not remember at all. “I’m not sure,” he admitted.
“One am. That’s when I picked him up,” Diluc added. “We were home fifteen minutes later. He was out like a light pretty quickly afterwards.”
“So from then until dawn, you were here, asleep?”
Kaeya nodded. “Yes.”
The cop turned towards Diluc. “And you can confirm this?”
“Yes. I fell asleep at around three, and when I woke up earlier this morning he was still asleep.”
The cop nodded, and scribbled down something into his notepad.
“Um, sir, may I ask why you’re asking me these questions? Did something happen?” Kaeya asked.
“Tristan Werner was found dead in the canal this morning,” the other cop revealed.
Kaeya’s mouth fell open.
“We don’t have all the information surrounding the manner in which he died yet. We’re trying to figure out his movements and find witnesses. Did you see him at any point later in the evening?”
Kaeya took a deep breath, feeling his brain overheating.
“Take your time,” the cop said.
“Sorry, um…” Kaeya rubbed his temple. Tristan was dead? He had just seen him, and thought about how much of an asshole he was. Jesus christ…
“No, I didn’t. The last time I saw him was at Good Hunter. I didn’t call or text him afterwards either.”
“On your date, did he say or do anything strange? Anything that seemed off?”
Kaeya shook his head. “No, he was relatively… Normal.”
Normal as in the same as all the other assholes he had dated.
He is dead, Kaeya! What the hell are you thinking?
“He was upset with me not going home with him, so he left. That’s all that happened. I’m not sure if that’s helpful at all, but… It’s what I got.”
The cops nodded. “Any information is useful, so thank you for your cooperation. Sorry for your loss,” they said.
After the police left, Kaeya sat in the sofa, still processing the news.
Diluc sat down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Kaeya raised his shoulders. “I just don’t… I don’t understand. I just saw him. W-what if it was my fault he ended up dead somehow? Perhaps he had serious underlying issues and all he needed in that moment was to get laid and I rejected him so then he-”
Diluc suddenly laughed, and Kaeya looked at him, bewildered.
“Sorry,” Diluc quickly mumbled, and his expression turned serious again. “It’s just… That’s a completely ridiculous theory, Kaeya. He did not kill himself because you didn’t want to sleep with him. Come on, now. That’s you overthinking, feeling guilty for something you shouldn’t feel guilty for at all!”
Kaeya nodded. “Yeah…”
“Who knows what happened? That’s what the police are trying to figure out. Maybe he got caught in something bad. It could’ve been organized crime, or it could’ve been a complete coincidence. Or even more likely, he went out to party, got too drunk and fell into the canal. That has happened before.”
Kaeya sighed and melted into the couch. “You’re right… This is still fucking crazy! Fuck…”
He stood up, and made a beeline towards the bathroom.
“I can make you breakfast,” Diluc yelled after him. “Ease the stomach? I’m sure you’re starving.”
“No thanks,” Kaeya said. “I need a bath.”
Diluc hated to see Kaeya upset. He did, he truly did.
Kaeya had a complicated relationship to, well, relationships. He had been let down too many times, by people who were supposed to be there for him. His birth parents, for one. Several adoptive parents too. Teachers, bosses and exes.
Kaeya lived every day grasping to any sort of connection, so when someone he had dated, no matter how much of a prick he had been or how short-lived their dating was, suddenly died, of course it affected him.
It wasn’t Diluc’s intention to trigger the actions which would cause Kaeya to be in pain.
But was it Diluc who was the trigger?
Or was it Tristan, and all the other shitstains who had no problem walking all over Kaeya like he was worth nothing?
Kaeya wouldn’t understand it yet. It might bring him pain right now, but with time… He would finally find peace. Once all the stains had been removed, his life could be clean. Once that happened, there would finally be space for Diluc.
Diluc yawned, as he was seated in the armchair, tiredly trying to read and understand an article he needed for his thesis.
Something something about the normalized surveillance of workers’ technological devices.
He hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, but that was alright.
He would sacrifice a night of sleep anytime if it meant keeping Kaeya safe.
One thing he had not expected that day was the visit from the cops. He figured they would come knocking at some point, but they were particularly quick with finding Kaeya. Well, after all the other deaths… The cops had to be on their toes.
They wouldn’t want Mondstadt’s rumor to be completely ruined.
Diluc peered at the newspaper he had bought yesterday.
The headline with bold, fat letters on the frontpage said: “Is there a serial killer on the loose?”
Followed with more articles like “The Mondstadt police do not think the deaths are connected” and “Unclear if recent deaths are suspicious or accidental” .
It made Diluc want to laugh.
Utter incompetence.
Sure, they could follow up on leads. Question Kaeya and rattle his bones a little. That didn’t matter much, especially not when Diluc was his alibi. Any connection they potentially made, would lead to nothing.
After all, what had Kaeya done?
Nothing.
His soft, pristine hands were completely free of any blood.
He didn’t need to get them dirty.
Not when Diluc acted in his stead.