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April 30th used to be a joyous day for Diluc. He looked forward to it every year, glad to celebrate it with those he cared about. His 18th birthday was supposed to mark the transition into adulthood. Instead, it marked the day he completely and utterly failed.
"Captain! Captain, what do we do?! What are our orders? Captain!"
"Diluc, get up and fight! Don't be weak. Fight!"
Diluc sat in a pool of blood and mud, eyes wide and unseeing as he stared at the dead bodies surrounding him. His tongue felt heavy and tasted of iron, a bitter reminder of the chaos. His hand weakly pressed against the wound on his stomach as more blood seeped through, soaking his clothes. Yet he couldn't feel the pain. Just the cold, penetrating mud beneath him and the chill spreading through his limbs, making everything numb. The ground shook as the Drake flew off, its screeches fading. Crepus stood in front of him, uninjured, with some strange device attached to his hand, watching as the beast disappeared. Diluc was so cold. His Claymore lay broken at his side; the gift from his father was a silent testament to his failure. Why was Crepus just standing there?
Then, Crepus knelt before Diluc, clutching his face and trying to get his attention, but the birthday boy was zoned out. Distantly, he could hear his father calling his name, but he couldn't respond. His tongue was heavy in his mouth. Crepus shook his head, and he swore his brain rattled in his skull, which felt like it was going to split in two.
"I— I— I—" Diluc stuttered, unable to get past it while he made eye contact with one of the dead bodies that was staring at him, begging for help. Crepus pulled his gaze away, saying something negative about his stutter and telling him to calm down. His wet clothes and hair stuck to his skin as the unforgiving rain fell even harder, making it harder for him to hear his father.
"You have to get up. Get up, Diluc. Get up!" Crepus shouted, roughly making his son stand up and trying to lead him toward the Knights, who were late to the party, just having arrived. His legs felt weak. Like him. He was so weak he couldn't even save everyone. He was a weak coward.
"They— They're— They're dead—" He stammered, looking around at the bodies. Crepus looked at him and hesitated before gripping his arm to drag him away. Diluc let him, feeling like a ragdoll.
"We can't do anything about it. We need to get you to the Cathedral to check on the scratch on your stomach. Is that all the blood from that wound?" Crepus asked, and the teen hesitated before looking down at the blood covering him. “C’mon, Diluc. Answer me, god dammit!" The older yelled over the rain, and Diluc didn't even flinch. There was so much blood. His clothes were red and brown. The Knight's insignia wasn't even visible. Wait, why was his father concerned for him? He wasn't mad that he failed?
"It's— Not all of it is—" He couldn't get the words out, staring down at the blood. Not all of it was his. Not all of it was his. It was in his hair, in his mouth, covering his clothes and arms. Crepus said nothing and continued walking, letting go of his arm and putting his hand on Diluc's back to lead him. Diluc looked up and saw the Knights before he kicked something. Looking down, he saw an arm that wasn't attached to a body. His father continued walking as if it were nothing. How could he just ignore it? He moved his hands away from the wound and stopped in place, looking down as blood steadily poured from what he thought was a scratch. That wasn't good. Crepus looked at him, furrowing his brows and following his gaze. His eyes widened in horror, looking around for help.
Crepus attempted to get him to walk towards the knights, but he wasn't paying enough attention. Diluc swayed a bit as he walked and took a step forward before he collapsed to one knee and then beside one of the corpses, his world spinning around him. The adrenaline was wearing off, and now he was feeling the blood loss. The chaos around him seemed to freeze for a brief second, a hollow silence from everyone around him as they stared in shock. Then, all he could hear and see were shouts and frantic movements. Varka was barking orders and rushing to him. He felt multiple hands grabbing him to roll him on his back and see if he was alive. The hands moved to the wound on his stomach, pressing on it, and Diluc let out a strangled, broken cry of pain. Kaeya, Crepus, and Varka were standing over him, all looking down at him, Kaeya holding some piece of fabric over the gash. Varka said something, and Kaeya pressed down harder, and he cried louder.
"Stop—!" Diluc sobbed, having no energy to move away from them. His ears started ringing as Crepus and Varka began yelling at each other, Kaeya staring into his eyes with a horrified look. Varka's face was red as he grabbed Crepus by the collar of his shirt and shook him.
"Does it make you feel good watching your firstborn son bleed out? Because if he's dead, your knuckles won't be bruised anymore, huh?"
"You are out of line, Grandmaster!" Crepus shouted, shoving the blonde away from him. Diluc weakly reached a hand out to put on Varka's leg to get his attention before letting it drop. His head hurt. He just wanted some peace and quiet. The Grandmaster stopped and looked down at the Cavalry Captain, then at the bloody handprint on his leg. This was not the time to argue with Crepus. He knelt down in front of the redhead, trying to comfort him, but it didn't matter what he said. All Diluc could think about were the people who had died. It wasn't fair. They didn't have their loved ones around them when they died.
It wasn't fair.
"Diluc, say something!" Kaeya shouted, and Crepus and Varka stopped, looking down at him. "Please, Diluc. Hang on!" His brother cupped his face, his hands warm against his cold face. He opened his mouth to speak, but no noise came out, only blood. Exhaustion overtook him, and his eyes rolled back into his head. The last thing he heard before falling unconscious was his brother screaming his name.
When he jolted awake, it felt as if no time had passed. He swallowed hard and looked around, seeing that he was lying in the Cathedral and Crepus was talking with a nurse by the door. His clothes were lying in the trash can, covered in blood and rain. Diluc stared at the two, looking around at his surroundings. There was a faint beeping coming from beside him, and he eyed the heart monitor and IV next to him. He spotted a calendar to his left, the date reading May 2nd. Had he missed his own birthday celebration? Father was going to be upset at him. Rain was hitting the window in a steady rhythm.
"Will he be able to go back to normal?" His father asked the nurse in a low voice. He looked worried. He never seemed to be worried about Diluc. Not until now.
"Physically, he should recover. Seamus stopped the internal bleeding and stitched him up nicely," she said, and Crepus sighed in relief, yet she continued, "But I'm not sure about the mental part. We won't know until he wakes up, but the chances of him returning to how he was before after this are low. This was a very traumatic situation for someone so young to experience. It's very likely that he'll develop post-traumatic stress disorder or a panic disorder," She explained. What were they talking about? When he looked to his right, Kaeya was sitting beside him, asleep against the wall while holding Diluc's hand.
"Will he be able to go back to being Cavalry Captain?" He asked, and the nurse shrugged.
"Again, we won't know until we assess him when he wakes up—" Diluc winced as he tried to sit up, which caught everyone's attention. Kaeya shot upright, looking to his brother and smiling. Crepus and the nurse looked at him, and his father immediately rushed over and helped his son sit up.
"Diluc, how are you feeling?" He asked, his voice soft as he gently rubbed his back. The younger furrowed his brows, confused as to why he was being so gentle with him for the first time since he was a toddler, and then he remembered. He remembered the blood, the fighting, the dragon, the corpses. All the corpses.
Diluc's breath caught in his throat, and he looked down at his stomach, pulling back the sheets to see thick layers of bandages covering the wound. He swallowed hard, his breathing quickly picking up as he panicked. Why was he still here? Why were he and Crepus the only ones who lived? He shut his eyes tightly, covering his face with both hands and curling in on himself. All he felt was guilt. It was overwhelming, eating him alive until he felt like he was going to die.
"No— Nononono!" He cried, not bothering to stop himself from sobbing into his hands. Diluc didn't care if Father scolded him for crying. He couldn't help himself. Crepus quickly sat on the edge of his cot and gently pulled him into a hug, holding him while he cried into his shoulder. Diluc couldn't stop apologizing, begging for forgiveness. From who? Not even he knew.
Crepus hadn't been a good father. The realization washed over him when he watched Diluc collapse to the ground, unresponsive and bleeding from his stomach. He thought he was just making him into a good Knight by pushing him past his limits. Even with the Drake attacking the caravan, he was pushing Diluc to fight it instead of running. He was going to be a better father. He had to be.
"It's okay. You're okay. You're safe now. It's going to be okay," Crepus whispered, cradling the back of his head as he cried. The Delusion sat in his back pocket, whispering to him to hurt his son, but he ignored it. Kaeya sat on the other side of Diluc, rubbing his back. He was wailing, and the sound made Kaeya's heart ache.
"I'm sorry— I'm sorry—!" He managed to push himself away from Crepus, curling in on himself as he cried, his back to his father. The heart monitor beeped quickly beside him. The boy was scared of his father. It was to be expected. Crepus hadn't been kind to him in over a decade. Diluc's hands gripped fistfuls of his hair, knees coming to his chest as he made himself as small as he could. He was trembling uncontrollably, images flashing through his mind. "I'm sorry, Dad— P—Please— Please, not right now—" Diluc managed out as he sobbed. Kaeya was by his side, pushing Crepus out of the way and comforting his brother. Crepus's presence was only stressing Diluc out.
"Diluc, it's okay. Everything's going to be okay. Just breathe! Breathe, Luc," Kaeya said, holding both of his hands into his own and talking to him. The redhead looked at his younger brother and engulfed him in a hug, ignoring the pain in his abdomen. Crepus did nothing. He didn't know what to do, not wanting to scare his son more. He silently exited the room, deciding to let the brothers be.
As he walked out of the room and down the hall to the nave of the church, Crepus spotted the Grandmaster. Varka sat in one of the pews, hands clasped as he prayed to Barbatos. His lips moved as he mumbled a prayer, eyes squeezed shut. Before Crepus could say anything, the Grandmaster sighed.
"Crepus, now is not the time," His voice was low and dangerous. The winery owner stopped dead in his tracks. He knew that. He knew that arguing with the Grandmaster and trying to make him seem like he was a better man than he truly was while his son was crying on a hospital bed was wrong, yet he didn't know what else to do.
So, he took a seat beside Varka, looking up to the altar. No amount of prayers would make up for what he had done. Barbatos wouldn't forgive such a grave sin, despite Crepus's efforts to convince himself that the Archon would.
"Thank you for being there for Diluc when I wasn't. For protecting him when I wouldn't," Crepus told him, voice breaking. Varka's gaze softened, but he said nothing. This man didn't deserve sympathy. He abused his firstborn son, raised him to be broken, and is now seeing the consequences of his actions.
"Go comfort your son before I have to do it for you again," Varka spoke sharply, and Crepus slowly nodded before walking back to the room Diluc was in. The Grandmaster watched him, clenching his jaw shut. They would have a conversation later. When Diluc was healed.
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Diluc was cleared to go home after being at the Cathedral for several hours. By the time they left, it was late at night. The wound had already healed significantly before being stitched. He hadn't said anything on the carriage ride home, shaking terribly. Every odd noise had him tensing, eyes darting around for the cause. Crepus was talking to him, but Diluc was too zoned out to answer.
"You should be healed enough to be able to go back to your duties as Calvary Captain. We'll have to lighten your training till you're fully healed," Crepus said, and the redhead blinked and looked at him, furrowing his brows.
"I'm sorry, Sir. I have no idea what you just said. Please don't be mad." His voice was hoarse and broken, and his eyes were tired and traumatized. Kaeya took his hand into his own, smiling at him.
"It's nothing important, Luc. Don't worry about it," Kaeya told him, gently squeezing his hand. Crepus silenced himself, realizing it was not the time. A group of knights escorted them home per Diluc's request, but it didn't calm him in the slightest. The rain was merciless, still coming down as hard as it had been on his birthday. When they finally arrived, Kaeya had to coax Diluc out of the carriage, telling him that the dragon was gone and would not return anytime soon. After what felt like ages, he quickly got out and rushed inside.
As soon as he entered, Adelinde rushed to him and pulled him into a hug, thanking Barbatos that he was alive. He didn't hug her back, just staring at the floor, eyes dead. She kissed his cheek, wiping her tears.
"My boy. Thank Barbatos, you're alive," Adelinde said, sighing in relief. "Would you like something to eat? Steak? Fowl?" She asked, hands coming up to cup his face. He slowly shook his head, pulling away and heading towards the stairs.
"I'm just going to lie down," Diluc mumbled, walking up the steps with a hand over his wound. Kaeya watched him ascend the stairs, dread growing within him. He had to tell Diluc now. After seeing Diluc half dead in the mud, he realized that if he never had the chance to tell him the truth, he would never forgive himself.
After contemplating it for an hour, he waited till Adelinde and Crepus were both in their own rooms before he went to Diluc's room to see that he was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He was trembling slightly, seemingly zoned out. Kaeya knocked on the door, and the redhead glanced at him, slowly pushing himself upright.
"Hey, Luc. How are you feeling?" He asked, shutting the door behind him. The older shrugged, looking down. He looked defeated. This was the first time he had seen his brother look that way. He felt sorry for him more than anything else. "Well, I— I have to tell you something. It's really important, and I— I couldn't bring myself to tell you until today," Kaeya said, fidgeting and averting his gaze when Diluc looked up at him, moving to sit on the edge of the bed.
"What is it?" He asked, and the younger wished he could go his whole life without telling him and not feel guilty over it, but it was too late now.
"I've been lying to you for our entire childhood about where I came from and why I'm here."
Everything after that was a blur. Kaeya kept talking and talking, watching his brother stand up, confusion etched into his features. He was dead silent as Kaeya continued to explain, and when he ran out of things to say and fell silent, looking at him, he realized he couldn't read Diluc's face. This was the one time he didn't know what was happening in his brain.
"Sent to destroy Mondstadt?" He asked breathlessly, running a hand through his hair and looking down at the ground as he processed what was said.
"Yes, but I was never going to act on it and forgot about it until your birthday!"
If only he had changed his phrasing from 'your birthday' to 'just now,' then maybe Diluc wouldn't have gotten angry. He saw his eyes widen, and pure rage took over as he shoved Kaeya against the wall, grabbing him by his shirt collar.
"Then it was you! It was your fault! It was your fault they all died!" He shouted, gripping his shirt until his knuckles turned white. The look in his eyes was one he had never seen before. Diluc looked crazed.
"No, Diluc! I had no part in what happened that day, believe me! Please!" Kaeya practically begged, not knowing that this was the reaction he was going to get from him.
"How can I?! You're a liar!" Diluc shouted, opening his door and dragging him out. Kaeya tried to stop him, but it was futile. He held his shirt as he led him down the stairs and to the front door. Crepus exited his room in time to watch Diluc drag him outside, the front door slamming shut behind them. He didn't even have time to stop them or ask what was happening, rushing back into his room to grab his coat. When the two got to the lake, Kaeya was shoved to the ground, with Diluc straddling him so he couldn't get up, while he roughly grabbed his face. The rain was coming down harder and harder around them, making it hard to see anything.
"I bet you wished I died, huh? Then you could complete your stupid fucking mission!" He screamed, punching him across the face over and over. Kaeya tried to stop him, and they wrestled for a while before Diluc finally wrapped his hands around his neck, squeezing hard.
"I'll kill you— I'll fucking kill you—!" Diluc shouted, his hands getting warmer and Vision glowing brightly on his hip. Kaeya started panicking, kicking and pleading with him.
"Ple— Please— 'Luc, please—!" This was not the way he wanted to go out. He didn't want to die with his head being set on fire. He was sobbing as he begged his brother, someone he loved and trusted, not to kill him. He saw his crimson eyes falter slightly before he scowled and squeezed harder.
Before he could light his hands ablaze, he was shoved off Kaeya. The young Knight gasped and clutched his neck, rolling on his side and coughing. The rain was coming down harder than ever. He couldn't see anything anymore, but when there was a flash of lightning, he saw Crepus dragging Diluc away from Kaeya by the back of his shirt, a few feet away. Diluc stumbled and fell as he was dragged away, struggling and kicking. Kaeya stared into the darkness blankly until the lightning lit up the area, revealing Diluc being shoved into the mud. Crepus pushed him into the ground, kneeling to grab his face roughly. The tables have turned.
"What has gotten into you?! You could've killed him!" Crepus shouted, and Diluc said nothing, staring up at him with wide, crazed eyes. There was no hint of the fear that usually accompanied when Crepus confronted him.
"So what?! He's a traitor! He's been lying to us his entire life! Tell him, Kaeya!" Diluc yelled, looking at Kaeya, who stared back silently. He couldn't get the words out to explain. He could only watch. Crepus scowled, but before he could do anything, Diluc punched him in the jaw. The winery owner groaned and moved off of Diluc, holding his jaw. The Cavalry Captain took the opportunity to grab the Delusion from his pocket and scramble to his feet. He summoned his Claymore and lit it on fire to illuminate the area, looking between the two of them, covered in mud and rain.
"Don't get near me—"
"Do you think I want to be near you?!" Crepus seethed, voice dripping with venom, "What you tried to do is unforgivable. You're not even my son." Diluc flinched, brows furrowing. He dropped his sword into the mud, suddenly panicked. Because if he wasn't Crepus's son —if he wasn't whatever Crepus molded him into— then what was he supposed to do?
"Wait— Wait, I didn't mean—" Diluc stuttered, not being able to get the words out.
"Did you not hear me? You're not welcome here!" Crepus snapped, and the teen couldn't stop the tears streaming down his face as he tried begging for forgiveness.
"I'm sorry! I— I'm sorry! Dad, please—!"
"Don't call me that! I disown you from the Ragnvindr family! I disown you as my son!" Crepus yelled at him, and Kaeya stared up at him in shock. Never in a million years did he think that he would say such words to Diluc.
Diluc's breath hitched, and he slowly backed away from them, chest heaving as he sobbed. He ran his hands through his hair, the whole world shattering around him as he tried to think of a solution to fix what he had done. Crepus was already kneeling before Kaeya, comforting him.
"You— You are the worst father ever to walk Teyvat!" Diluc shouted, the fire engulfing his sword flared up, and Crepus looked at him in shock.
"I fed you. I put a roof over your head. I provided you with opportunities that others would kill for. No. I am not the worst father to walk Teyvat." Crepus seethed. Looking between the two of them, Kaeya could tell where Diluc got his anger. Crepus was furious.
"You beat me and yelled at me and abused me—!"
"Because you deserved it!"
"No! Because you were mad at yourself!" Diluc said, walking closer to them. Crepus stood in front of Kaeya to protect him. His now estranged brother grinned wildly as he looked at Crepus. He had completely lost it, letting out a humorless laugh. "Because you were too weak and pathetic to get a Vision or be in the Knights like the fucking failure you are!—"
Crepus shoved him into the mud as hard as he could, watching him slowly pick himself up. Without even thinking about it, Crepus kicked him in the abdomen, forgetting all about his stitches and acting purely out of his anger. Diluc cried out in pain, arms wrapping around his stomach. He could barely move, arms trembling as he moved them away to look at the bandages.
"Diluc!" Kaeya rushed over to his side, kneeling beside him. Even though he had just attacked him and yelled horrible things at him, he didn't want him to be alone while in pain, knelt in the cold mud as rain poured down over them. Lightning flashed, followed by the boom of thunder, and Kaeya saw the fresh blood on Diluc's bandages. Crepus stared at them, not saying a word. Kaeya looked over his left shoulder at his father, and that's when his Claymore blazed brighter, and Diluc moved fast. He placed his hand over Kaeya's right eye while he was turned away. It took no time at all to feel the burning sensation as Diluc's hand was scorching hot.
Kaeya screamed in pain and fell back, and Diluc used the distraction as a chance to run, grabbing his Claymore and sprinting. Before he could get far, ice rose from the ground around Diluc, trapping him in it. He was panicking, not able to run away as he had planned. As long as he escaped before Crepus noticed he was trapped, he would be okay. Ice dug into his skin through his clothes, making his teeth chatter and squirming become more intense. He used his Pyro to melt it, collapsing to the ground once he was free. How had ice even formed in the first place?
"Diluc— Don't leave— Please!" Kaeya begged, one hand covering his eye while the other propped him up. A Cryo Vision lay in front of him, glowing brightly. Diluc hesitated, not wanting to abandon his baby brother, but then he looked to his father, and the anger on his face made him flinch. His legs were moving before he could even think about it. He turned and ran to Stone Gate, not daring to look back. There was no need to. Nothing would change his mind.
Kaeya wasn't blind; he knew that for sure. He hadn't burned his eye directly, just the skin around it. He would be left with a burn scar but not blindness. Crepus helped Kaeya up and began leading him inside, looking off in the direction Diluc had run. The rain was starting to let up, and he could make out Diluc running for his life, disappearing under Stone Gate. Crepus began to regret his actions. Instead of hearing whispering in the back of his mind, telling him that he shouldn't feel bad for Diluc, all he got was silence. Wait. Crepus felt his pockets, and his heart dropped when he realized the Delusion was gone. When had he lost it? Had Diluc taken it with him?
It didn't matter now. Even if Diluc did take it, he wouldn't know how to use it, and he wasn't expecting his return.
Frankly, he didn't want him to return.
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Five years, eleven months, and 20 days. That's how long it had been since Diluc ran away on his birthday.
In the days following Diluc's 18th birthday, Kaeya's wound on his eye was treated, and the Knights were informed of Diluc's leaving. For the time being, they would leave his position vacant in case he returned home soon.
He did not.
A funeral was held for those who were killed during the incident, and all Kaeya could think about as he sat there, listening to Varka's speech, was how frustrated he was that the only survivor was absent. Diluc couldn't even bother to come for that? Jean and Kaeya grew even closer during this time, bonding over their shared longing for Diluc and their efforts to catch up on the increased workload.
Crepus was a disaster. He kept replaying the night in his head, regretting every action and every word that he said to Diluc. As the amount of time he was gone grew and grew, so did Crepus' guilt. The Delusion wasn't there to poison his thoughts and anger him. He thought that he was probably the primary factor driving Diluc to stay away, unless he had killed him when he hit his wound and opened the stitches. The notion that he caused his death made him sick, and he refused to believe it was even a possibility. Even though he was wracked with guilt and regret and shame, he was calmer now than he had ever been before. More level-headed. Kaeya told him what he said to Diluc, and he didn't lash out. He didn't scold him or yell, just comforted him. He reacted the way Kaeya now wished Diluc had reacted. Even though he had a positive reaction, Kaeya deep down resented Crepus for abusing Diluc all those years. He didn't know about it until that night when Diluc yelled at him. He still didn't know the true extent.
Diluc's room was untouched. Everything was exactly where he left it. Now and then, someone would go in there, always either Adelinde, Kaeya, Elzer, or Crepus, and think back to simpler times and mourn. Adelinde wished she could find him and bring him home. Kaeya wished he never told him his secret. Elzer wished he never left. Crepus wished he had been a better parent. Alas, all they could do was wish, hope, and dream.
Despite the chaos, they couldn't be stuck grieving the loss of someone who was probably still alive. They all tried their best to move on and return to their normal lives. Yet, the door to Diluc's room remained cracked open. His chair at the table remained slightly out of place as no one dared to push it in. His falcon was frequently spotted around the Winery. The clothes in his closet remained unworn. The family's pictures remained hung up around the Winery.
Kaeya took over as temporary Cavalry Captain, but after eight months passed and no one had heard a word from Diluc, he took his position entirely. Every time he had to travel to another nation, he made sure to keep an eye out for that striking red hair, but he never spotted it. His hope was debilitated until it was no more. Once months turned into a year and a year turned into 5 years, he stopped looking.
Traveling to Sumeru was routine for Crepus. He went every year to discuss new shipments and deals, and since Diluc left, he has started taking Kaeya with him. This year was no different. They were going in April instead of June because the man he always met with would be traveling in June.
Crepus and Kaeya had arrived in the nation not too long ago and were heading toward the city. They kept their eyes out for any hostile creatures, Kaeya keeping his sword drawn just in case. Sumeru wasn't the safest place to travel due to the wild animals and the remaining machines from Khaenri'ah. The last thing they needed was to be attacked. They followed the path, staying quiet and avoiding touching anything.
Though they couldn't have possibly avoided this. The machine was hidden in the shade under vines and moss, seemingly dormant. They got one inch too close, and Kaeya saw the lights on it flicker. Their horses whinnied and began to back away. Before they could turn around without being spotted, the machine powered up. It creaked and groaned as it turned its head and stood, wings extending outward. This was one thing that they could not take down by themselves. It began walking toward them, turning its head and sparking as all of its weapons turned on.
"We have to run. Run!" Kaeya shouted as it sped up, yanking the reins back so they could flee. As they turned their horses around, the Ruin Drake stopped dead in its tracks, unable to move. They turned around to see flaming chains wrap around the machine, subduing it. The chains wrapped around its neck and head, piercing through its core. The Ruin Drake, in a last-ditch effort, began spinning, and Kaeya and Crepus saw the person who was controlling the chains behind the machine get knocked into a nearby tree by the metal tail. Thankfully, the machine collapsed to the ground, its core going dim and sparking as it lay unmoving.
Kaeya eyed the mysterious traveler, who was weakly picking himself up off the ground, clearly in poor condition. His breaths came in shallow, unsteady draws, hinting at an undercurrent of exhaustion that seemed to weigh heavily on his limbs. He leaned against the tree, his legs trembling as if they might give out at any moment. The black coat draped over his frame appeared oppressively hot, the fabric clinging to him and accentuating the feverish sheen on his skin.
"Excuse me, sir," Kaeya started as he hopped off his horse and walked over, and the man flinched like he had been hit. Crepus walked over to the man, putting a hand on his shoulder to steady him. "Thank you for helping us. Can we repay you in any way?" Kaeya asked, and he said nothing, trying to walk away, but he groaned and fell to a knee.
"Easy, son. You got hit pretty hard," Crepus said, and the man weakly shoved him off, getting up and leaning against the tree.
"Don't call me son. I'm not your son," He spat, adjusting his hood and keeping his head down. "Leave me be." He said, harsh and flat. His voice was raspy, like he hadn't spoken in a while. The chains he had used wrapped tightly around his right thigh as if to support the limb, and weren't on fire like how they were to bring down the machine. Did he have a broken femur?
"You're hurt. We can take a horse and go into the city—"
"I said leave me be!" The man looked at them, and Kaeya spotted the red hair he had been looking for for all these years. He yanked back the hood to see his brother. Diluc looked at them with wide eyes, suddenly realizing and recognizing who they were. Before anyone could say anything, Diluc tried to run. Using the chains summoned by the Delusion, he wrapped them around the two and ran. Although he wasn't very fast with a limp, he was still getting away. Kaeya froze the chains and managed to break them, helping Crepus out before they got their horses and chased after him. Diluc was heading deep into the forest, where it would be easy to hide. They had to get him before he disappeared again.
"Diluc, wait! Please!" Kaeya shouted, but he didn't stop. He kept running and running, but he wasn't cautious enough. He didn't see the Hilichurl shooter atop a hill aiming at him.
"Son!" Crepus shouted, and Diluc looked back, seeing the Hilichurl that was aiming at him. Before his chains could reach the beast, the arrow was fired and went into his left bicep. The Hilichurl was impaled with a chain, but then all the chains disintegrated. Diluc collapsed, his leg twisted wrong, and his arm was bleeding. Kaeya and Crepus leaped off their horses and rushed to him. His eyes were squeezed shut, and he was trembling out of fear.
"Please— please don't. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry— I didn't mean it—" Diluc stammered out, not daring to open his eyes and look at them. He couldn't run away. There was no escaping this. Crepus put a hand on his shoulder, and he flinched hard, curling in on himself. "No, please, I said that I'm sorry—!" Diluc's voice broke, chest heaving as he practically hyperventilated.
"Diluc, it's okay. No one's going to hurt you," Kaeya said, and Diluc finally looked at them, confused. His face glistened with tears and sweat, thin and dirty. He barely even recognized him. The light in his eyes was gone.
"You— You're not going to hurt me—?" He managed, and Crepus' heart broke. Kaeya shook his head, giving him a smile. Diluc stared at the eyepatch, jaw clenching as he stared. Before they could say anything else, Diluc's limbs went limp, and he passed out. Kaeya checked his pulse and sighed when he felt it.
"Let's head back to the Rangers. They'll be able to heal him."
─── ⋆⋅☆·⋆ ───
Kaeya and Crepus made it back to the Rangers in no time. Kaeya rushed to find Collei and Tighnari, who took Diluc into one of the huts and allowed them to come in while they looked at Diluc's wounds. Tighnari cut off his pant leg and looked at his leg. His knee was dislocated, and his femur was most likely fractured. Collei carefully removed his coat because he was sweating, but it didn't seem to help. He was definitely sick, but that was going to be the last thing they had to deal with.
"Is he— Is he going to be okay?" Kaeya asked with a dry mouth. Collei looked at him with a soft smile and nodded.
"The arrow wound isn't too severe, and we have healers who can help Tighnari with his leg. He seems to be sick, but with some medicine, he'll be right as rain. Don't worry, Sir Kaeya," She said, before focusing on the arrow. Suddenly, she froze, noticing the Delusion on his hand. Collei hesitated, reaching out to touch it before pulling away, seemingly scared of it. The older redhead looked at it, recognition flashing through his features.
"This is… how did he get this?" Crepus breathed out, a million thoughts racing around his head as he stared down at the wretched thing. He had taken it that night. Had he been using it every day since then? How was it affecting him?
"What is it, father?" Kaeya asked, and Collei looked to the winery owner for his response. He looked between the two of them and shook his head.
"It's a dangerous object. I have no clue how he acquired it," Crepus muttered, moving out of Collei's way as she cut off his shirt to examine the bruising on his torso. That's when Crepus saw the scar on his stomach, which he got from Ursa. It had faded significantly, but it reminded Crepus of one of his worst failures as a father.
Diluc had a multitude of bruises, large ones on his right side where he got hit. His ribs were visible, showing his malnourishment. He was filthy, skin practically stained with dirt and sweat. Kaeya took away all his weapons and put them on a table. If he woke up panicked, he might try to attack. That was the last thing they needed.
Kaeya noticed the frostbite scar on his leg and arm, and guilt made his chest feel tight. That was because of him. That was all his fault. In his selfish need not to lose more family, he trapped his brother in ice to try to force him to stay. It was a decision made from desperation, one that haunted him even now. What if he had pushed too far and caused irreversible harm? He couldn't shake the image of Diluc's pain-stricken face from his mind. He felt responsible for this scar, a lasting reminder of his failure to protect his brother when it mattered most. The thought gnawed at him, turning every moment of stillness into a confrontation with his own culpability.
"Is it all right if you both sit outside while I bandage and heal him?" Collei said politely. Kaeya nodded and headed out of the tent, dragging his hands down his face. It had been almost six years. What was he supposed to say to Diluc? Crepus was behind him, rubbing his back and giving him a pained smile. It was the reunion they had been longing for, but not the one they had dreamt of.
─── ⋆⋅☆·⋆ ───
"I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed I am. Are you even a Ragnvindr?" Crepus sneered. Diluc stood before him, looking down as he was berated. Maybe if he could just zone him out, he could get through this. His father roughly grabbed his face, forcing his gaze upward. Perhaps not. "Falling asleep at work? Fighting with your peers? That's peasant behavior."
"I apologize, Sir," Diluc said flatly, making sure he didn't have any sort of tone that could be taken the wrong way. It was almost all true. The full truth was that he passed out at his desk. He hadn't been sleeping well and was training too hard. While filling out paperwork, the lines began to blur, and before he knew it, Varka was shaking him awake and shouting his name with Eroch standing in the doorway with a grin. He tried to explain, but the Inspector kept interrupting him, twisting it into him slacking off. Varka believed him. He knew he did.
The fight happened later that day. He was sparring with some Knights when the one who was sparring with Kaeya took it too far and got physical. He had thrown both their swords to the ground and used his Anemo Vision to send Kaeya into a nearby training dummy. Diluc and Jean were by his side in an instant, making sure he was alright. The redhead grabbed the perpetrator by the collar of his shirt, trying to force him to apologize, but he wouldn't. Diluc doesn't quite remember what happened next. One moment he was shouting in the Knight's face, and the next he was pinning him down and punching him in the face till his own hand started to bleed. His nose was bleeding uncontrollably, probably broken. The Knight he was beating half to death tried to push him off, but it was futile. The Grandmaster dragged him off, kicking and shouting, and took him to his office.
The door behind Varka slammed shut, and Diluc was being held by the collar of his shirt. His nose was still bleeding, knuckles bruised and stained red. He squirmed, chest heaving and eyes wild as he stared up at his superior.
"What in Barbatos were you thinking?! That man is under your command! You're supposed to lead by example. And that means not beating up those you lead!" Varka shouted at him, shaking him slightly. "Nothing he could have said or done warrants that sort of violence. You make me question if you're the right fit for Calvary Captain." He scolded, but he wasn't quite sure the younger was listening. Diluc looked like he was in another world, eyes blank and breaths shallow as he stared up at the older man.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Diluc?" He asked, getting no response. Varka gently patted his cheek, but that was the wrong move. The Calvary Captain flinched hard and stumbled back, falling to the ground and curling in on himself. He covered his head with his arms, shaking terribly. He had never seen this kind of fear from the young Captain.
"I'm s—sorry! Don't— Don't, please! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" Diluc stammered out, voice shaking. Varka locked the door before kneeling beside Diluc, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Diluc, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not going to fire you. Take deep breaths," The blonde told him, rubbing his back as he wept quietly. Varka took one of his hands into his own, shushing him and whispering reassurances. "You're okay. Everything is going to be perfectly fine."
It took him a while to finally snap out of it. He moved his arms away, looking up at Varka and then glancing around the room. He sat up, and the Grandmaster engulfed him in a hug. Diluc couldn't stop the tears as he sobbed into his shoulder. It had been a long time since he had cried. If he ever needed to cry, he pushed it down out of fear that Crepus would hear him. Diluc pulled away, desperately wiping his tears from his face. It was a sign of weakness to cry. He shouldn't be crying in front of the Grandmaster.
"I—I— I'm sorry, Sir— It's—"
"I know, Diluc. I know," Varka told him, handing him a handkerchief. He got up and walked to his desk to grab a first-aid kit, then sat back down in front of Diluc. "My father was the same way. I see the look in your eyes when Master Crepus is around. I catch the digs he makes at you." The Grandmaster was gentle as he wiped off the blood with rubbing alcohol wipes. He then wrapped Diluc's hands in bandages and inspected his nose. It wasn't broken, just bruised. Varka couldn't cover that up.
In the end, Crepus found out. Eroch sent him a letter without telling Varka before Diluc even got off work. When he got home, he was called to his father's office immediately. Now here he was, being scolded by his father.
"You should be sorry. You make me look bad. You make me look like a terrible Father," Crepus snapped, and Diluc bit his tongue to stop himself from saying anything. "Don't tarnish the Ragnvindr name. You know better."
"I will do better, Sir. I apologize," The redhead had learned that if he just agreed with whatever his father said, he wouldn't get as angry. It made Crepus feel good about himself.
"Why did you fight that Knight?" Crepus asked, crossing his arms over his chest. The younger glanced at his face before looking back down at the ground, thinking of what to say. If Eroch was detailed in his letter, Crepus would catch any lie he made. Crepus hated when he lied.
"The Knight used his Vision while sparring against Kaeya and went too far. Vision users were prohibited from using their Visions during this sparring session. The Knight refused to apologize to Kaeya and questioned my authority. That's when things got physical," Diluc explained as briefly as he could, thanking Barbados that he didn't stutter. Even though he couldn't always help it, Crepus always said that if he just tried harder, he wouldn't stutter. Despite teachers telling Crepus directly that it wasn't his fault for his stutter, he didn't believe it.
"Why didn't Kaeya defend himself? Did you think he was too weak to because he doesn't have a Vision?" Crepus voice dripped with venom. Diluc furrowed his brows.
"What?"
"You think all those without Visions are weak, don't you?"
"No. Kaeya is not weak. Those without Visions aren't weak. I— I— I never said any of that—" Crepus grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
"What did I tell you about stuttering?!" Shit. He hadn't even realized. Everything was falling apart now. Things were going from bad to worse before his mind could process. He tried to speak, but he couldn't get any words out, stuttering and struggling to think of what to say. That only made Crepus angrier. Crepus shoved Diluc back hard, and he tripped over his feet and fell, hitting his head on the corner of his desk.
"Get up," Crepus snapped. His son didn't move. "C'mon, don't be a fucking pussy. Get up!" He kicked his leg, but Diluc didn't move. Everything was going black. Crepus noticed the blood on his desk where Diluc had hit his head and looked down to see that he was bleeding. A lot.
Diluc slowly pried open his eyes to Adelinde shaking him awake, his head throbbing in pain as he looked around, more confused than ever. It was like his memory had been wiped. How did he get here? Why was she so panicked? She engulfed him in a hug, kissing his forehead multiple times.
"Oh, thank the Archons. Diluc, honey, we need to go to the Cathedral, okay?" Adelinde told him, and that's when he realized she was holding a towel on the side of his head. It was being stained red because of him. Was the color of his hair coming out?
"Cathedr'l? Whadya need from there?" His words were slurred as he sat up. Crepus was standing a few feet away, watching silently. "Wus dad doin' ere?" He asked. Adelinde shot Crepus a glare. He never saw her get angry.
"You went too far, Crepus. He could have died," Adelinde seethed. The older Master huffed, looking from her to his son. "You'd better pray to Barbatos that it's only a concussion. Now, I'm going to get Kaeya, and we're going to take your firstborn son to the Cathedral." She stood and headed out into the hallway. Diluc was propped up against the desk, blood drying on the side of his face as he held the towel in place. He was silent as he stared at his father, tears running down his cheeks. Crepus swallowed hard, heart aching for his son for the first time in a while, but he ignored the feeling and walked out. Kaeya and Adelinde arrived moments later, manhandling Diluc into standing so they could guide him to a carriage.
"Dad hates me... What'd I do, Mama?" Diluc mumbled, looking at Adelinde with those big red eyes. Her heart cracked in two, and she wiped his face off, kissing his cheek.
"He doesn't hate you, dear. You didn't do anything wrong." All three got into the carriage, Adelinde letting Diluc lean against her while Kaeya held the towel to his head.
"You promise, Mama?"
"I promise, sweet boy."
─── ⋆⋅☆·⋆ ───
Diluc woke up with a start. He sharply inhaled, his eyes snapping open as he looked around. He hadn't thought about that day in years. The question of what triggered that memory was quickly answered when he saw his estranged brother and father sitting beside him. Kaeya and Crepus hadn't slept at all and were beginning to grow tired, but were now wide awake. He looked at them with crimson, dangerous eyes. Eyes that could kill. His hands reached into his pockets, but all his weapons had been confiscated while he was unconscious.
"What—" He coughed, turning his head to the side and swallowing hard. He couldn't bring himself to look at them. "What are you two doing here?"
"I had my yearly business meeting with a client in Sumeru, but I've since canceled it since my eldest son has been found," Crepus said with a smile, looking to Kaeya, who looked the happiest he had been in years.
"Found? Who said I wanted to be found?" Diluc snapped at Crepus, and the older said nothing. "You disowned me. I'm not your son."
"Who are you then?"
"Nobody. I don't belong to anyone."
Crepus took a deep breath, looking down at his lap. Kaeya looked between them, moving closer to his brother. The joy that had been on his face moments ago was gone.
"Diluc, how have you been?" He asked simply, tilting his head. The redhead glanced at him, looking him up and down. He eyed his Cryo Vision before staring at the ceiling.
"You want to know the truth?" He asked, and Kaeya hummed. He would rather Diluc be brutally honest than lie to his face. Even if it was hypocritical of him to say. "Terrible. I've had to do disgusting things just to get a decent meal or a place to stay. I was in Fatui custody for months, tortured until Dottore got bored with me and released me. I'm always hurt or sick. I've wanted to come home so badly, but you told me if I ever returned, you'd kill me." Diluc explained, pointing to Crepus with his left hand, to which the Delusion was firmly attached. The older clenched his jaw and looked at the redhead, frowning.
"I never said that, Diluc." He mumbled, looking at Diluc's shaking hand. It seemed the Delusion was affecting him the same way it affected Crepus. Twisting his mind, changing his memories. Diluc narrowed his eyes, as if he didn't believe him, and put his arm down, but it kept shaking. It never stopped.
"Well, I figured you wouldn't want me there after trying to kill Kaeya," Diluc explained, gaze going back to the ceiling. "If you're going to kill me, just get it over with. Don't give me hope."
"Hope?"
"Hope that you still love me."
Kaeya got up and walked out of the hut. He was upset and frustrated, but taking those emotions out on Diluc wouldn't solve anything. Crepus watched him leave, frowning and looking back at his eldest. Diluc wouldn't even look at him.
"Diluc, no one is going to kill you, and we do still love you. We have always loved you—"
Diluc laughed. Hollow and weak.
“You’ve always loved me? What a joke," he said, shaking his head. Crepus furrowed his brows, watching as Diluc pushed himself to sit up, his face twisted in pain. "You called me a disappointment, told me I didn't deserve a Vision or to be Calvary Captain. You beat me until your knuckles hurt, or you got bored." Diluc's voice softened, the accusation hanging heavy in the air. "Never good enough," he repeated quietly, letting the words echo.
Crepus had nothing to say. No excuses for his actions, no explanation. Nothing. No apology would fix this. They sat in silence, letting Diluc's words hang heavy in the air. He noticed a scar on Diluc's temple that went past his hairline and gently touched it. It looked old and faded.
"How did you get this scar?"
"Really? You don't remember?" Diluc seethed, glaring at him as he slapped his hand away. "You were yelling at me, and I stuttered, so you knocked me down, and I hit my head on the corner of your desk. When I woke up, Adelinde was kneeling by my side, while you walked out without saying a word. You never did." He looked down at his leg, wrapped with a splint and bruised terribly. He couldn't run. He was forced to confront the memories he had tried so desperately to bury. Besides, he needed to stop running. It was cowardly. Selfish.
"I did everything for you. I joined the Knights for you. I became Calvary Captain for you. You molded me into what you wished you were. I wasn't even my own person," Diluc sharply inhaled at the pain in his ribs. "Yet I was never good enough for you. I could never live up to your standards. How could I? You couldn't even live up to your own."
"Diluc—"
"Does Kaeya know? Did you ever tell him what you did to me?"
Silence.
"Coward." Diluc spat.
"I'm the coward?" Crepus pointed to himself, scoffing. That anger he had buried was beginning to fester.
"You have always been a coward. Even when my mother died, you pretended nothing happened. Then you got a fucking Delusion to feel strong because you couldn't do anything to save her," Diluc was fuming now. If he were physically able, he would've started fighting Crepus. Give him a taste of what it was like all those years ago.
"I did everything to try and save your mother, and I didn't need anything to make me feel strong. You don't know what you're talking about," The winery owner said, tone getting harsher and defensive.
"Yeah, that's why you beat me, too. To make yourself feel strong. I bet you felt so strong beating up a child." Diluc poked him in the chest, and Crepus grabbed his face, pushing him down. The younger grabbed his wrist, eyes blown wide as he gazed up at him. He felt like he was 16 again, scared out of his mind as Crepus loomed over him. His breath picked up, and tears welled in his eyes as he stared up at his father. Someone who was supposed to comfort him and protect him.
Before Crepus could say or do anything, Kaeya came back in, eye widening at the scene. He pulled Crepus back, forcing him to his feet. He had grown while Diluc was gone. He looked exactly like who Crepus wanted Diluc to grow up to be.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?! You don't see Diluc in 5, almost 6, years, and you're really going to do that? You're unbelievable!" Kaeya yelled, shoving him away and standing between Crepus and Diluc. "18 years of abuse wasn't enough for you?" Diluc stared up at Kaeya in shock, wondering why in the world he was protecting him. He had tried to kill Kaeya.
"I— I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry—"
"No, don't apologize to me, apologize to your fucking son!" Kaeya shouted, making his father flinch. Kaeya was never angry. He was always the level-headed one out of the three of them.
"I... Diluc, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that," Crepus said, looking down at his eldest. Diluc didn't say a word, but Crepus could see he was trembling. He hesitated before walking out, knowing giving them space was all he could do right now. Kaeya turned and knelt beside Diluc, helping him sit up.
"Are you okay?" The younger asked, and Diluc just nodded, staring at him like he had six heads. Deep down, he was terrified of Kaeya. This would be the perfect opportunity to take revenge for what Diluc tried to do all those years ago. He was unable to run and was weak because he was sick. Yet, he didn't try anything. He was being kind and gentle.
"How did you find out?" He felt breathless and anxious as his little brother began to fidget, a wry smile on his face. He never did like being put on the spot.
"When you left, I thought about what you said regarding father abusing you, so I tried to ask him, but he wouldn't tell me anything. Soon after, Jean and I were talking, and she told me about a time when you came to her after being beaten for messing up while working at Angel's Share. Since I didn't think you were coming back, I went through your things and found your journals. The ones you hid in a loose floorboard," Damn. Diluc thought those were going to die with him. Kaeya was too clever. "I read through them, and what you wrote confirmed my thoughts that I had been having for a while." Kaeya said, taking Diluc's hand into his own.
Diluc remembers that day with Jean. He had been doing paperwork all day and then went to Angel's Share to help Crepus as instructed. At the end of the shift, he broke two glasses and spilled alcohol over himself. Crepus was already in a bad mood that day, so he took it out on his son. He dragged Diluc outback and gave him a proper beating. Once he was exhausted, Crepus told Diluc to go home. It was pouring rain, and he didn't want to walk home. Instead, he went to Jean's place, her mother gone on a trip.
"Diluc? It's late and pouring, why are you here—?" Jean was interrupted as a flash of lightning illuminated his face, showing the blood and tears he couldn't stop. She pulled him inside, trying to figure out where exactly he was hurt, but he was so distressed that he wouldn't let her.
"I don't— I don't know what to do, Jean—! He— He hates me!" Diluc sobbed, covering his face with his hands. Barbara peeked out of her room, and the blonde shooed her away silently, leading Diluc into the bathroom. The door clicked shut, and he slid down against a wall. His clothes were soaked with rain, dripping onto the tiled floor beneath him. He openly sobbed, and Jean had never been so worried about him. Diluc never cried, especially not in front of people.
"Diluc, who hates you? What happened to you?" Jean asked, cupping his face. He sniffled and shook his head, blood dripping from his nose. Bruises were blooming on his cheek and under his eyes. His nose was definitely broken, bleeding steadily as she held a towel under it.
"My— My dad—" Diluc sobbed, furiously wiping his eyes. "I can't do anything right. Everything I do is a fucking error. I can't win, Jean. I— I just can't!" He said through gritted teeth, eyes red from crying.
"Your dad did this to you?" She asked breathlessly, and he hesitantly nodded, shame coating his face. Jean felt her chest tighten, and she engulfed him in a hug. He gripped the back of her shirt, forehead on her shoulder as she cried. Sure, Crepus was hard on Diluc and always pushed him, but she never thought he would go as far as to beat him.
"Don't— Don't tell anyone. Please, Jean. He— He'll kill me." Diluc begged, voice wavering. Jean reluctantly nodded, squeezing him tighter.
"I wasn't going to tell you until I moved out," Diluc muttered. He felt guilty. Ashamed, even. Though it wasn't his fault, it felt like it was. "I didn't want you to get dragged into it and get hurt."
"I'm not weak, Diluc."
"I never said you were. I just wanted to protect you."
The two fell silent, still holding hands. Kaeya was scared that if he let go, Diluc would run away again. He couldn't handle that. Diluc didn't want him to leave.
"Please come back to Mondstadt. The city needs you. I need you," His voice cracked, and Diluc felt an ache in his chest he hadn't felt in years. Kaeya was his little brother. He was supposed to always be there for him and protect him at all costs. Instead, he hurt him and left him behind.
"I tried to kill you. I abandoned you. I scarred you. Why don't you hate me?" Diluc's throat felt tight as he spoke, words getting quieter as he spoke.
"I told you that I was supposed to destroy Mondstadt two days after Ursa the Drake attacked Mondstadt. I understand why you reacted the way you did. I would have reacted the same way in your shoes," Kaeya told him with a smile. "I forgave you a long time ago."
Diluc's breath caught in his throat, and he turned his head away, trying to stop the tears from forming in his eyes.
"I can't be in that house with him, Kae'. It will kill me." He remembers how it was when he came home from work every day. The house felt suffocating. He was always on edge, scared that at any minute, Crepus would find something to be mad at him for.
"But being away from home is killing you. Just look at the condition you are in right now," Kaeya argued, gesturing to his injuries. "Come live with me in the city at the manor. Father is never there. If you really can't stand it, then you can get your own place. I promise."
Diluc thought about it, weighing his options. He could keep running, keep hunting Fatui until there were none left, but he was tired. Not the kind of tired he could sleep off. All he wanted to do was relax. He wanted to be done with this. He wanted to go home.
"...Okay," He mumbled, slowly nodding and looking at Kaeya with glassy eyes. Kaeya smiled before gently hugging him. Diluc rested his head on his younger brother's shoulder, shutting his eyes.
Outside the tent, Crepus smiled and went to get Collei.
─── ⋆⋅☆·⋆ ───
A week later, Diluc had recovered from his illness, and Kaeya convinced Collei to let him return home. He still couldn't walk, but he wasn't going to be alone anymore.
That week, Kaeya was the one who was mainly keeping Diluc company. He told him about becoming Cavalry Captain, Jean being the Acting Grandmaster, and Eroch being fired and fleeing Mondstadt after. Diluc was shocked at how much he could talk. When they were younger, Kaeya was the quiet one, while Diluc could talk about anything and everything for hours on end.
Crepus talked to him occasionally, but Diluc didn't respond. He listened, watching Crepus as he spoke, yet he said nothing. The older person talked about the Winery, events in Mondstadt outside Kaeya's life, and memories of Diluc's mother, Feuer. Talking about Feuer always earned Crepus a smile from his son. How disappointed she would be in Crepus were she still alive.
Now they were on the way back to Mondstadt. Diluc sat behind Kaeya, the painkillers that Collei gave him making him lethargic. Crepus rode behind them, staying silent while Kaeya asked Diluc about his travels.
"What was your favorite place you went?"
"Fontaine. The food was delicious, especially because I didn't have to pay anythin' for it," Diluc mumbled, leaning against Kaeya. His eyes were half-lidded, fighting sleep, but the steady rocking of the horse and the feeling of the sun on his back had him drifting off.
"You didn't have to pay for the food?" Kaeya asked, raising a brow and glancing over his shoulder.
"Mm."
"Is that cause you stole it?"
"Mm." He could practically hear Diluc's smile.
Kaeya chuckled, shaking his head, "First stealing cookies from Adelinde, now stealing meals from restaurants. What a thief you've become."
"You gonna arrest me?"
"Might have to."
Now it was Diluc's turn to chuckle. The sound made Crepus smile. Before Kaeya could ask another question, he heard a soft snore. Diluc was deadweight behind him, dead asleep. It reminded Kaeya of when they were kids and would have sleepovers; Diluc would keep him up with his snoring. He hummed and kept going, determined to make it home before sunset.
─── ⋆⋅☆·⋆ ───
By the time they reached the Winery, it was dark outside. Diluc was still asleep behind Kaeya. It had been ages since he had slept peacefully without fear of being attacked. He slowly opened his eyes to Kaeya gently shaking him awake. The first thing he saw was the Winery right in front of him, in all its glory. His breath caught in his throat, mouth going dry.
"We'll go to the manor tomorrow, but it's dark, and I know you've missed Adelinde's cooking," Kaeya said with a smile. Diluc slowly nodded, watching his brother dismount his horse and holding his hand out. In the back of his mind, the Delusion was shouting at him, telling him Kaeya and Crepus were going to kill him, but he ignored it. Even if they were, at least he would die at home. He took Kaeya's hand and slowly got down, leaning on his uninjured leg and his brother. They slowly made it inside, pushing the doors open to see that everything had stayed exactly the same. Adelinde was setting the table and turned with a smile, not at all expecting Diluc. Her smile fell, and she dropped the plate she was holding, slowly making her way over to him.
"Is it really you? Have my prayers been answered?" Adelinde asked breathlessly, hesitantly reaching a hand out to cup his face. He leaned into her touch, shutting his eyes. She gently wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. "Oh, what did they do to my boy?"
Diluc sobbed into the crook of her neck, tension releasing from his shoulders as he hugged her. She held him close, pressing a kiss to the side of his head.
"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, I won't let anything bad happen to you ever again," She whispered, rubbing his back as he cried. "Do you want to go bathe before you eat?" Adelinde asked, and he nodded but didn't let go. She gently pulled away to wipe the tears from his face, leading him toward the staircase. As much as she would love to sit there and hold him in her arms, she knew it could wait until after he was taken care of and well-fed. Both her and Kaeya helped him up the stairs and into the bathroom, Adelinde running a bath for him while Kaeya grabbed some fresh clothes.
"I wanted to come home so bad, Addie. I— I swear it," Diluc told her, sniffling and rubbing his eyes as he slowly took off his torn and filthy clothes. Adelinde smiled at him, taking one of his hands into her own.
"I know you did, and I always knew you would come back," She told him, before pulling the Delusion off his left hand. Diluc stared down in shock. He had tried to take it off so many times, yet it never seemed to budge. Though he had always been wearing it in times when he needed to be ready to defend himself. He wasn't worried about that anymore. He was safe.
There was a soft knock at the door, and Diluc looked up to see Crepus step in. There was a moment of tense silence before he spoke.
"Diluc, is there anything specific you want to eat?" He asked, and Diluc slowly shook his head, glancing at Adelinde. "Alright. Just let Adelinde know when you're ready to eat, and I'll bring up a plate to your room." Crepus shut the door behind him as he walked out. The redhead hummed before getting into the bed, keeping his injured leg out of the water as best as he could.
After Adelinde helped him bathe and get changed, she led him to his bedroom. Nothing had moved, except for the floorboard where he used to hide his journals before Kaeya found them. He sat on his bed and lay down with a sigh.
"Doesn't this beat sleeping in the wild?" Kaeya's voice cut through the comfortable silence as he walked in, plopping down on the bed next to his brother. Diluc sighed and rolled his eyes. Before he could say anything, the floorboards creaked, and he saw Crepus walk in with a plate of food and a glass of grape juice.
"Thought you might be hungry by now," He said, clearing his throat. Before he left, Crepus leaned down to press a kiss to the crown of Diluc's head. Diluc didn't flinch or pull away, allowing a small smile to grace his features. "I'm so glad you came home."
"I'm glad I came home too." Diluc watched his father leave before looking at the plate. It was his favorite meal and his favorite drink. He knew he had made the right decision in coming home.