#//And humoring Kaeya’s antics at the Angel’s Share

[dutybcrne]

Though the days blurred for him in Snezhnaya, Diluc could always tell when the day his birthday would come. It felt like a curse, the horrid feelings he’d so associated with that day never once failing to take hold of him, like a beast intent to tear out his throat. On day in particular, he would have honestly preferred that instead.

Even after coming back to Mondstadt, the day is something he loathes greatly. But Adelinde and Elzer, and Tunner and the rest of the staff do make it easier on him. There is always something special implicit in the way they go about their day, but never enough to dredge up the worst of the feelings. Just enough for it to seem like an appreciation of his effort and care for them. He’s truly thankful for it.

[halcyon-writings]

Alright Lovely! I am hoping you can write some sweet Diluc fluff for me! I'm thinking something among the lines of Diluc taking care of his crush (aka the reader) after they get too much too drink after a bad day and are a total light weight. Bonus points if Kaeya is somehow behind the scenes being a complete menace. Stay hydrated Lovely!

happy new years everyone!! i hope 2022 is kinder to us all and i hope you like this one roze, ty for your request! it’s not implicitly said but reader is not the traveller 

nav

you wake up to your head pounding and your mouth feeling dry like the deserts of sumeru. those two things, however, held nothing to the current wave of panic that surged in your veins as you quickly took in your surroundings. 

finding yourself laying on a small cot, your head rests on a soft pillow while a soft blanket was covering you too. memories of the night prior rushed your mind, and your shame could have swallowed you up for all you cared because as far as you remembered, you were a right mess. a knock on the doorway of the small room you were in startles you out of your thoughts, and you’re further surprised by the appearance of diluc, carrying a small tray of breakfast accompanied by a glass of juice in his hands. racking your brain, you figured you were in one of the extra rooms that he had furbished into the higher floors of the tavern.

“may i come in?” he asks, raising the breakfast just a bit higher as a peace offering.

“go ahead, it’s your tavern after all,” you quickly answer, not wanting to seem pushy either.

with your okay, diluc enters, the wooden floorboards creaking every odd step or so, and the tray is placed at your bedside, “did you sleep okay?” 

while you may think, he didn’t need to bring you breakfast, especially after you had undoubtedly gotten so drunk enough that you couldn’t even walk home, you also accept the inevitability of your shame swallowing you up where you sit up, rather than face any of your colleague’s who had no doubt seen your antics, although you were kind of glad you didn’t remember…

“______?” he seems to be searching your expression, god what sort of guest were you, here he is being so nice while you were all but ignoring him. 

“oh-uh-I slept okay,” you stammer, wanting to kick yourself for the answer you gave.

he doesn’t look very convinced, but doesn’t argue against it either, “i assumed you were hungry, but since you did drink quite a bit last night, i didn’t want to bring you anything too heavy for you.”

you try and smile in thanks, accepting the tray and placing it on your lap, although given the fact that you were reminded of how much you drank only made said smile look like a heavy wince, opting to verbally thank the redhead.

he waves it off, “it was no big deal.” 

you smile weakly, unnoticed by you is the tentative look on diluc’s face, as he too recalls his own recollection of events the night prior.

-

angel’s share was just about ready to close for the night, the last patrons either staggering out (while diluc pretended not to stare judgmentally) or they were brought along with the groups they arrived with, arms slung over others’ shoulders. 

the short bard that he had to nearly push off the bar had also found his way out with a gust of wind that smelled too much of dandelion wine, diluc shook his head, finding the ledger of his tab and adding the night’s drinks on.

“oh good evening, master diluc!” a familiar voice makes diluc place the glass he had been wiping off down, already preparing to lecture his brother for once again getting himself blackout drunk, only to be caught off guard by seeing kaeya completely sober. did something happen?

at his inquisitive and disbelieving look, kaeya simply laughs like diluc had told the funniest joke in the world, and already diluc regrets humoring him. 

“i was wondering if you could help me, well help our mutual friend out here,” kaeya says, moving to stand behind the bar instead, and diluc resists the urge to hide the wine he had been putting away behind it.

kaeya of course, gasps in mock offense, “why. master diluc! perish the thought that i, your own brother, would do such a thing as to pretend to help you back here and drink your wine, while you helped our dear pal, ____ get home!” 

hearing your name makes diluc perk up, and kaeya’s face brightens significantly, “what do you mean?” 

“oh you know, our dear bard venti thought they could get their tab paid off by betting against them in a little competition, of sorts, and well, now they’re a bit too tipsy to head home on their own,” kaeya explains, “i mean i could bring them back with me, but they seemingly insisted on waiting for-”

diluc raises his hand, “alright, i think i get it now.” hmph, no wonder venti had seemingly exited the tavern so quickly despite nearly tripping out the door, no matter, he’d give the bard a piece of his mind the next time he saw him proper, “just show me to them.”

kaeya beams.

of course, this leads to kaeya all but pushing you into his arms while he cheerfully lets the two of you be, before beginning to head out himself, with a cheerful wave, and thus, to diluc’s chagrin, he realizes you’re very cuddly when drunk. 

ignoring the rising heat to his cheeks, diluc scoops you up in his arms, as he makes his way to one of the extra rooms he set up for his nights of vigilantism, and just as diluc is about to let you rest and return to cleanup, he is surprised at the sudden, yet strong, tug on his sleeve. 

you stare up at him with an intensity that brings more heat to his face, your own face is flushed, no doubt due to the drinks you had prior.

there is a slight pause, as diluc can’t help but shuffle on the soles of his feet awkwardly (a habit that he had tried to break off  from his younger years).

“can you stay with me?” you murmur, “i’m cold.”

well, it wasn’t as though he had any say in the matter, as just as he was about to answer, you promptly fall asleep, tugging him to sit next to your form, soft snores leaving your lips. were it possible, diluc’s face got warmer, but knowing your strength, you wouldn’t be letting go of his sleeve any time soon, so, he makes himself comfortable as he sits against the headboard, his free hand carefully draping a blanket over your form so that you wouldn’t get cold.

now with the silence that followed, diluc could really think, the fact that he would have kicked out anyone else from the tavern if they were too drunk to walk anyway, but the second you were mentioned, perish the thought. (he shudders to himself especially at the thought of adelinde, someone he confided in closely with feelings such as these, hearing he treated someone he liked that way). but then he remembers kaeya’s face and knows he’s going to be hearing his teasing the next night. 

but still, he can’t find it himself to regret it.

-

and now that’s where you both find yourselves: you, sipping your glass of juice while you peer over the rim of the glass and making sure that diluc at least takes a bite from the buttered toast he had prepared with the breakfast and diluc obliging your silent request anyway.

your eyes communicate your smile and so, the red haired man finds himself sitting back against the headboard next to you once more. 

the morning rays of the sun peer through the curtains, and later, diluc will have to face kaeya’s knowing smiles, for now, he’s okay with that.