#and then you have kaeya who comes across as confident charming laid-back but who's so hard to read

[torgawl]

do you think part of the reason diluc still struggles with his resentment towards kaeya is because kaeya is more like what crepus wished diluc to be? crepus was so proud of diluc for his accomplishments as a knight and lived his dream through him as well and we know how much crepus' approval meant for diluc, more than any title or doing. i sometimes wonder if diluc feels hurt knowing that kaeya gets to live the equivalent to his past life as a knight as if nothing happened when he had to make sacrifices for his own peace of mind and sense of justice. i wonder if that's what pains him the most, not the fact kaeya ommited the truth about his past for so many years but having felt like he was the only one who cared to do something regarding his father's death and who showed any sense of uprightness when confronted with the knights' request to cover their mistake and negligence. i always think about how diluc might have felt like everything was a lie and his sense of betrayal. but maybe that didn't matter as much as having the support of his brother and someone he could share his pain with would have mattered. maybe the worst thing wasn't what kaeya did but what he didn't do; maybe it was never about his actions but the lack thereof.

[jade-parcels]

in your arms

Kaeya has a rough day on the job. He's just happy to finally be home with you...

Kaeya x reader with gn terms used

Mondstadt is the city of wind so, it was no surprise that the wind was whipping by, making the cold rain blow harshly against the houses within the city’s borders. Shutters shook against the windows and wet flyers were blowing off the bulletin boards in front of the Cat’s Tail. Kaeya trudged up to the city gates, leaning against the stone wall under the cover of the wall above, his crew of seven knights doing the same. They were soaked to the bone, covered in mud, and overall...exhausted. After clearing out three hilichurl camps and walking all over Mondstadt to do so, it wasn't a surprise that they were worn out.

“Why don’t you all head home for the day?” He turned to face them, shaking his wet bangs from his face to get a better look at his men. “It’s been a rough one, I’ll see you all tomorrow after a good night’s rest. I expect you all to show up energized and ready for patrol in the morning” With that, he excused the group with a wave of his hand and the group split up, scurrying down the streets like rats. Some held their shields over their heads while the others walked home, not bothering to rush since they were already drenched.

Kaeya sighed deeply to himself, rubbing his arms to try and warm himself up as he limped past the blacksmith's tent, the rain continuing to pelt him. When he finally stepped into his house, he groaned in relief. He kicked his boots off and stripped off his wet clothes. Kaeya was used to the cold since he worked with his ice all the time but this was a different type of cold. This was a wet, exhausted, bone-chilling cold that wouldn't be easy to fend off.

He frowned as he peeled off his mud-caked gloves, unceremoniously dropping them to the ground with the rest of his clothes. All he wanted to do was slip into bed and sleep for days beneath a pile of blankets where no one could bother him. Being the cavalry captain wasn't often a hard job, Kaeya felt he was perfect for the position! On nights like these though, when he came home battered and bruised, sometimes he wished he chose a more easy-going career like a merchant... Or a bartender.

“Kaeya?” He was shaken out of his thoughts, looking up to see you standing in the living room, the fireplace alive with warm, orange flames “Oh honey, look at you…” You crossed the room to pull him into a warm hug that he practically melted into “You’re freezing...”

He was hesitant to touch you since he was dirty “I’m alright, love, I just need to rest. I’m not one to go to bed so soon but…” He trailed off, closing his eyes. “Tonight can be an exception,” You finish for him, pressing a kiss to his temple “But first, you need a bath.”

Kaeya groans again as he’s led to sit on the floor in front of the fireplace, flopping down without his usual grace. You frown to yourself and cover him with a blanket, ruffling his dripping hair before heading to the kitchen to start the process of heating water for the bath.

It’s strange to see Kaeya this way, so tired and so quiet. You peeked out from the kitchen again to get another look at him. He looked rather pitiful as he sat there, curled in on himself wet hair plastered to his goosebump covered skin.

“You’re staring” He hummed, pulling the blanket tighter around himself “I’m fine. A bit cold but I’ll survive. No need to worry so much, love” You couldn't be swayed with sweet words though. You kept going back and forth from the kitchen to the bathroom, dumping pots of hot water into the tub until it was full. Once the water was no longer scalding, you led your weary husband to sit in the wooden tub. He was too big for it, his long legs hanging out the end but he didn't seem to mind as he sank into the water.

You leaned down to pepper kisses across his cheek before getting to work. You removed his damp eyepatch and took his hair down from its tangled ponytail, grimacing at the mud-caked in his usually smooth locks. “Do you want to talk about your day?” You asked softly as you gently washed his hair.

Kaeya huffed a laugh, tipping his head back into your hands “I do not think you would enjoy hearing about the things I did today. It was rather gruesome” he busied himself by washing mud and blood out from under his nails “Why don’t you talk about your day instead?” You indulged him, telling him about the flowers you bought from Flora and the sunsettias you delivered to the Angel’s Share, which he scoffed at. As you talked, you washed his back and chest, relishing in how he pressed up into your touch. Your gaze met, one blue eye and one scarred, white eye staring into yours. He winked and you rolled your eyes, nudging his shoulder.

Once finished, you toweled his hair dry while he sat in the rapidly cooling water, helping him up to dry his body next. You couldn't help but let a hand wander over his chest, earning a little smirk from your beloved captain. “Come on now, let’s just go to bed. I’m exhausted, honey, I don’t think I can even make it upstairs” Of course he was being a tad dramatic, that was to be expected. Besides, if he got to be coddled a little it was worth it for sure. He couldn't keep the cheeky smirk from forming on his lips as you wrapped an arm around him to carefully lead him upstairs, leaning into your warm touch. He flinched when you turned the lights on, the sudden change hurting his sensitive eye.

You sat him down on the edge of the bed, stepping back to get a better look at him. Purplish, yellow bruises were blooming across his stomach, shoulders, and sides. His arms were scraped up and the cherry on top was the blisters on his hands and feet. Kaeya seemed to deflate a little under your gaze, his mask of confidence set aside for the night “I know you hate seeing me all battered up but it's part of the job” he shrugged, grunting as he shifted himself to slide beneath the sheets. You stepped forward to help again though this time he waved you off, asking you to turn the lights off and come to bed. The second your body slid under the covers, he was wrapping his arms around you. Even if you wanted to shove him off, he’d just hold on tighter so you couldn't escape. He pulled you down, burning his face in your chest with a content sigh. “Ah...If only I could stay right here forever,” His words were muffled against your skin however you didn't need to see his face to know he was smiling. It wasn't his usual charming smile instead it was his tired, dreamy smile that only appeared in moments like these. “I fantasized about this moment all day long, dear. The moment where I’d finally be back in your arms.”

“You were only gone for a day, sweetheart, you couldn't have missed me that much,” You spoke through a yawn as your hands wandered up and down your husband’s back, feeling the cool skin become warmer under your palms

“Hmm, that’s where you’re wrong,” You could tell he was struggling to stay awake now as his words slurred, voice becoming heavier as exhaustion took over “You are all I think about all day long… You keep me going” He pressed a lazy kiss to your collarbone, shifting again to get comfortable. “All day long I trudged through mud, got pelted with rocks, dealt with men who wouldn't cooperate… After such a horrible day, there is nowhere else I’d rather be but here.”

You felt your heart warm at his sweet words and pressed a kiss to the top of his head, tugging the duvet up to your chin. Kaeya was content to lay there under the covers, hogging your body heat as he slept. He only had six precious hours until he had to wake up for another day of work and as you laid there, drifting to sleep, you thought about finding a way to get him excused from his duties for tomorrow.