#kaeya wingman to the rescue

[reilliane]

Propensity ✤ Diluc

P r o p e n s i t y

A/N: Second part to the small trilogy! Diluc is jealous he just won't admit it sjjsdajdahdasf

➸ Hereafter (prequel)

✤ she/her

Words: 1.3k

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More often than not, the so-called Darknight Hero finds himself behind the counter serving customers their preferred beverages.

Though a certain traveler keeps on buying most of the stock (especially that wolf hook juice...), many still insist on lingering by the cozy ambiance of Angel's Share.

Who wouldn't when they are served with the finest of wines and juices?

Through many moons, Diluc has seen his share of intoxicated citizens.

They are all drowning in self-pity because of a ruined relationship, or in other things he really didn't want to be privy to, but such is a part of a bartender's job description—even if he's technically the owner—having to lend an ear to those who seek momentary refuge in alcohol.

He might just be a bank of secrets from everything he's heard and believe it or not, he has also heard quite a tale from the green garbed bard whose identity is much more... different.

With this in mind, such is the norm if he is also to come across.. [Name].

She's always fancied the taste of both wine and juices brewed by the winery and actually is one of the taste testers before the products are released to the public.

Diluc found it helpful of her to place in her aid even when he's not requiring her to, but he figured it's because she and her family still took refuge in his manor. Initially, it was only due to his father's insistence, but he did not mind the extra company.

Even if they're both faintly aloof and so unlike who they were before.

As Diluc stores away a newly dried glass by the shelves under the counter, he gets a good look at the white fabric in his hands, the snowy color similar to the hue of her thick blankets that was draped over him that one night he had returned to the manor.

It's been roughly eight months since then and that eventide was the only time the two of them had talked for more than three minutes, nowadays it's just trivial, insignificant phrases bidding and reciprocating greetings with frequent inquiries of each others' days.

The fallout was something he had expected to happen the moment he decided to leave Mondstadt, and he'd be lying if he said it didn't bother him throughout his journey—because it did.

The truth that he left her without so much as a goodbye (but a mere shrug of her hold on his arm) made him think twice about returning to apologize, but he was already so far into his venture that he had to persevere and wallow in his regret.

Throughout those four years, he has accepted his mistake and the possibility that she'd be giving him the cold shoulder—so when he returned to what he assumed is now an empty room in his manor (believing they left in his absence) but was instead greeted by a lady still deserving of proper closure, he was stunned.

Has she waited all this time?

She did, that much was obvious.

But he's grown to be rockhard as a stone that he only felt a tiny amount of guilt, but she was still [Name]—and she's been with him all his life until a couple of years ago, the least thing he could do was to honor that one thing reminiscent of the childhood dream he had robbed her of.

He came to know that in his stead stepped in his step-sibling, Kaeya, who had accompanied her through those years.

He also came to know that this continuity was never snipped off, it actually stayed, and he has seen it for himself more than he can count.

"You're quite the hard worker—and you're not even a part of the Knights." said a voice.

Diluc sighs through his nose as he opts to wipe the counter instead, but couldn't help to look over to the eastward table near the stairs, where Kaeya and [Name] are having a small feast to commemorate the latter's arrival from her business in the distant region of Sumeru.

A couple of empty glasses and plates are on their table.

"I don't need to be in the Knights to be productive, you know," Kaeya directs his stare to the crimson-haired man at this answer,

"And I have my own things to fuss over. One of them just happens to be in some faraway land." continued the Hydro-user, her voice meek and laced with subtle intoxication—though the two men know it's not enough to make her stumble and lose hold on her thinking.

The Ragnvindr averts his stare to appear dismissive, but the Chevalier knew better.

"Well you are here now and this simple dining just isn't enough." hums the bluenette, to which is responded at questioningly by the mage.

"Whatever are you getting at?"

She sounded amused.

Kaeya pretends to think over something as the lady bothered herself with the few wines left and he took this chance to shoot a mischievous, almost derisive look towards his step-brother, who purposefully chose to turn his back on them.

Snickering, the Captain shrugs his shoulders with nonchalance.

"I'm planning to take you out tomorrow night, how's that sound?"

Thud.

Bewildered at the sound, the cryo-blessed vision-holder smiles as [Name] turns slightly to search for the origin but fixes her attention back on her companion when she sees nothing suspicious.

Meanwhile, the latter's lip curl up even higher as Diluc emerged from under the counter, having picked up a wooden mug that has... slipped from his hold after hearing the invitation.

Funny of you, brother.

"I appreciate it, but I'm fairly busy nowadays..." responded the lady, "Do you think you can convince me? At the eventide, too..."

'Hm, you won't be able to convince her.' thought Diluc as he greeted the traveler (who surprisingly doesn't have Paimon with them) who took a seat in front of him and ordered a bunch of apple cider vinegar. '

There's only one way for her to accept your invite.' He'd know because they were close.

All those nights of creeping up to the manor's rooftop to—

"Why of course. I'm planning to head to Starsnatch Cliff. The stars are marvelously beautiful when gazed at under the perfect spot,"

He freezes, the faint twitching of his eye noticed by a surprised traveler who blankly accepts a glass of their ordered juice, still keeping a close watch on the odd expression on the man's normally blank visage.

"Especially with an equally beautiful lady," adds Kaeya.

Thud—splash!

"You flatter me," chuckled [Name], but an excited glint in her eye can be seen at the mere mention of stargazing, "And you know me well, don't you? I'd love to go."

Diluc's brows furrow as he apologized to the traveler after cleaning the messy spilling of their drink, making sure to have their next one on the house as he spun to prepare a new one.

It is just in the nick of time for him to see the two stand up and for the Chevalier to plant a chaste kiss on his childhood friend's hand. Just in the nick of time for him to see the cute shade of red on her cheeks.

But was that the thing that stirred him with some kind of sentiment?

It wasn't.

It was the single rhetorical question of her saying that he—Kaeya, out of all people—knew her well.

A sneer comes across his face as his lips turn to a straight line, his chest tightening with a muted hiss as the footsteps echoed in his ears, reminiscent of the times they ran with goofy smiles in the manor.

Bitter—how awfully bitter and sour this night is.

"Master Diluc?" he hears the concerned call of the traveler and he shakes his head, turning back around with a new juice in hand, again just in time to see the tavern door close.

Diluc allows a rare, much more visible frown to appear.

"Sorry, here's your drink."

Maybe if he had been faster, he would've seen the hopeful gaze [Name] had given him before she left.

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a/n: aye diluc, you handsome man, just go to mc already iauhfauwkfhkaf

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　Return to the Scrying Glass　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

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