Chapter Text
The only silver lining is that there are no Harbingers partaking in their shared meal.
Diluc never thought the bar could be so low.
It’s practically buried in the Chasm at this point.
“The food is rather nice. We’re not used to such flavors in Mondstadt, isn’t it right, sons ?”
“...”
“...”
“Ah… Perhaps you’ll enjoy the dessert more…”
Kaeya hasn’t said a single word ever since he sat down on the side opposite Diluc, despite their father attempting some light conversation over the warm soup.
Despite being able to use a real bed, as well as a room with a temperature above freezing for the first time in days, Diluc did not sleep at all the previous night.
Partly because he was still expecting the Fatui to try and assassinate him, given how he had stormed Zapolyarny Palace.
And partly because he dreaded the confrontation with Kaeya.
And now, seeing him and being given the cold shoulder… Quite literally, even. His brother’s Vision has been pulsing and releasing little waves of cold since earlier. Diluc’s own Vision had started burning a bit harder to keep the room temperature stable, but he had to forcefully tone it down due to how uncomfortable Kaeya looked at the warm glow.
Their father’s forced cheerfulness has been no help in dispelling the awkward mood.
Well, he’s doing his best. Diluc isn’t sure what else he could do after learning… all of that.
He is still reeling from the sudden… romantic involvement of his father and the Harbinger.
Which. With all due respect. What the fuck ?
His thoughts are interrupted by their father clearing his throat and throwing them both a Look.
•·················•·················•
“Alright, this is getting nowhere,” their father sighs, getting up using the cane that he had left leaning against the table. “I know I can’t force you two to make up like when you were toddlers. You’d just nod and keep being awkward afterward. So I’m going to give you an incentive.”
“...What kind of - “
“I am going to leave this room, go find Pierro, and start kissing him.”
Diluc gags.
Kaeya’s eye glazes over.
“And for every hour you two fail to make amends, I’ll remove one item of clothing,” Crepus finishes with a very serious look on his face. “You two know about the birds and the bees, and - Ah, wait. I don’t think I ever told you, but, uh, you know, even if you have two bees - or two birds - “
“Please. Stop talking,” Diluc mutters, horrified. He looks like he’s about to puke.
Kaeya’s own mind suggests he goes back to the kitchen to find whatever is left of the Firewater and down it like there’s no tomorrow.
He is seriously considering it at this point.
“So if you don’t want that to happen, you two better talk it out. Do I make myself clear ?”
“Yes, Father,” Kaeya mutters, still thinking about the sweet release of alcohol-induced oblivion.
“What ? What ! No, it’s not fine, it’s - “
“Diluc.”
“For Barbatos’ sake !”
“ Diluc .”
“...Urgh. Yes, Father,” the redhead finally mumbles.
“Good. Then I’ll leave you two to it. Don’t waste your time, boys !”
And with that, Crepus leaves the room, looking entirely too chipper and proud of himself.
The door closes, and there is a minute of silence -
“We can’t let him do that !” Diluc hisses.
Ah. He is going through the five stages of grief, Kaeya thinks. First is denial -
"I refuse to believe it ! Are you sure this is Father ? Perhaps he was replaced by… by a Whooperflower or something! Or, no, of course, those wicked Fatui must have brainwashed him! There is no way he would spout such nonsense otherwise !"
Then anger -
"And what in the Abyss is that Harbinger fucker even doing, huh ?! Like abandoning you wasn't enough, now he's going to break our Father's heart ? I’ll eviscerate that piece of shit and then burn the whole place to the ground. Those Fatui dogs deserve no better than to become ashes !"
Next is bargaining -
"I think perhaps Father is just feeling lonely. Empty nest syndrome, yeah ? Since I've become an adult, and we're both Knights… If we just spend some more time with him, he'll come to his senses. Or we can suggest getting a pet. I'm sure a dog is all he needs to forget about the Harbinger."
Depression -
"Why does this happen to me ? To us ? Are the gods angry with the Ragnvindrs ? Have we angered Barbatos ? Or the Tsaritsa ? Why can't we escape from these situations ?! First the Drake, then your… And now… Why ? Why can't things go back to before ? Before everything went to shit…"
And lastly, acceptance.
"Oh, Archon. He's really doing it, isn't he ?" Diluc asks, horror bleeding from his voice.
Kaeya gives a brisk nod.
Perhaps they should go back to the denial stage. It would be better for their mental health.
His brother deflates like an Anemo slime pierced by an arrow, slumping down his chair.
" Archons ," Diluc mutters again, and Kaeya could tell him that it's never a good thing to have an Archon’s eye on you. No matter how benevolent said Archon might be.
But Kaeya keeps his mouth shut.
He doesn't know where he stands with the redhead now, and he would rather not aggravate him needlessly.
His still tenuous grasp on his Cryo Vision could result in injuries - and probably more to himself than to the Pyro claymore user.
“Alright. Alright, let’s do this,” Diluc finally mutters, shoving his hair out of his eyes and staring at Kaeya.
Having those bright, fire-red eyes focused on him… The blue-haired teenager tenses imperceptibly.
Or, not as imperceptibly as he thought, given Diluc’s intense face melts into a guilty expression.
“I’m - I’m very sorry. For everything. For… For attacking you. For hurting you. You didn’t deserve this. You didn’t deserve any of this, you just had shitty timing, and I was grieving, and this was the drop that made the vase overflow, but that’s an explanation, not an excuse, and I shouldn’t have reacted that way, and - “
“I was. I was kinda expecting you to react like that. I knew I shouldn’t have… I knew it was a bad time. But I had to - I couldn’t keep quiet anymore, and I couldn’t - I couldn’t - “ Kaeya rasps.
“Hey, Kaeya, breathe, it’s fine - “
“NO ! No, it’s not fine ! And you’re just saying that ‘cause you don’t want Father - you don’t want your father to go suck my father’s face, a-and - “
“...Does it really seem that way ?”
“...I don’t really know anymore,” Kaeya confesses.
Because Diluc attacked him that night, but Diluc protected him from his birth father the previous day. Diluc told Kaeya that he wasn’t his brother anymore and that he was a traitor. But then asked him if he was injured and tried to rescue him.
Diluc said he was here to save him.
You don’t go out of your way to save someone you hate, right ?
“Again. I’m very sorry. I’m not… I’m not asking you to trust me again immediately. That’s just… Of course, it’s… I just. I just hope that when we’re back in Mondstadt, when we’re back home, you can… try to forgive me. I’ll do my best to prove to you that I’m not such a shitty big brother, I swear !” Diluc says, a hand on his heart.
“I - I don’t… Of course, I trust you. A-and… T-there’s nothing to forgive, it wasn’t your fault - “ Kaeya hesitates.
“Well, I’m still going to do my best to have my baby brother forgive me. I will have lots of time to do so anyway, given I’m leaving the Knights,” the redhead huffs.
“Leaving the Knights ? But what will we do after leaving the Knights..?”
Diluc frowns.
“Just because I want to leave the Knights doesn’t mean you have to, you know !”
Kaeya shrugs.
“You know, now that I think about it. Once we get back to Mond, I think it would be good for us to… pick up some different hobbies. Something we would not do together.”
“Oh… Are you - “
“I’m not saying that ‘cause I hate you or don’t want to spend time with you anymore. It’s just… I realized we were always doing everything together. School, the Knights, hanging out in the city… And most of the time, we’re doing something because I wanted to,” Diluc frowns harder. “You should think of yourself as your own person and do stuff by yourself too. Maybe make another friend. It can’t be healthy to be codependent like this forever.”
“...Look at you using big boys’ words. Are you sure it’s not you that was replaced by a Whooperflower ?” Kaeya teases.
Things have changed between them, for sure. But Diluc is right ; just because things will be different doesn’t mean they aren’t brothers anymore. They can work with it. Change is part of growing up, after all.
“Oh, shut up. I’m just realizing, it was bad to expect you to always tell me everything and do what I said. And also you need more friends. Preferably some that aren’t Harbingers,” Diluc groans.
“Ajax has been nothing but nice to me since I’ve come here. And he’s defended me, and - “
“Yeah, yeah, he’s nice to you, whatever. You can do better, you know it.”
Kaeya pouts but doesn’t answer. No point in getting into another fight with his big brother so soon after their reconciliation.
“Now. Let’s go and get Father,” Diluc says, mouth set in a firm line.
“...Yeah. Let’s,” Kaeya agrees, already shuddering at what they might see.
Hopefully, it’s not too late.
Otherwise, he’ll share the Firewater with his brother.