Archive of Our Own

“‘Bedo, are you ready?” Kaeya asked, smirking.

They were standing outside dawn winery, it was a quiet day. How else would you spend it if not pranking your short-tempered brother?

"No, your brother might punch me. Why do I have to be the bad guy?” Albedo muttered bitterly at the end.

“Well, He might punch me if I were the one who started the fight” Kaeya said, as a matter of fact.

To that, Albedo just crosses his arms,

" Darling, it’s fine. You owe me this much.” Kaeya started, already holding the doorknob of the winery.

"Just.. go with the flow, throw a few punches every now and then!” Kaeya said, pushing Albedo inside.

"I’m gonna stab you..” Albedo threatened quietly for Kaeya to hear.. Receiving a nervous laugh from the bluenette.

“Okay, so, just stay here, and I’ll be on this side,” Kaeya said, as he positioned Albedo on the far side of the couch, near the door.

“Wait, wait wait- Didn’t you say Master Diluc is upstairs? Wouldn’t he be seeing my face when he goes down?” Albedo said, objecting his position.

"Well, yeah, exactly. It’s better if he sees your face. I probably won’t be able to hide my laughter if I see him rushing down” Kaeya said, already laughing at the thought of his brother’s soon-to-be-reaction.

“Kaeya. Will Master Diluc actually punch me?” Albedo asks, still double thinking why he agreed to this. But alas, you can't say no to a charming cavalry captain even though sometimes you just want to strangle the guy to death.

“Don’t worry so much! I’ll hold him down”.

“I’ll shout now” Kaeya says

“No, it's not too late to change your mind-” Albedo chose this moment to actually back out.

“It’ll be fine” Kaeya inhales,

“Don’t you dare, Kaeya.”

“Get ready, alright.”

“No! Kaey-”

“Shut Up!” Kaeya shouts angrily, then smiles and winks at Albedo. Earning a defeated sigh from the other; “Oh Archons”

Diluc's feet are starting to cramp.

He's been sitting at his office for what feels like 10 years now. When will these paperwork end…., he thinks, thank archons I at least have Elzer to accompany me here since Kaeya’s been busy..

Wait- how long has it been since I saw Kaeya?

“Elzer,” he spoke up, filling up the silent room, at least now something aside from the pens scratching paper can be heard.

“What is it, Master Diluc?” he replies, placing down some paperwork he insisted to help with, about to stand up.

Diluc raised a hand, signaling him to sit back down.

"It’s nothing, no need to stand. Just wanted to ask if you’ve heard of Kaeya?” he asks, looking back down at the papers. “Well, no, Master Diluc. I believe he is still i-”

"Shut up!” someone shouted from the living room.

Both of them stood up immediately, cramped feet gone in an instant being replaced by adrenaline.

That voice.

Kaeya’s.

Diluc slams the office door open, almost stumbling down the stairs. Elzer follow behind me shortly.

“Kaeya why did yo–” he cuts off his own sentence, seeing whom Kaeya shouted at.

Albedo, I believe his name was.

“It's the truth!” The blonde shouted back at my brother. Should I intrude?

Diluc stopped Elzer from going closer to them. “Master Dilu-” “Don’t.” he said cutting him off, not sure if it’s wise to bother the two arguing.

They were at the end of the stairs, watching the two shout at each other.

He’s ready to interfere if something, even a slight bit, gets out of hand. Kaeya’s back was faced at Diluc, Albedo was in front of Kaeya, they were both at the far edges of the couch. Meaning Diluc was closer to Kaeya, but he couldn't see his brother’s face.

He can, though, see the Blond’s face. A misplaced scowl that shows no resentment as if shouting at Kaeya was a tiring thing he has to deal with everyday.

“The truth?!” Kaeya started, “Fine, I Don't have a cavalry to train, I get it. But that doesn't mean I just seat around all day!” He spat. Diluc tensed, ah so that’s why they were fighting, his red hair started to blaze a little.

“Master Diluc, your hair is burning.” Elzer said, patting the flames away.

Albedo smirks slightly, making Diluc’s eyes burn.

“You’re a good for nothing captain” he says, lowering his voice.. “making all your knights do the dirty work while you’re just slacking in your office.” he continues, acting as if he won the argument..

"Unbelievable.." Diluc mutters, a scowl forming just from staring at them. He’s both confused and mad. This is not like them.

“Please, just shut up.” Kaeya breaks, making Diluc’s heart ache.

“I’m not.. I don’t- I don’t make them do all the work.!” Kaeya tries to reason.

Diluc can’t see Kaeya’s face, but the way Kaeya tried to talk, hurts so much.

"Really, Kaeya? That’s all you can mutter because you know it’s true. The best you can do is drink. Drink and drink while the others’ fight their ass off.” Albedo starts to walk closer to Kaeya, making the bluenette move backwards.

And that’s the signal. Time for the big brother to interfere.

Diluc walked quickly, in between the two.

Albedo almost bumps into the black coat that appeared in front of him— oh shit. I’s Albedo’s turn to slowly walk backward, hesitantly tilting his head up to meet the red head’s eyes.

Albedo expected something scary, of course. But Diluc wasn’t scary. No. He was terrifying.

Albedo gulped, already starting to get out of character “Master Diluc, let me explain,” Albedo said, slightly twitching as if waiting to get punched.

And Diluc would’ve punched him already if it wasn’t for Kaeya gripping his upper arm.

“Get out.” the redhead said, coldly and demanding. The fire in his hair just glowed more brightly, how in hell is his hair still good if it burns every time he’s mad?

Albedo turns to look at Kaeya, who was also nervously smiling, “Kaey-” “I said out.” Diluc repeated, more sternly this time.

Albedo looks at Kaeya again, giving him the ‘do something dude!’ look.

Kaeya sighs, “Luc, calm dow-” Kaeya stops as Diluc turns his head to stare at Kaeya

"Shut it”. and holy shit, that really is... scary.

“Well, ‘bedo, you’re on your own” Kaeya said, looking at Albedo

"What?!” Albedo yelps as Diluc started to walk towards him.

"I’m kidding!” Kaeya latched himself to Diluc’s back.

“We’re joking Diluc! It’s fine! Please don’t kill him, I love him” Kaeya recited, holding onto Diluc for dear life. For both his and Albedo’s life, actually.

Diluc just stood there, confused as his exhaustion is catching up with him. What a day, filling out a million paper works, hearing your brother shout then finding out it’s a joke. Just a normal Tuesday at the Ragnvindr’s home.

“I believe you broke him, Master Kaeya.” Elzer said, handing him a glass of water.

—

“I’m sorry” Kaeya says, not sounding sorry at all, sitting next to his big brother on the couch. Albedo on the floor.

“So, were you guys really fighting?” Diluc sighs,

"No, it’s a joke. You’ve been busy all day, I had to get you out of your office” Diluc raises his hand, thinking whether he should punch or slap Kaeya.

And Kaeya just stares, also thinking if he was gonna get slapped or punched.

To his surprise, Diluc just patted his head Lightly.

"Awee, and it was worth it. You were out of your office, and you sided with me!” Kaeya grinned, proudly. “You can relax you know,” he adds softly, slowly guiding Diluc’s head to lean on him.

Diluc closed his eyes, “You know, If I wasn’t tired with the paperwork, I would’ve sided with Albedo. You knights really are inefficient” Diluc said, accepting his fate on Kaeya’s shoulders.

Kaeya just chuckled, “Not my fault, the dark knight hero does all the work for us”