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Diluc didn’t expect the chief alchemist of the Knights of Favonius to knock at the Dawn Winery’s door, yet here they were.
To his surprise the Blonde looked sad. In his hands a letter. Official knight business? Usually Jean sent over Kaeya for that though, not Albedo. The alchemist tended to avoid Diluc, knowing the brothers backstory with each other, even if the two were on speaking terms again.
Quietly he invited the smaller man inside, gesturing for him to take a seat on the couch before sitting opposite to him. For a minute neither of them dared to talk but eventually Albedo found the courage to hand Diluc the letter: “From Kaeya.”
Diluc was confused. Why couldn’t Kaeya hand him the letter himself. He did that often enough whenever he had intel to share. Still, he wordlessly took the letter and opened it.
Diluc,
I’m honestly not quite sure how you will take this. But if you have this letter it most likely means I’m gone.
I’m happy for you that you found a person you finally can confide in, the Traveler is indeed very trustworthy. Though I must admit, I miss the days when we told each other everything, even if I was the one who betrayed your trust. I’m sorry. For everything.
I know I lied a lot to you in the past, technically lied to you through our entire childhood, but I truly saw and still see you as my older brother. You did a great job at always protecting me until that night.
Before you start blaming yourself I want to tell you that I never blamed you. It was you every right to react that way that night and I never held it against you. I provoked you and you answered. You did the right thing.
Though, you probably still hate me and I can’t fault you for that. I am a khaenri’ahn spy after all.
Thank you for being my older brother, Diluc, and thank you for trying to protect me from my own stupidity even as an adult.
I love you
Don’t blame yourself.
Kaeya R Alberich
When Diluc woke up that morning, he didn’t think he would be crying over a letter today. Much less over his little brother’s suicide letter to him.
Kaeya actually thought that he still hated him? Thought that Diluc did the right thing by trying to kill him that night? He couldn’t be serious.
The tears silently streamed down his cheeks. He couldn’t believe it. Kaeya actually killed himself and he noticed nothing about the poor mental health of the man. His last remaining family was gone without him knowing.
“I’m sorry, Master Diluc. I know how much you meant to each other even after all these years of having a complicated relationship. I found your letter next to mine three days ago.” Albedo spoke with a quiet voice, his own mourning audible.
That made Diluc angry. “Three days? It took you three fucking days to tell me that my brother killed himself? He was my little brother, Albedo! My last remaining family! And it took you three days to come to me?!” He knew that his anger wasn’t exactly justified but he couldn’t stop himself from this burst out.
Albedo didn’t react much to his anger. Instead he quietly responded: “He was my partner too. My family. I am allowed to grieve at my own time. The fact that both letters laid on my desk and yours wasn’t delivered directly to you, should mean something to you. I know you meant a lot to each other, but I was the closest to Kaeya, no matter what you say.” Belately Diluc realized that Albedo was angry at him. He just didn’t show it.
And the alchemist was right. Diluc had no right to be angry at him for taking so long. Albedo was closest to Kaeya now and was allowed to mourn his boyfriend properly, in his own time. It was Diluc’s own fault that he didn’t get his letter from Kaeya himself. He could have gotten no letter at all, considering their relation to each other the past years.
The distance between them was his own making. Kaeya tried to get closer to him again ever since he returned to Mondstadt but Dilcu kept him at arms length. Maybe Kaeya didn’t want him to blame himself but it seemed like it was all that Diluc could do.