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#diluc fic
eroxotckv · 8 days
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ᴵ ʷⁱˡˡ ᵃˡʷᵃʸˢ ᶜʰᵒᵒˢᵉ ʸᵒᵘ,
ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᴰⁱˡᵘᶜ ᴿ
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angst, comfort.
Just when you begin making that stupid statement, he pulls you in and wraps his arms around your body tightly once again.
"Don't you dare speak such stupid things like that ever again. If there's anyone who's foolish, it's the delusional bastard who spouted such atrocious and meaningless words about our love. You have nothing to blame yourself for. Now don't you ever speak like that again. I love you, do you hear me?"
How did you end up crying on his bed, in his hold again? Ah, yes. Even your mind could be your own enemy sometimes. And Diluc was no stranger to that. But today, it was your mind and some excuse of a human being that was against you. It was only words and insults, yet they stabbed harshly and right into your heart. All of a sudden, every single bit of suppressed emotion overflows as he cradles you lovingly against his body and soul. He'll deal with redacted later, show them how much of a revolting insect they are and make sure it scars onto their minds.
For now, he'll keep you in his arms.
You immediately break down and tears fall down your cheeks like a waterfall. All the emotions you held tight inside your heart were releasing. This feeling- couldn't help it. You didn't know if it was insecurity, jealousy, anger or something else.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…."
All you know was that it was devouring you from your insides. And Diluc could see that.
As you continue spilling out words of apology, he couldn't stand seeing you like this at all. Your beautiful tear-filled eyes, those words of apology- they were enough to break his heart completely. When you finally break down and burst into such a loud and emotional breakdown in his arms, he could feel his stomach churning and twisting with anger at the one who caused this to happen to you in the first place. The only reason why you're in this state right now, is because of him. He failed to stand by your side- if only he took a few minutes break at the tavern...maybe he could've been there. Been there to shut the mouth of the bitch who was foolish enough to call Diluc 'hers', to insult you, mock you..and your tears only filled his heart with more grief.
He couldn't stand seeing you cry like this. The moment you started tearing up, that one stupid statement you made about looking for 'someone else' only made him want to snap. The only person he was looking at and thinking about, was you at that very moment. You were truly the only person he ever cared and loved so deeply.
"Don't you dare apologize. In fact, I'm the one who should be apologizing to you," He says, as he gently wipes the tears off your cheeks and strokes your shoulder, just in the hope that you'd eventually calm down. "I should've been there earlier. "
"No, you shouldn't. I've been such an idiot this whole time to think…" It was a hesitant whisper that left your lips, and yet you forced them out. "To think I out of all people should even be in your presence."
How could you tell him that you weren't even worth enough for someone like him when he looks at you with those eyes.
How could you tell him that you were probably the worst option available when there were others who were far more talented, gorgeous in appearance and so on and on and on..?
How could you tell him that he deserved someone better when all he ever did and wanted to do was look at your eyes alone- as if he it'd sting his eyes to look away?
You could only wipe away your tears, looking away from Diluc with hurt. Hurt, hurt, hurt.
And when he sees you look away from him with such a hurt and defeated gaze, he only felt even more guilt fill up his heart in return. The way your gaze was so filled with regret, made him want to hold you in his arms even more tightly, and never EVER let go of you. You may have looked away from him, but he wouldn't give up so easily. The warmth of his body was being transferred to you, as he continued to wipe away all your tears and tried to calm you down.
"I know you'll be able to love some other girl out there if you leave me."
Your lips confesses it all. It was in the spur of the moment. It all came pouring out. Shadows, sadness, black holes and the singing of fallen angels in your heart. Shakily in between soft sobs, your cheeks and nose were red from crying.
im not good enough
im not good enough
I'm not good enough.
"I'm…not... the best option... M-maybe…you should try someone like (redacted.) y'know? I heard she- she's pretty and likes cats and baki-"
Just when you finish talking and begin speaking some nonsense about finding another person, he immediately pulled you back into his arms, gently pressing himself against your body and holding you as close and as tight as possible, face being buried into his chest. His heart, she felt it, it was racing.
"Shut up." He said, in an abrupt manner, as he pressed his lips against your forehead gently so you could feel the warmth of his kiss and words. Your words were so irritatingly stupid that they made him almost explode with rage again. The only girl he loved and cared for, was YOU. Nobody else.
Against your will, a faint smile formed on your lips at your lover's caring yet stern words. The kind of smile that Diluc genuinely adored. But that didn't remove the razor sharp pain cutting through her heart.
"I love you too, but that feels selfish. Like I'm locking you in a cage, unable to be free and find your own love."
Eyes drifting downcast in shame. You couldn't look at him properly.
"Like forcing you to choose the least option, all because of me."
For a moment, his heart drops once more at what you had said. He knew that you loved him, but this was truly infuriating. The fact that you thought of yourself so low and negatively made his heart twist and churn even more. He pulls himself back slightly, as he looks into your tear-filled eyes once more.
"Listen to me. There is no-one else for me. I've made my decision long ago. So shut up."
The tears rolled down your eyes quietly and you longed for his touch, but hesitated deeply to even move. Just the mere thought of it felt like a scandalous act of sin. To have him close by, as if he were truly yours and there were no complications in the world. But there were.
"How..could I...dare"
Whispered breathlessly, mindlessly- as your thoughts spiraled.
When he noticed you hesitating to move, he immediately pulled you closer to him once again. Once your bodies were pressed against each other and there was nothing apart from you two, he placed his hands upon your cheeks gently. He started speaking softly, as he continued to stare deeply into your tear-filled eyes.
"Look at me. Look at me and listen to me."
Letting out a shaky sigh, you managed to control most of your tears, as you looked up at him with doe, tear-sparkly eyes. And in his eyes, even in this state, you were beauteous, tremendously so. Nothing could compare.
"Diluc…"
He couldn't resist holding your chin gently, his eyes filled with intense emotion.
Your tear-filled eyes were enough to send his mind to an emotional frenzy of a storm. He couldn't help but feel a rush of pure love and warmth as he looked straight into your eyes once more. Your gaze was soft, gentle, pure and innocent. It was the kind of gaze he'd never thought he'd want to look at all day, but right now, looking at you, he wanted to experience this feeling for the rest of his life.
"I love you. I love you so much," He said very softly as he wrapped his arms more tightly around you.
Eyes widened slightly at his actions once more as your head rested against his shoulder, awestruck and in love. He may have comforted you, reassured you, showed his love for you so many times but it never failed to make your little heart skip a beat.
You blush faintly and wipe the remaining droplets of your tears.
"I'm so sorry, Diluc.." you murmured softly one last time, and that was only for not trusting him enough. Not trusting him enough to choose you. But now, you will try. You will try.
But no words were needed for an explanation, Diluc understood completely.
That blush and those tear-filled eyes were enough to make his heart beat so fast that he didn't even realize he was shaking. His body was filled with intense emotions of love and affection, and it was enough to give him goosebumps all over. There was no need for you to apologize for anything anymore, now that the clouds in your head was starting to clear. You were not a selfish woman. You were just an angel.
"There's no need for you to apologize," He says softly, as his eyes light up and become more soft and gentle.
"I will always choose you"
He pulls you closer and wraps his arms tightly, so that his body could be pressed against your every curve. The warmth of you was so soothing and calming, as he continued to look at you lovingly. This feeling of your heartbeat against his was enough to make his mind go into chaos and confusion. Confused only because his love for you was unfathomable, no matter how much he tried to measure it. Confused only because no matter how much he tried there was no kiss, no "I love you", no touch that could ever fully show you his love. But...This was love. Real, pure and true love.
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kysiori · 1 year
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tea for two
┊indulging in a steaming cup of tea with your beloved, diluc
– 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 𝅓 𝅒 –
diluc sat across from you in the cozy teahouse, savoring the warm, aromatic tea. the afternoon sun shone through the window, casting a soft glow on his handsome features. he was always so serious and focused, but right now, he seemed to be at ease.
you smiled at him, feeling grateful for this moment of peace and quiet. diluc was such a busy man, always rushing from one task to another. it was nice to have him all to yourself for a change.
you reached out and gently took his hand, intertwining your fingers with his. he looked at you, surprise evident in his eyes. but he didn't pull away.
instead, he squeezed your hand back, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. you felt your heart swell with affection for this man, who was so reserved but had a deep kindness inside him.
together, you sipped your tea, enjoying the warmth and the gentle hum of conversation around you. you didn't need to say anything; the silence was comfortable and familiar.
as the sun began to set and the sky turned pink and orange, you leaned your head on diluc's shoulder, content to just be near him. and he, in turn, wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you closer.
in that moment, everything was perfect.
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byizoyas · 1 year
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© byizoyas.
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4:44 | diluc x f!reader smau
➵ masterlist | ⁰⁹ second date | prev ⟣ ⟢ next
➵ author notes ; FINALLY updating!! i’ll def try to be more regular w my chapters but they’re always so long to write kekdkek im asking myself if making them so long is a good thing to you cause i personally prefer 😭 but idk perhaps it’s too much and i feel like it’s getting worse each chapter too wisekwkfki
taglist is open.
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boyfhees · 2 years
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TAKE TWO | diluc
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PRECIS. amidst rain and regrets, diluc asks you for another chance ( 1.58k )
GENRE. angst, bittersweet maybe, exes to ?
WARNINGS. they only talk like, 5 times in the whole fic, mentions of breakups, reader has emotional trauma bro, tea ( literally ) bc im a coffee supremacist, unedited version my old friend 🫶
NOTE. for my bestie and the best writer on this site @wolfhookk like u can never not fall in love with her writings, someone tell this to her until it's imprinted in her head. bff ily i hope u like this red hair man angst 🧎 ps there are a lot of lang leav references. ALSO THANK HER BC IF IT WASN'T FOR RI I WOULDN'T HAVE WRITTEN ANOTHER GENSHIN WORK ANYTIME SOON LMAO
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“i don’t usually invite my exes to my house,” diluc shoots you an apologetic look, or maybe that’s how you perceive it. you were once good at reading his expression, now you no longer know how to do that, for the person in front of you feels like a stranger.
he doesn’t say anything, not that he has to. diluc thought it was fate, but then he realised it’s a mere coincidence. it rained without a forecast and you being the kind soul you are, let him stay over until the rain stops. and even though you told him to not read too much into the situation, you don’t think diluc understood a word, judging from the way he still looks at you with a lovelorn smile.
something shifts in the air after you step into the kitchen, almost half-a-way through the process of making his preferred choice of tea. there’s a dramatic pause right before you pour it into the cup, watching the wisp spin into the despairing air surrounding you in the kitchen. you take a step back, running your mind over all the moments you and diluc spent together, looking through the first mention of him in your memories— it’s gone, you conclude, faded or perhaps, hidden behind the blankets of sorrow and remorse.
your attention shifts back to the tea as you proceed to pour it into the cup, wondering why you still remember how to make his favourite tea the way he taught you, or how much sugar he prefers. you press your mind to come up with an excuse before all these things, they don’t make sense to you; not anymore.
“you still buy tulips everyday,” his voice drives you out of your thoughts. you pick up the tray, making your way into the living room, placing it on the centre table before taking a seat by the farthest corner on the couch.
your gaze follows his eyes, settling upon the wilted tulips resting on your kitchen counter. the truth is— you don’t want to buy them, but something about watching the tulips every time you pass by the kitchen puts you at ease. you don’t know the reason, you don’t wish to know either. the first time you bought tulips was for diluc’s first birthday after the of you had moved in together. it wasn’t the first time; in fact, he had a habit to buy flowers for you. a new bunch, a new arrangement, every single day. but something changed after that birthday. whether for good or for bad, diluc never purchased anything flowers except tulips. he says it’s because they reminds you of him, and you reasoned it saying that you’re down to settle with anything that makes him happy.
though, you don’t know if that’s the case anymore. the tulips, perhaps they’re for you. a reminder to never forget what you had, and a mnemonic for everything that you both could’ve been before everything withered down.
“and the tea still tastes how it used to,” he mutters above the silence intoxicating the atmosphere. there’s a sense of nostalgia in his voice, a hint of yearning in every word that rolls off his lips; and it all contradicts the words he said to you two years ago.
his words would’ve meant a lot more if he said them before he made mistakes that could never be corrected and before you decided to cut the string and walk on a separate path. that’s the tragedy of growing up— you’ll run out of feeling something new for the first time. the sad thing is; you only get so much of those moments— a handful if you’re lucky— and then you spend the rest of your life turning them over in your head.
maybe that’s why he meant as much to you as he did, and why you held on for so long even after knowing things wouldn’t work out. you didn’t know it back then, but he was the last time you would ever feel anything new.
“diluc—” your voice is almost quite, a bit above what classifies as a whisper, dripping with hesitation and groundless assumptions. “this means nothing.”
the need to classify that stays far beyond your comprehension, but you take a look at him and realise that he knew it, nonetheless. his hopeless eyes tell you that it’s all because of the impromptu rain; the way his gaze flutters all around the room, never residing upon you hints that diluc knows you invited him out of decency, and there’s no point hoping for this to morph into something more.
“i know,” he smiles, because you invited him over as someone you used to know; someone you wouldn’t have looked back at if not for the comical play of destiny.
you let silence lead the next few minutes. the sound of rain fading into nothing as it ceases to pour; a question pops inside your head— is he in a relationship? it’s stupid, knowing it’s none of your concerns now that he isn’t a part of your life anymore. your mind knows it’s useless, your heart craves an answer, and you wonder if the mind ever answers the heart. the way it keeps conjuring up what’s no longer there. you don’t know why you keep swinging like a pendulum between pulling him close and pushing him away, which you know the mirage will never be true. but the heart does not have eyes and the mind cannot resist when it asks, just one last time.
diluc puts the cup back on the tray, mumbling a soft thank you before wiping his hair with the towel around his neck, the one you had given him before letting him inside. “i heard you never dated after we broke up,”
there’s a look in his eyes you’ve never seen before, and it takes you a few minutes to recognise it for what it was— remorse. he looks at you, half defeated, half hopeful, as if he’s aware of the damage inflicted upon you, all because of his mistakes. you feel something linger in the silence, a broken fragment of memory, or perhaps the essence of unsaid words pressuring the air, forcing you to succumb to sorrow. it takes you back to when you were looking at him, desperate and with your hands into front of him to intertwine with his, and he called your name as if it pained him to say it. you don’t realise when it had stopped raining, or when the clock struck eleven, just the way you didn’t realise when the love between you and diluc shattered down to a chore.
he stands up, typing something on his phone which seems like texting, before his attention shifts back to you. “i’ll get going,”
“right now? it’s eleven at night. you can stay—” and a pause. it’s reminds of the very first time you had asked him to stay over; the night that ignited sparks of something between you and him that set ablaze when you kissed him because of a game of spin the bottle. “i mean, it’s too late and dangerous to drive back, especially in this weather.”
“i’ll stay at a friend’s for the night.” he states, you nod in response. there’s a glint of disappointment in your voice; perhaps you were hoping for something more, perhaps a closure— a chance. you don’t know why you had high expectations when you swore to never see him again. falling in love is dangerous. it’s like holding your heart in your fist and letting it go— one finger at a time. you know it’s getting out of your hold, slipping through your fingers, yet you can’t do anything. there comes a point when you’ve let it get out of your grasp, surrendering it to someone; and falling out of love is like walking hand in hand with death because your heart lies somewhere astray, with someone else, but you have to move on.
because first love is never the first person you give your heart to— it’s the first one who breaks it.
you follow him to the door, noticing his every single move as he slips into his coat, followed by his shoes. you realise that you’ve always loved him more than yourself; so much more than even after all these years, every single piece of your heart years for him, or even a part of him, knowing that if there’s someone responsible for all the days and nights you’ve spent spilling tears on your pillow, it’s him. it’s like a tender sacrifice; like a faint silence felt in the lost song of a mermaid; or the bent and broken feet of a dancing ballerina. it’s in every considered step you’ve taken in the opposite direction of him, and his every word that drove you away from him.
diluc stops as you were about to shut the door, looking you in the eyes for the very first time that night. “i know everything that happened was my fault,” he begins, and you wonder if you’re ready for another one of those apologies he offered you after you broke up with him, but his eyes tell a whole ‘nother story. “but in future, if you find yourself in a position to fall in love again, please fall in love with me.”
and the second you tried to tell yourself that you weren’t in love anymore was the moment you realised you were, and you’ve always been.
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taglist in the rbs.
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teapartyspilled · 9 months
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Play With Fire - Chapter 17
Pairing – Diluc x Ex Fatuus f! Reader
A/N: Compared to my Al Haitham series, this story showcases a higher level of maturity. It's worth mentioning that the plot revolves around enemies turned lovers, resulting in a significant amount of angst, red flags, and toxicity. Therefore, if this type of content isn't your cup of tea, I'd advise against reading it. Additionally, as Diluc has never interacted with someone from this particular background, his characterization may deviate from what readers are accustomed to. MNDI. If you would like to be added to the taglist, please let me know in the latest chapter of this series.
Summary: For three long years, you've been on the run after abandoning the Fatui. Your journey to find a place to call home brings you to Mondstadt, but things take an unexpected turn when you encounter a battle in Dragonspine. You help a masked stranger with flaming red hair defeat seven Fatui agents, only to discover that he is the infamous Diluc Ragnvindr. As you settle into your new life in Mondstadt, you can't help but wonder what uncertainties lie ahead, especially with the looming threat of Diluc uncovering your true identity. Will you be able to find a sense of belonging in this new land, or will your past come back to haunt you?
Content Warnings (PLEASE READ THEM FOR EVERY CHAPTER) - Angst, anxiety, torture, medical experimentation, abandonment, hate, death, murder, blood, violence, experimentation, prison, toxic relationships, sabotage, SMUT, panic attack, mental trauma, institutionalization, depression, oral sex, overstimulation, choking, guns, injuries, stitches, animal cruelty, kiss, trapped in a small space,
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Chapter 17 - Shadows and Sunshine
&lt; < previous chapter | chapter list | next chapter > >
(Y/n)'s POV
A sharp jolt shattered the darkness, tearing you away from the torment of your unconsciousness. The pain that enveloped your body intensified, each sensation a reminder of the agony Adrian had subjected you to. It had only been a few hours since your capture, yet it felt as though an eternity of suffering had been condensed into those moments, reminiscent of the torment you had endured in Snezhnaya.
As your senses awakened, you realized that the room was suffocatingly warm, the air heavy with the acrid scent of smoke and iron. As your gaze focused, a flash of crimson caught your attention—a vibrant blaze fighting its way through the ranks of the Fatui. Your heart skipped a beat, the realization hitting you like a wave. Diluc was here. A surge of hope and fear surged through you, a tumultuous mixture of anticipation and dread.
Straining against the restraints that bound you, you fought against the pain coursing through your body, driven by the desperate need to reach Diluc's side. The shackles dug into your wrists, their grip unforgiving, but you refused to relent. Desperation fueled your struggle against the restraints that bound you, the desire to reach him, to let him know you were still alive, overpowering the overwhelming ache that coursed through your battered body. In the midst of the chaos, Diluc's crimson figure cut through the Fatui guards like a raging inferno. His movements were a dance of fury and grace, his flamed claymore leaving a trail of scorching destruction in its wake. The room became a battleground, bodies falling to the ground, consumed by the fires of Diluc's vengeance.
But Adrian, undeterred by Diluc's advance, remained poised and calculating. With his crossbow in hand, he released a barrage of arrows, aiming to impede Diluc's progress and inflict further harm. Diluc's reflexes were swift, his body contorting in a dance of evasion as he dodged most of the arrows. But a single projectile found its mark, lodging itself deep into his shoulder. A pained groan escaped his lips, but he refused to yield. With a grimace, he forcefully tore the arrow from his flesh. Yet, something was amiss. Staggering, Diluc pressed forward, his movements unsteady but driven by sheer willpower. His eyes remained locked with yours, his focus unyielding. The realization of his peril did not escape you, and a surge of panic gripped your heart. You cared not for your own well-being in this moment; all that mattered was Diluc's safety.
Your voice was filled with desperation. . "Red… Diluc…, no! Save yourself! Get away from here!" You pleaded but in vain. You notice him swaying forward, his claymore clutched tightly in his hand.
As you met Adrian's gaze, desperation gleamed in your eyes. "Adrian, don't you dare hurt him! Please… do what you will with me… but let him go.”
Adrian's smile widened, a sick delight dancing in his eyes. "Oh, how unfortunate for you, Diluc. You see, the venom of the consecrated scorpion coursing through your veins will soon leave you paralyzed. A pity it doesn't bring death, but worry not, my blade will finish the job."
Time seemed to slow down as Diluc's body dropped to the floor, his eyes still locked with yours. His lips moved, but the words were lost in the chaos that surrounded you. Panic seized your heart as you pleaded with Adrian, desperately urging him to spare Diluc's life. But your pleas fell on deaf ears, as Adrian's cruel smile widened, his blade poised to strike. Adrian swung his blade, the metallic swoosh piercing the air. Helplessness consumed you as you closed your eyes, unable to bear witness to Diluc's impending fate. Your heart ached at the thought of him dying, suffering a fate he did not deserve. The weight of guilt settled upon your shoulders, as you believed yourself unworthy of his sacrifice.
As you braced yourself for the inevitable, a sharp, searing pain tore through your body. It felt as if something deep within you had been pierced, an anguish so intense it threatened to consume you. Your head throbbed with an unbearable pressure, as if it were about to explode, and a gut-wrenching scream escaped your lips, a primal release of agony and fury.
In that moment, something shifted within you. Dark tendrils burst forth from your being, shattering the restraints that bound you and enveloping the remaining Fatui agents within the room. The tendrils coiled and twisted, their inky darkness consuming everything in their path. Adrian, with his electro delusion in hand, attempted to repel the darkness, but its power was overwhelming. It surged forward with an unyielding force, your control over it tenuous at best. Rage coursed through your veins, a burning desire for violence and revenge consuming you. The tendrils lashed out, rending the air with a sinister hiss, as they tore through the room in a frenzy of destruction. Furniture splintered, walls cracked, and flames flickered and danced in the wake of your unleashed power. The chaos was both exhilarating and terrifying, as your emotions spiraled out of control.
But amidst the violence and destruction, there was a stark contrast. The very same tendrils that wrought havoc upon your enemies left Diluc untouched, as if a protective barrier had formed around him. The dark power recognized his purity, sparing him from its wrath. Your emotions swirled within you like a tempest, a potent concoction of anger, pain, and determination. The darkness within you hungered for violence and revenge, urging you to continue your onslaught. It was a raw and untamed power, barely under your control, as if it had tapped into the depths of your suffering and tapped into a wellspring of unimaginable strength.
The dark power surged within you, threatening to consume you completely. The voice in your head grew louder, a relentless mantra urging you to destroy and consume everything in your path. It whispered that they were unworthy of your blessing, that their pain would be your salvation. But you fought against it, your grip tightening on your own head as you pleaded for the voice to quiet down. With every ounce of willpower you possessed, you struggled to keep the dark power simmering beneath the surface. It writhed and pulsed, like a living entity seeking release, but you refused to let it take control. It was a battle within yourself, a fight to maintain a semblance of control in the face of overwhelming chaos. Slowly, you walked towards Diluc, his unconscious form lying before you. The voice clawed at your sanity, urging you to abandon him, to focus solely on your own desires.
Kneeling beside Diluc, you checked his pulse, relief flooding your senses as you felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Tears of gratitude and relief escaped your eyes, mingling with the sweat and grime on your face. He was alive. You let out a choked sob as you held his hand. The sound of someone entering the room snapped your attention away from Diluc. Your eyes flashed with a primal intensity as the dark tendrils around you sharpened, ready to strike. But your tension eased as you recognized Kaeya, his presence momentarily calming the storm within you. The tendrils around you relaxed, coiling back into a subtle shadowy aura that surrounded you.
Seeing Diluc's claymore lying beside him, still glowing red from the heat of his vision, an impulsive thought seized you. Without hesitation, you reached out and grasped the scalding weapon. Pressing it against your Fatui tattoo, you winced in pain as the burning heat seared the flesh beneath. But you held it in place, a twisted purpose driving you. The mark of the Fatui had been a symbol of your suffering, and now you sought to purge it, even if it meant enduring further agony.
Kaeya rushed towards you, his voice filled with urgency as he pulled the claymore away from your burning flesh. His gaze shifted to Diluc; concern etched across his features. You pleaded with Kaeya; your voice laced with desperation. "Kaeya, please, help him. He's been paralyzed by the Scorpion venom. Take him away from here, to safety." Your voice trembled with the weight of your emotions.
You found yourself collapsing to the floor, exhaustion and the remnants of the dark power weighing heavily upon you. Breathing heavily, you closed your eyes, trying to catch your breath, to steady your racing heart. But the chaos within your mind persisted. The dark power whispered its dark desires, intertwining with the chaos in the room and threatening to unravel your sanity. You glanced down at your burnt arm, a twisted smile forming on your lips. The indelible mark of the Fatui had finally been eradicated, replaced by a raw wound. A sudden gust of gentle breeze circled around you, causing you to flinch. It licked at the burn on your arm, soothing the raw pain with a cool touch. The air seemed charged with an otherworldly energy, as if nature itself recognized the turmoil within you. Curiosity piqued, you opened your palm, revealing something nestled within. It was a Vision, pulsating with ethereal light. The intricate design danced across its surface, a symbol of power and destiny.
“No!” You gasped as you threw the vision away from you.
You didn’t know how it would react to the power within you. You were dangerous and playing with powers beyond your understanding was not something that you wanted to do. Kaeya bent down to pick up the Vision you had discarded, muttering something under his breath that you couldn't quite catch. He carefully pocketed it, his actions betraying a sense of caution and understanding. Then, his attention shifted back to Diluc, hoisting him up onto his shoulder with practiced ease.
He turned to you, his voice had a tone of concern and command. "Stay with me," he said, his tone firm yet tinged with worry. "I can see your strength fading. Diluc would skin me alive if he found out I left you here."
Confusion clouded your features as you looked at Kaeya, the weight of your own power and the chaos in your mind making it hard to comprehend the situation. You muttered, almost to yourself, "I'm dangerous... I should be away from people right now."
Rolling his eyes, Kaeya dropped his charismatic façade, revealing a scowl that reflected his genuine frustration. His icy cold tone cut through your hesitation as he snapped, "Suck it up. We don't have time for doubts and self-pity. We need to get Diluc to safety and you're going to help me." His words carried an authority that demanded obedience.
His words jolted you back to reality, reminding you of the task at hand. You nodded, summoning whatever strength remained within you, even as weariness threatened to consume your every step. Kaeya's eyes followed your every movement, concern and reliance shining through his gaze. He ordered you to hold it together, his tone leaving no room for protest. Together, the two of you carefully lifted Diluc, his limp body supported between your shoulders, and began making your way out of the camp.
As you walked, the dark voice within your head still whispered, but its presence had become a dull ache compared to before. It was as if your resolve and the presence of Kaeya by your side had weakened its grip, providing you with a sliver of respite from its relentless torment. With each step, the weight of the situation settled upon you. Emotions surged within you, a tempest of fear, pain, and determination intertwining. The path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, and yet you pressed on. Diluc needed help, he needed treatment and you had to ensure he would be safe.
Approaching the horses, Kaeya deftly hoisted Diluc's limp form onto one of them, ensuring he was as comfortable as possible. He mounted his own horse with practiced ease, his gaze never leaving your side but the frustration was evident on his face as he muttered about how heavy Diluc was. He called out, his voice holding a note of urgency, "Mount Diluc's horse. We need to move quickly."
Nodding, you struggled to find your balance, your weakened state making every movement a battle. With a final exertion of effort, you managed to hoist yourself onto the horse. With Kaeya leading the way securing Diluc on his horse, you set off on horseback, the world around you a blur of motion.
The sun had already begun to rise on the horizon as you followed Kaeya's lead, the horses galloping at full speed. The wind whipped through your hair, mingling with the chaotic thoughts and lingering darkness within you. Despite keeping a safe distance from Kaeya to shield him from your unpredictable power, his watchful eye never lost track of you, his gaze filled with concern.
As the sun fully rose, its light illuminated the grand mansion of the winery in the distance. Relief surged through your veins, momentarily pushing aside the weariness and uncertainty that had plagued you. You focused on following Kaeya, his path guiding you towards the familiarity of the winery. With each passing second, the mansion grew closer, its impressive facade becoming more defined against the backdrop of the sky. The horses raced on, their muscles rippling with exertion, as if they too understood the urgency of the situation.
As you arrived at the front yard, Adelinde has rushed outside, her eyes wide with concern. n. It was clear that someone had alerted her to the approaching horses, for she wasted no time in hurrying to Kaeya's horse, ready to assist him in bringing down Diluc's limp body. Summoning the butler and a few capable men, Adelinde's voice resonated with authority. "Quickly! We need to get Master Diluc inside. Prepare his bedroom and summon the healers immediately!"
The tension that had gripped your body for what felt like an eternity began to release its hold. Diluc was home now, surrounded by people who cared deeply for him. The weight on your shoulders lightened, replaced by a glimmer of hope that he would receive the help he desperately needed. As you dismounted from the horse, your strength finally giving way under the weight of exhaustion, your body betrayed you, and you fainted. The world around you blurred and faded, the culmination of exhaustion, adrenaline, pain and the remnants of the chaos finally taking their toll.
“Fuck.” You hear a familiar voice curse but your eyes close shut of their own accord enveloping you in a comfortably numb blackness.
-------------------------------------------------
Your throat felt parched, as if someone had replaced the moisture within with a desert of sand. Discomfort coursed through your body, urging you to open your eyes and seek relief. Slowly, your eyelids fluttered, and the brightness of the room flooded your vision, making you flinch in response. As your eyes adjusted to the light, you realized you were in a familiar room within the mansion, the one that had been provided to you while you sought refuge from the Fatui.
With aching muscles and a sore body, you gingerly pushed yourself up, wincing at the lingering soreness. Memories flooded back, crashing into your consciousness like a tumultuous wave. The capture by Adrian, the harrowing experiments inflicted upon you by the Fatui, Diluc's heroic rescue, and the moment his body fell to the floor as the dark tendrils surged forth from within you, consuming everything in their path. The chaotic journey back to the winery with Kaeya, the urgency and fear that had permeated every moment, it all came rushing back with startling clarity.
Your gaze shifted to your arm, where the Fatui tattoo had once marked you. To your surprise, all that remained was a scar, evidence of the intense heat delivered by Diluc's scalding claymore. How long had you been unconscious? The wound appeared as though it had healed over the course of months, yet the passage of time was a mystery. The events leading up to your fainting episode seemed like a distant nightmare, and yet the scars, both physical and emotional, still lingered.
A deep thirst gnawed at your throat, urging you to seek hydration. Your eyes scanned the room until they fell upon a jug of water placed conveniently within reach, as if someone had anticipated your needs. You reached for it with trembling hands and brought it to your lips, the cool liquid cascading down your parched throat. Each swallow brought a modicum of relief, easing the discomfort that had plagued you since awakening. As the water coursed through your body, reviving your senses, you couldn't help but ponder the circumstances surrounding your current state. How had you ended up back in this room? Had Kaeya and the others managed to secure Diluc's safety? Questions swirled in your mind, but the answers remained elusive.
With a deep breath, you set the empty jug aside and swung your legs over the edge of the bed, gradually planting your feet on the floor. You needed to find out what had transpired in your absence, to ensure Diluc's well-being and the safety of those who had risked everything to protect you. As you made your way to the door, opening it slowly, the familiar sights and sounds of the winery greeted you. The air held a tension that lingered from recent events, an undercurrent of unease that clung to the atmosphere. The mansion buzzed with activity, servants hurrying about their duties, and the occasional murmur of voices drifting through the halls.
Your footsteps brought you closer to the main corridor, where the flurry of activity seemed to be centered. As you neared, a familiar figure caught your eye, moving with purpose amidst the commotion. It was Kaeya, his usual charismatic demeanor replacing the cold and bossy version of his that you saw. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he noticed your approach, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Well, well, look who's finally awake," Kaeya greeted you, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Did you manage to get some rest, or were you too busy dreaming about me?"
“Kaeya” You sigh. “How long was I unconscious for?”
Kaeya pauses as he looks at you, tilting his head to the side. “About 2 days I would say.”
“Impossible.” You gasp. “My wounds seem to have healed far more than two days would allow.”
Kaeya's smile widened, his mischievous nature shining through. "Ah, you noticed that, did you?" he teased. "Well, it seems healers with elemental visions exist, my friend. Adelinde mentioned your aversion to them, but I made sure you received the care you needed. After all, we can't have you falling apart at the seams."
You couldn't help but roll your eyes playfully, a mixture of appreciation and exasperation bubbling within you. "Thank you, Kaeya," you said sincerely, the weight of gratitude lacing your words. "I appreciate your concern and making sure I was taken care of."
Kaeya waved off your thanks with a nonchalant gesture. "Don't mention it," he replied, his voice tinged with a touch of warmth. “Now now, enough about you. I'm sure you're itching to know about our dear Master Diluc."
Your heart skipped a beat, the mere mention of Diluc's name reigniting the concern that had simmered within you. "How is he?" you asked, unable to hide the eagerness in your voice. "Is he awake? Is he alright?"
Kaeya's eyes seemed to sparkle as he leaned in slightly, relishing the moment. "Oh, he's still unconscious," he replied, drawing out the anticipation. "But fear not, (y/n). I'm sure he's merely resting his pretty little head. Perhaps you should pay him a visit and see for yourself. His room is on the east wing, third door to the right."
A sense of relief and impatience washed over you, fueling your determination to see Diluc. "Thank you, Kaeya," you said, genuine gratitude in your voice. Without wasting another moment, you turned on your heels and headed towards Diluc's room, your steps quick and purposeful.
The journey through the mansion's corridors felt both familiar and foreign, the air heavy with a potent mix of tension and anticipation. The walls seemed to hold echoes of the recent turmoil, whispers of fear and hope intertwined in the tapestry of your thoughts. As you reached the east wing, you couldn't help but notice the subtle change in ambiance—the atmosphere grew hushed, as if the mansion itself held its breath. The door to Diluc's room stood before you, a barrier between uncertainty and the answers you sought. Steeling yourself, you reached out and turned the doorknob, pushing the door open with a quiet creak. The room lay bathed in gentle sunlight, casting warm hues across the familiar surroundings.
As you stepped into Diluc's room, your eyes instinctively searched for his figure resting on the bed, expecting to find him asleep, recovering from the ordeal. But to your surprise, he was sitting up, his back propped against the headboard, engrossed in a file that lay open in his hands. As the door creaked, his red eyes widened, lifting from the papers to lock onto your form standing at the entrance. For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze as you took in the sight of him. His fiery red hair, usually tied back in a ponytail, hung free over his shoulders, the strands catching the sunlight and casting an ethereal glow. Though he looked tired, his features held an undeniable strength shining through the fatigue.
"Red," you breathed, the name escaping your lips in a hushed whisper. Your heart swelled with a cacophony of emotions—relief that he was safe, remorse for the burden he had carried, guilt for the pain you had inadvertently caused, fear of the challenges that lay ahead, and underneath it all, a burgeoning sense of love that now bloomed within your chest. It was a realization that washed over you, both exhilarating and overwhelming, and in that moment, you stood frozen, your gaze locked with his.
Diluc's brow furrowed with concern, sensing something amiss in your silence. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice showcased genuine worry.
Shaking yourself from the flood of emotions, you summoned a smile to your lips, pushing aside the realization that had washed over you. This was not the time nor the place for such confessions. Diluc had suffered enough for you, and you wouldn't burden him further with your own tumultuous emotions.
"I'm fine," you replied, your voice steady, betraying none of the storm raging within you. "Just relieved to see you awake and well."
A flicker of relief washed over Diluc's features as he set the file aside, shifting to make room for you on the bed. "Come, sit with me," he invited, his voice gentle.
As you approached Diluc, the warmth of the sunlight bathing the room seemed to pale in comparison to the emotions swirling within you. Fresh tears threatened to spill from your eyes as you stood beside him, the weight of everything that had transpired heavy on your heart.
"I... I don't know where to begin," you started, your voice quivering with a mix of gratitude and reproach. "Thank you for coming to save me, Diluc. But... you risked your life for me, and I can't bear the thought of you putting yourself in danger like that. Don’t ever do that again, it isn’t worth the price you are paying."
Diluc's expression remained calm, his gaze fixed on you as he listened attentively. He shrugged lightly, his voice steady and laced with regret. "I had a promise to keep," he said, his words carrying heaviness in them. "I made a vow to protect you, and in that moment, I failed. I apologize."
The lump in your throat tightened as you fought back tears, your voice barely above a whisper. "You did more than I ever expected, Red," you murmured, your words filled with sincerity. "More than I deserved. You went above and beyond, and I can never thank you enough."
He reached out, his hand gently brushing against yours, his touch grounding you in the moment. "Please, sit with me," he implored, his voice laced with longing.
You shook your head, the weight of your decision pressing upon you. "I appreciate everything you've done, Diluc, but it's time for me to go," you said, your voice resolute. "The archon dust powers within me have come unsealed again, and no one is safe with me here."
Diluc's eyes widened slightly, "I know," he replied, his voice gentle yet tinged with a touch of sadness. "Kaeya told me."
"I'm sorry," you whispered, tears finally spilling down your cheeks. "I never wanted any of this to happen.” You wipe the tears off your cheek with one hand. You never intended to burden him with the weight of your uncertainty and instability.
Diluc's grip on your hand tightened, he spoke with conviction. "You're not a burden, (Y/N)," he said firmly, his eyes meeting yours as if he had read your mind. “The power within you… We ae doing everything we can to understand it. Someone from Sumeru is on their way to Mondstadt to help you with this.”
As Diluc tugged at your hand, pulling you to sit beside him, curiosity flickered in his eyes. His fingers entwined with yours, his touch both comforting and electrifying. With a gaze that seemed to assess every inch of you, and his focus lingered on the burn scar that marred your arm. His gentle touch traced its outline, his fingers gliding delicately over the raised tissue.
"Does it hurt?" Diluc inquired softly, his concern evident in his voice.
You shook your head, the pain of the scar fading in comparison to the turmoil within your heart. "No, it doesn't hurt," you replied, your voice quivering slightly.
"And how are you feeling?" he inquired, his eyes searching yours for any signs of distress or discomfort. You nodded, your voice barely a whisper. "The vengeful voice... it's quiet for now," you admitted. "But I can feel it lingering, waiting for an opportunity."
Diluc's expression softened, and he shook his head slightly. "When I asked how you were, I didn't mean to only inquire about the thing inside you," he clarified. "I wanted to know how you, as (y/n), are holding up."
A lump formed in your throat, and the floodgates of emotions burst open. You fell apart, tears streaming down your face as sobs wracked your body. It was a torrential release, the sound muffled against Diluc's shoulder as you buried your face in the fabric of his shirt. Each gasp for breath felt like a struggle, your whole being consumed by the overwhelming weight of everything that had transpired. His arms enveloped you, holding you tightly, providing a shelter from the storm of emotions raging within you. The scent of him—the mix of warmth, grape, and a hint of something familiar—wrapped around you, bringing a sense of comfort and security. You clung to him, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against your cheek, grounding you in the reality that he was here, alive and with you.
You had realized your feelings for Diluc long before this moment, but you kept them locked away, hidden deep within your heart. The strength of your emotions, however, threatened to spill over, betraying your true desires. But for now, you chose to hold them close, cherishing the precious connection you had with him, even if it meant keeping your true feelings a secret.
As the tears subsided, and the storm within you began to calm, you pulled away slightly, your eyes meeting Diluc's. His gaze was tender. His fingers gently brushed away the tears from your cheeks, his touch lingering for a moment before he spoke. "You don't have to face this alone, (y/n)," he murmured.
Just as you were about to protest against Diluc's reassurance, your attention was abruptly drawn to the sound of a familiar chuckle. Both you and Diluc froze, turning your heads towards the door of his bedroom. There stood Kaeya, wearing a mischievous grin, as if he had stumbled upon a secret, he couldn't resist teasing about.
"Don't mind me," Kaeya joked, his voice dripping with amusement. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything too intimate."
Diluc's hand dropped from your face, and you instinctively moved away, sitting on the edge of the bed. Diluc's glare was directed at the unwelcome intruder as he asked with a hint of annoyance, "How long were you standing there?"
Kaeya simply shrugged, nonchalant as ever, and replied, "Long enough to catch a glimpse of the heartwarming reunion. You two are quite the scene-stealers."
He made his way into the room, taking a seat on the far end of the bed. There was a certain knowing look in his eyes, as if he held a secret of his own. He leaned back against the headboard, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips.
"Sitting in this room brings back memories, doesn't it?" Kaeya mused, his voice filled with a touch of wistfulness. You couldn't help but feel a wave of confusion at his statement.
Diluc let out a sigh, as if reluctantly giving in to the memories that threatened to resurface. "Kaeya and I grew up together in the winery," he explained. "He was adopted by our father."
The revelation hung in the air, and before you could process it fully, Kaeya reached into his pocket and pulled out an Anemo Vision, placing it gently on Diluc's duvet. Your eyes widened, a sense of apprehension filling your thoughts. Diluc's gaze met yours, his expression unreadable yet filled with a quiet intensity.
"This Vision," Diluc began, his voice steady, "it belongs to you."
As the weight of the Anemo Vision settled on Diluc's duvet, you couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation washing over you. The power it represented was both alluring and terrifying, especially given your current unstable state. The scars of your past and the vengeful voice that lay dormant within you made the prospect of wielding such power a daunting one.
You hesitated as you found your voice and spoke up, denying the offering. "I... I shouldn't be given a Vision," you said with uncertainty. "I don't know what it could lead to, especially considering how unstable I am."
Kaeya, ever perceptive, leaned forward, his gaze piercing yet filled with understanding. "Your blood is currently being analyzed by two individuals—a former Akademiya genius and the Knight of Favonius's chief alchemist," he revealed, his voice calm and assured. "They're trying to find a way to help you, to unravel the mysteries that lie within you."
His words hung in the air, and you felt a flicker of hope amidst your apprehension. The prospect of finding a solution, of gaining control over the ancient archon problem that plagued you, was a beacon of light in the darkness.
"And," Kaeya continued, a spark of determination gleaming in his eyes, "an expert from Sumeru is on his way to assist you. He has dealt with a similar case before and possess the knowledge and guidance you need."
The weight of his words sank in, and a flicker of understanding danced in your eyes. Still, you shook your head, the fears and doubts gnawing at your resolve. "I appreciate the help, but I can't accept the Vision," you insisted. "Please, keep it safe for me until the archon problem within me is resolved."
Diluc's gaze never wavered, his voice carrying a tone of unwavering support. "If that's what you wish," he said, his words laced with concern, "we'll honor your decision." His reassurance provided a small measure of comfort amidst the turmoil within you.
Kaeya, ever the diplomat, nodded in understanding, accepting your request without protest. "Very well," he acquiesced, his voice tinged with a touch of regret. "I'll keep it safe until the time comes for you to embrace it. Now on to more uglier topics, Volkov is still at large so that means your safety is still a huge risk.”
As the weight of the conversation settled upon the room, a heavy silence enveloped the three of you. You couldn't help but notice a change in Diluc's demeanor—a subtle increase in the heat emanating from his body and a noticeable clenching of his jaw.
With a weary sigh, you turned your attention to Kaeya, who broke the silence with a question that pierced through the darkness. "Has Adrian changed in any way? You seemed to have fond memories of him from your past" he inquired.
You shook your head, a mixture of bitterness and resignation tainting your words. "No, Kaeya," you replied, your voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Adrian's kindness when I was still a Fatui agent... It was all a facade, a means to manipulate and control me. He never cared for me; he only saw me as a tool, discarded by Dottore and ready to be utilized for his own gain."  A dry chuckle escaped your lips as the weight of those memories washed over you. "Adrian was one of Dottore's fanatics," you continued with a touch of bitterness. "His loyalty to the Fatui and their twisted ideals knows no bounds."
Diluc’s gaze hardened, his expression mirroring the anger brewing within. The realization of the danger you were in, the precariousness of your situation, settled heavily upon the room. You nodded in agreement with Kaeya's concern about your safety, the gravity of the situation sinking deep into your bones. "You're right," you admitted, your voice resolute yet tinged with a touch of fear. "I am far from safe. Adrian's actions, the attack on the winery... they were all proof that he would stop at nothing to possess me, to use me as a pet. His words. Not mine.” You clarify.
Diluc's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, his words filled with a simmering intensity. "The Fatui have been sheltering him somewhere," he revealed, his voice carrying a steely resolve. "But his exact whereabouts remain elusive."
Kaeya stood up from the bed, his eyes determined and his posture exuding a sense of purpose. "I'll investigate further," he declared. "Now that the inner circle of the Knights of Favonius is aware of the situation, I have more legroom to dig deeper and uncover Adrian's whereabouts."
With a wink towards Diluc, Kaeya turned and left the room, leaving the two of you alone once more. Your gaze shifted to Diluc, who looked at you with an expression you couldn’t quite decipher.
You took a deep breath, mustering the courage to bring up the conversation that lingered in the air. "Red," you began, your voice trembling slightly, "for everyone's safety, I think it's best if I leave. My presence here puts so many people at risk. Marthine's death, the explosion at the winery... All because of me."
Disagreement flashed in Diluc's eyes, his gaze refusing to waver.
You continued to speak, your words flowing in a rush, carrying the weight of your guilt. “And now, even you have been hurt because of me. It's time to stop this cycle of suffering..."
Before you could finish your sentence, Diluc's lips silenced your rambling, capturing your words with his lips. His lips were tender against yours and your breath caught in your throat. His hands cupped your face, his touch gentle yet firm, pulling you closer to him, as if trying to merge your very essence with his. Your fragile heart pounded in your chest, aching with the weight of its unspoken declaration. It yearned to scream out the words of love, but you knew that now was not the time. As the initial intensity of the kiss began to subside, it transformed into something more profound, more deliberate. His lips moved against yours with a slow, languid rhythm, as if trying to etch this moment into eternity.
But you knew that this moment, as beautiful as it was, carried a bittersweet truth. You had to keep your heart hidden, locked away. As the kiss broke, you gazed into Diluc's eyes, your breath coming in uneven gasps. Emotions swirled within you—love, longing, and a quiet resolve. "I don't deserve these sacrifices," you whispered.
Diluc's gaze softened, his fingers tenderly tracing the contours of your face. "That is not something you get to decide, Schatzi" he said. “I am doing this because I simply want to.”
“Schatzi?” You furrow your eyebrows in confusion.
A playful smile appears on Diluc’s face, taking you by surprise. It was something you hadn’t seen on him before; it was something that made your heart beat erratically. “Time for you get some nicknames, isn’t it?”
“B-but what does… it mean?” You ask.
He simply shrugs. “Well, that should give you something to do while we wait for your results from Albedo and Lisa, no?”
“Albedo and Lisa?” You were confused again.
“So many questions.” He shakes his head as he chuckles. “The geniuses who are studying your blood.”
As you looked at Diluc, the usually aloof redhead who now wore a playful expression, a mix of amusement and frustration washed over you. The gravity of the situation demanded seriousness, and yet, he seemed determined to inject a lightheartedness into the moment. With a furrowed brow, you glared at him, your eyes conveying your seriousness and frustration.
"I'm being serious, Red," you said, your voice tinged with exasperation. "This isn't a time for jokes or playful banter. Lives are at stake here."
Diluc's playful smile faded, and his gaze met yours, a flicker of intensity shining through his crimson eyes. "And so am I," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, even if it means handcuffing myself to you. But the point is, you need to stay put, despite how… well that worked out the last time." He cringes a little.
You let out a frustrated sigh, with a flick of your fingers, you lightly tapped Diluc's forehead, a gesture filled with both annoyance and affection. “You have some nerve taunting an unstable person like me,” you remarked, your voice laced with irritation. "Do you really think this will end well? That I won't lose control again?"
But before you could pull away, Diluc's hand shot forward, firmly grasping yours. He held it with an intensity that sent shivers down your spine, his eyes locked onto yours with an unknown fervor. "There is nothing unstable about you," he declared, his voice unwavering. "Your strength far exceeds anyone I have ever met. You have faced adversity head-on, time and time again, and you have never wavered. I believe in you, Schatzi."
You couldn't help but feel your heart skip a beat at his words, emotions swirling within you, their depth unfathomable. With a sense of uncertainty and longing, you called him by his nickname, "Red," the endearment slipping from your lips almost unconsciously.
He leaned closer, his breath mingling with yours as he gently brushed his lips against your forehead, a tender gesture that left your heart racing. "Stay," he murmured, his voice a soft caress against your skin. “Help me help you.”
“I can’t –” You try to make some distance between you and him to sill your heart. The closer you were to him, the harder it was to stand your ground. You wanted to listen to him, to stay but you know at the end it would compromise his safety and the safety of those in the winery.
As you sat on the edge of the bed, feeling the weight of your conflicting emotions, you turned around, intending to create some distance between you and Diluc. But before you could make a significant move, his strong arms wrapped around you, pulling you back into his embrace. Your back rested against his chest, and his legs formed a protective enclosure around you. The warmth of his body enveloped you, making you acutely aware of his proximity.
Diluc's breath tickled your ear as he whispered softly, his words a delicate caress against your skin. "You need to revise your history lessons, Schatzi," he murmured, his voice laced with affectionate amusement. "Despite reading about Vennessa repeatedly, you still seem to have missed some important details."
Confusion flickered in your eyes as you turned your head slightly, trying to meet his gaze. "How... how did you know about that?" you asked, your voice laced with surprise. "And why did you send me those books, Red?"
A faint smile played at the corner of his lips as he leaned his head against yours. "I saw the tattered copy of 'The Legend of Vennessa Vol 1' in your bag a long time ago," he admitted. "I assumed it was your favorite, and now that you don't have your belongings with you anymore, I thought the first editions of Vol 1 and Vol 2 would be appreciated by you." He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating against your back. "But despite all your reading, you still remain dense when it comes to understanding her story," he confessed, his voice filled with affectionate teasing. "The story of Vennessa… you resonate with it deeply, don’t you? It reminds you of your own struggles in some ways.”
Surprise washed over you, a blush creeping up your cheeks. The depth of his observation left you momentarily speechless, your heart pounding in your chest. You hadn't expected Diluc to see through your façade, to understand the hidden emotions that you guarded so carefully.
As you gathered your thoughts, you turned your head to meet his gaze, finding yourself lost in the intensity of his crimson eyes. "You... you noticed?" you stammered, your voice barely above a whisper.
His grip on you tightened ever so slightly, his fingers tracing invisible patterns on your arm. "Took me a while to… but yes, I noticed," he admitted softly. As Diluc continued to speak, his voice held a mix of reverence and admiration. "Vennessa was more than just a legend, Schatzi," he said, his breath brushing against your ear. "She was a symbol of revolution, a beacon of hope for those oppressed by the aristocracy. Her bravery and strength inspired countless others to stand up and fight for their own freedom. It's said that Vennessa drove Ursa the drake away with her bolstered strength through the blessings of the Anemo Archon," he said.
His fingers shifted from your arm to play with a stray strand of your hair, twirling it gently between his fingertips. You leaned into his touch, savoring the intimate connection between you.
"She faced many challenges, but she was never alone," Diluc murmured. "Vennessa had the support of the Dawn Knight Ragnvindr, who stood by her side through thick and thin. And later, she found allies in the Gunnhildr clan, who believed in her cause and fought alongside her."
The mention of the Ragnvindr clan caught you off guard, and you turned your head slightly to meet Diluc's gaze. The surprise in your eyes prompted a nod from him, confirming your unspoken question. "Yes, Vennessa's legacy is intertwined with my family's history," he admitted softly. "But that's not the point. What matters is that she recognized the power of accepting help, of forging alliances, and together, they achieved remarkable things."
As Diluc placed his chin on your shoulder, his warm breath caressed your skin, his touch, gentle yet possessive, made you feel cherished and protected. "You've always been fiercely independent, (y/n)," he spoke softly, his voice resonating with understanding. "I can see why, given the pain and struggles you've endured. When we first met, I was blind to the weight you carried, the demons you fought in silence.” He sighed. “Even when you told me about them, I was harsh.”
His admission tugged at your heartstrings, and you couldn't help but lean into him, seeking solace in his presence. The vulnerability he displayed allowed you to consider the possibility of relying on someone, even if your own feelings remained shrouded.
"I used to believe," Diluc continued, "that to stamp out evil, I would have to walk alone in darkness. But seeing your unwavering perseverance, I've come to realize that I was wrong. You've already proven your strength and determination. And now, it's time for you to witness my resolve."
A soft gasp escaped your lips, your heart fluttering with a mixture of awe and uncertainty. You couldn't help but wonder what his resolve meant, what he was planning to show you.
“I want to show you that you don't have to face the darkness alone, that there are people who will stand by your side, supporting you every step of the way." His words enveloped you like a warm embrace, soothing your doubts.
You are not alone," Diluc whispered, his voice filled with unwavering conviction. “And you don’t have to be alone… not anymore.”
As Diluc's words echoed in your ears, anticipation and uncertainty filled the room. The weight of his words, coupled with the tenderness of his touch, left you breathless. Your fingers instinctively clenched the fabric of your shirt, seeking a grounding force amidst the whirlwind of emotions. The silence that enveloped you both was comforting, a gentle sanctuary where words were unnecessary. You could feel the rise and fall of Diluc's chest against your back as he buried his face in the nape of your neck, his warm breath causing a shiver to run down your spine. Your heart continued to gallop like a wild horse, echoing the rhythm of unspoken desires.
Minutes or perhaps hours passed, lost in the embrace of silence and shared warmth. The world outside ceased to exist, and it was just the two of you. Your thoughts swirled, wondering what this meant for your relationship, for the unspoken feelings that lay dormant within your heart. Eventually, you felt Diluc's gentle tug, a silent invitation to move. As you turned your head to face him, a soft smile played at the corners of your lips. The sight before you stole your breath away. The redhead, with his fiery locks cascading around his face, had fallen asleep, his expression serene and peaceful. He had allowed himself to let go, to trust in your presence, and it filled you with a warmth that spread through every fiber of your being.
With utmost care, you shifted your position, curling up beside him as he held you against his chest. Your head found a comfortable spot on his shoulder, and you relished in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, syncing with your own. The weight of your hidden feelings, the uncertainty of Diluc's sentiments, was temporarily set aside. In this tender moment, you allowed yourself to simply be, to exist in the space between dreams and reality. The soft light filtering through the curtains painted a gentle glow on Diluc's face, accentuating the sharp angles and the gentle lines. Every detail seemed to be etched into your memory, the warmth of his embrace seared into your heart. His tranquil sleep seemed to lift the weight from his shoulders, revealing a side of him that was reserved solely for you in that intimate moment. You couldn't help but feel a surge of affection, the desire to protect and cherish him in return. You were probably staring at him for what felt like hours but you could not get enough of his peaceful, innocent face as he rested.
Gently, you reached out, your fingertips lightly tracing the curve of his cheek, relishing in the softness beneath your touch. His lips curved into a contented smile, as if he could sense your silent adoration. It was a tender exchange, a language of unspoken emotions that transcended words. But as you were lost in the beauty of the moment, Diluc stirred, his grip on you tightening as he slowly awakened. His eyes fluttered open, revealing the depths of his crimson orbs, still heavy with sleep.
"You're still here," he murmured, his voice tinged with drowsiness, yet filled with a profound sense of contentment.
A blush crept onto your cheeks, and you couldn't help but offer a sheepish smile. "I couldn't bring myself to leave," you confessed softly, your voice barely above a whisper.
Diluc's gaze held fondness and surprise as he pulled you closer, his arm wrapping around your waist. "I'm glad," he whispered, his breath tickling your skin. "It's rare for me to find peace in slumber, but with you here, I don’t why… it just feels right."
Diluc's words, laced with drowsiness and contentment, made your cheeks heat up, a blush spreading across your face. You turned away slightly, a pout forming on your lips, as you teased him playfully.
"Careful with your words, Red," you said, your tone filled with feigned admonishment. "You might give me the wrong idea."
His eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of flustered emotion crossing his face. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure, and slowly, almost reluctantly, his grip on you loosened. It was as if your playful response had caught him off guard, leaving him momentarily unsure of how to proceed.
Undeterred by his reaction, you masked your disappointment behind a smile and gracefully slipped out of his embrace. With a soft sigh, you stood up from the bed, turning to face him. "Well, I suppose I should let you get some rest," you said, a note of wistfulness creeping into your voice.
Diluc watched you intently, his crimson eyes searching your face for any signs of hidden emotions. "Yes, you should take care of yourself too," he replied. "Rest well, (y/n)."
With a nod, you turned to leave the room, the weight of his words and actions lingering in the air. As you made your way down the corridor, your steps measured and thoughtful, you couldn't help but ruminate on the meaning behind his gentleness, his careful choice of words. Why was Diluc being so tender, so considerate, yet seemingly reluctant to cross a certain boundary? Your heart yearned for answers, even as your mind warned against jumping to conclusions. The enigmatic nature of his feelings left you both intrigued and frustrated, as if he held the key to unlocking a door you desperately wanted to enter. Inwardly cursing him for tugging at your heartstrings, you resolved to maintain your composure, to keep your own emotions hidden until the time was right. Diluc had shown you glimpses of a tender affection, a connection that went beyond friendship, but the true depth of his feelings remained a mystery.
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gojotron · 2 years
Text
cherry wine
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an alternate universe set during greece’s classical period in which diluc is the god of dread and terror, deimos, and the reader is a citizen of athens.
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warning(s): strangers to lovers, language, alcohol consumption, spit, talk of children, hurt comfort (reader receiving), breeding mention, virgin reader, body worship (diluc and reader receiving), oral (reader receiving), unprotected sex, accidental cervix fucking, angst
word count: 7k
notes: wrote the first half of this an entire year ago …… spoiler, this does not have a happy ending.
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glossary
athenians: citizens of athens
polis: greek word for city-state
agora: lower city of athens that surrounds acropolis
acropolis: a large rock known as the upper city of athens
nymph: spirit of nature
hephaestus: god of fire
panathenaea: annual celebration held for the goddess athena
athena: greek goddess of wisdom and war
elysium: an afterlife of paradise where gods and heroes go when they die
nectar: divine drink of the gods that holds the power to confirm immortality
hades: god of the underworld, or a name for the underworld itself.
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Athens, Ancient Greece; 5th century circa 430 BC.
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It was in Athens when you met him. He stood out amongst the colorful shops lining the city streets like a blossoming tree nymph in the rustic desert sand. His robes were simple, almost boring when compared to most living in Athens, yet his build held sturdy and strong. He was intimidating, so much so that his presence forced those passing him by to shy away. The setting sun glistened against the sheen of sweat coating his porcelain skin and it brought out the gold in his brown eyes despite the daggers within them. However, there was one point in his features that mirrored the mirth of Athens: his hair. His locks, wild and red like the flames of Hephaestus, were lively and thick, only tamed by the tie that held them together just below the crown of his head.
Truth be told, you couldn’t keep my eyes off of him. From the moment you spotted him from your seated position enjoying a glass of water, your body tensed fully and sweat beaded at your temple despite your spot in the shade. Fear clamped onto your muscles and dread pooled in your stomach, yet your gaze did not falter. You hid my frightened expression behind your cup to admire him further. You felt that if you looked away, even for a fleeting moment, he would vanish into the crowd. So, despite the indescribable feelings his presence seemed to place upon you and everyone else along the street, you continued to watch him.
When his eyes met yours you thought you would fall from your chair. To say the look in his eyes was intense would be an understatement. It was as if infinity was personified into an emotion only he could express. Your heart was pounding, your mind screaming for your body to be set free of the chills of fear rattling through your bones. He paused briefly in the crowd to return your stare, studying you for a brief moment, and before you could realize what was happening he changed his course and made his way toward your table. As he approached, the tension and terror in your muscles and gut faded with each step he took. He was merely inches in front of you now, and yet you felt as if the previous sensations were never upon you, ease replacing what was once apprehension. A new emotion, one most passionate and overwhelming, settled into your senses now that all fear was gone: lust. It made your heartbeat begin to race within the confines of your chest and pooled warmth just below your stomach.
Neither of you spoke for what felt like eons, before he cleared his throat and flicked his gaze to the empty chair positioned across your table. “May I join you?” His quiet voice, deep and cold, met your ears with a juxtaposed delight, and you nodded a bit too quickly for your own liking as you sat your cup down before him. He denied your offer of a drink, opting to watch you take another sip instead. His stare had your thighs pressed together tightly to ease the cry for friction coming from your cunt. You’d just met this man—had yet to even learn his name—yet slowly but surely his eyes, his hair, his voice were melting your resolve and turning you into melted wax within his palms.
His presence was most curious and unexpected as it was obvious he was not native to Athens, but he also did not appear to be native of anywhere else particularly based on his features and the way he dressed. Today was the day of Panathenaea, an annual celebration of Athena for her protection over Athens, headed by her cult of followers and filled with animal sacrifice and competition from the city’s finest athletes. Why would an outsider wish to participate in these rights if not an Athenian themself? It was rare to even find travellers who worshipped Athena as loyally as Athenians did, but nothing about him or his robes signified his allegiance to the goddess.
Finally, your curiosity spurred up enough courage to speak to the mysterious traveller. “What is your name?”
After a moment of thought, he replied, “Diluc.”
How odd of him to pause, you thought, as if in search of his own name…
His husky voice cut through your wandering thoughts. “And your own?”
You spoke your name with a lilted tone; you always found your name beautiful as many told you it was throughout your life, so you were always quick to state it with pride.
He repeated your name back to you, let the syllables savor on his tongue; it sent a shiver down the ridges of your spine. You held your breath in anticipation for his next words, actions, anything if it meant it was coming from this beautiful stranger before you.
“Do you know of a reliable inn nearby? I’m looking for a place to rest my head for the evening.” His eyes not-so-subtly gazed up and down the column of your neck, as if he were wanting you to catch him in the act of doing so. It brought a flush to the flesh of your cheeks and your thighs to flex at the growing heat flaring in between them.
You cleared your throat before speaking. “All inns will be closed tonight I’m afraid. Today is Panathenaea. We will raise offerings to Athena with sacrifices and festivities.” You took a small sip of water, finishing up the rest that resided within the chalice. He left out a quiet sigh of annoyance and a pang of guilt mixed within your rattling, heightened heartbeat. Even though this wasn’t your doing, you felt at fault for the inconvenience to him. Clearing your head of the guilty ponderings you offered a proposition. “But if you are truly in need of shelter, it is no issue for my home to become your own for your stay in the city.”
You watched him mull over the offer in slight apprehension. You had shared only a few words with him but oh how you wanted for him to accept the invitation. Everything about him drew you in unimaginably; you had never before been so captivated by another being in the entirety of your life until him, for reasons you couldn’t possibly explain to anyone, not even yourself.
“If you shall host me, then your kindness is greatly accepted.” You couldn’t help the grin that spread across your face with his words. You were happy for him to accept the hospitality, happy to be able to spend the rest of the evening with the handsome stranger that was Diluc. He didn’t return your smile, but a sparkle appeared from the hidden gold in his irises, so perhaps your excitement was shared.
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The games were glorious, the food even moreso. You felt as if the fruit and bread you had consumed that evening alone was enough to satiate a week’s worth of hunger. Diluc, however, did not eat or drink his fill. He simply stood silently by your side, which seemingly deterred any conversation from making its way toward you, let alone between you. He seemed to be on high alert, continuously scanning the crowd, the ground, the skies, in search of something, or someone. You paid no mind at first as it wasn’t any of your business, but as the dusk settled into night and he kept up his search, you grew restless with curiosity.
“What are you so ardently searching for?” He turned to face you for what you thought was the first time that evening. In truth, you were completely oblivious to his lingering glances and wandering gaze, too caught up in the festivities to consider his own lust brewing as your time together drew on. Thus he was quite surprised you had noticed his other antics, and he cleared his throat to swallow any lingering embarrassment before he answered your inquiry.
“To be quite honest, I’m unsure.” He thought he was slick with his lie, but you were more clever than that.
You were now seated among many other groups and pairs around a grand fire that had burned the bodies of offerings to Athena throughout the festival’s day; most in the city were gathered here now for the music being raised to the goddess from around the flame. Some hummed along, others sang outright, but most came to relax after the day’s end. You had kept your gaze upon the performers surrounding the fire for some time now, but you turned your eyes up to his own with his response. You were certain he could see the incredulous look within them paired with the reflection of the crackling, angry hues illuminating the cool night air that surrounded you. “You’re unsure? I don’t buy that.”
He blinked at you, unsure whether to roll his eyes and call you crazy or smirk at how quickly you caught on. He considered himself to have the tongue of a silver fox, but Diluc seemed to be a horrendous liar.
He considered your words before his own spilled forth. “Perhaps you shouldn’t; perhaps I am lying.” Diluc was testing the waters with this statement, both out of his own curiosity for your reactions due to the alcohol you had nursed all evening and because of one other factor: deep down, with enough interest, the god was quite the flirt.
“Perhaps you are. That would be my guess. It’s as if you’ve lost something that is imperative to get back. Athens is quite the paradise, you know; not many are so easily distracted from her beauty.” You reveled in the momentary reaction of surprise that he let slip past his neutral features. You smirked, for you knew you had guessed correctly, almost perfectly. His eyebrows raising slightly, his lips parting in the smallest of gasps, eyes going ever-so-wide with the surprise he was met with. He wasn’t angry that you had found him out, moreso impressed. The truth of the matter was Diluc had overestimated your drunkenness and underestimated your perceptiveness.
He chuckled, an incredulous half smile stealing the surprised blush from his cheeks as he faced the fire now. “Shocking. You’re an impeccable guesser. Have you considered this city’s pressing habit of gambling?” You shared a fit of giggles at his quip. He suddenly leaned closer to your ear as your laughter died down, breath fanning across the soft skin behind your ear. Your face filled with warmth at the proximity, anticipation gripping your lungs with baited breath as you awaited his next words. In a low whisper, he explained, “I am in search of a thief; he stole something of great symbolic importance to my mother, and I have come to your city and your celebration to retrieve it on a rumor that he would be attending. But in truth, I have not the slightest clue what form he has taken to disguise himself as.”
His words took some moments to process as one of his large hands now slipped up and down your thigh soothingly. You couldn’t recall the moment he had placed it there, but as soon as he did your head began swimming with thoughts of him and him alone. His words came secondhand to his touch in that instance. But when you processed them, particularly the wording of his final statement, it was as if all of the breath you were holding manifested itself into the sharpest yet most silent gasp you could muster. It was your turn to be shocked and surprised, for only divine beings could change their shapes. Only divine beings were known for chasing those they did not know, for only the gods and the like could recognize one another by mannerisms and auras alone.
His hand squeezed your thigh and he shushed you quietly at the sound of your gasp, his nose now nuzzled at your temple as he spoke. “I take it you haven’t seen the god Hermes in Athens recently, have you?” One hand flew to his wrist, the other to his forearm in any attempt to touch his skin with your own. He was driving you absolutely mad, goosebumps rising on every exposed part of you from the chilled night air clashing with the heat of the fire you sat so closely to. You had never encountered a god in your life prior to this, but you were absolutely certain that in that very moment, you were speaking with one there and then.
It took every ounce of strength within you to ask him the only question you could muster. “What is your name, Diluc?” An oxymoron of an inquiry, but if he were truly a god, Diluc was not his divine name. It was the one he had thought up when you first met, the one that had you pondering why he must pause before answering such a stupidly simple question. Your grasp upon him grew tighter as you hung upon his every word, eyes closed so that you could fully focus on him and only him. His touch, so soft and rhythmic at the skin now exposed by your robes slipping apart at their slit, his breath, warm and soft upon your cheek and down the column of your neck, and how his low voice rumbled his response directly into your ear.
“Deimos. Son of War and Love.” He was so clever and clear with his words you couldn’t help the faint laugh that escaped you, incredulous, breathy. He was already taking a large risk uttering his own name in a place where other gods could be lurking, but to utter the names of Ares and Aphrodite in Athens, a sacred city of Athena, during the Panathenaea, could have caused greater conflict between the gods than a mere stolen symbol. Of course you knew who he was, who his parents were, and why his identity must be kept a secret here. To speak the name of Aphrodite within Athens would be like asking for a war to ensue. The two goddesses had a longstanding hatred for one another for a plethora of reasons. Athena herself would smite you where you sat if you even dared utter it once. You knew this all for you were raised within the religion, taught from your very conception to show hospitality to any and all on the chance of this moment here and now. Any person or peoples who came to your doorstep could be a god. They could speak with you for a plethora of reasons, for mirth or pleasure or to obtain information or out of pure boredom. The gods did as they pleased, much to the dismay of one another, but within your beliefs provided your human existence and all of its necessities to you. Everything you knew, the air you breathed, belonged to the gods, belonged to Deimos. Diluc, you reminded yourself. He is Diluc to you.
You once more gathered your courage to speak to him, to now move yourself ever closer to him and his touch and his breath and his words. Turning your face toward him, your noses touched side by side. Your eyes were still glued shut, too consumed with nerves and lust to dare open them and face his own. “And why stay with me now? Why not continue your search?” If you were a mere inch closer, your lips would have brushed his own when you spoke.
You felt his chest rumble against your own in another chuckle. “You’ve become too interesting to abandon. I have millenia to search for that rascal; let me now rest with you, if only for the night.” Your eyes opened on their own accord to be met with a gaze so piercing with fascination that it filled your insides with warmth to the very core. His hand had snaked from your thigh with a gentle squeeze at the apex of your hip to rest around the curve of your waist, the other urging your hands up to his face by their wrists. All at once your heartbeat rushed blood into your ears, liquid courage mixing the heat of want within your belly as your trembling fingers stilled against the warmth of his cheeks. Nerves of embarrassment told you that people were going to stare, but nerves of anticipation told you not to care. Let them stare; plenty of other pairs found themselves caught in passion from the music and the flames. You wanted to fall victim to the moon’s call, but the craving for privacy overruled your unfiltered thoughts.
“If you’re ready to return home, I’ve some cherry wine I want you to savor with me, since you wish to humor my hospitality a little longer.” Gulping down your nervousness at last, you relaxed into his warm hands holding your body against his. He rested his forehead against yours as he pondered what he desired more in that moment: to have you here and now under the moon and its stars, or alone with sweetness on his tongue. He chose the latter, despite the rush of his own heart pleading for a kiss. With great dismay, he slowly pulled away to stand and offer you his hand to do the same. The trek back home had never dragged on for so long in all of your life.
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“You seem to view Athens as a paradise, but do you hold any desire to leave?” His question was genuine, pushed through soft lips that only spoke after periods spent thinking logically before voicing his delicately created phrases.
You had returned to your home as briskly as you could, presenting your most prized bottle of cherry wine to share over conversation. It had started around the table, hip to hip, knee to knee, whispering as if your voices would let loose to the outside world the secrets you shared with one another, but now rested within your bed, him on his side, hovering over you ever so slightly, and you on your back, gazing up at him as if he were all of Elysium presented before you in the form of a vessel.
You blinked slowly, entranced firstly by his proximity and taking the pause to ponder your response, the alcohol in your system allowing you to fall pray easily to distractions. “Athens is known for its schools and music and art. I was born to a painter, my mother, and a philosopher, my father. I’ve tried my hand at it all—writing, singing, drawing—but none of the options I’m presented with here seem to suit me.” You watched his face closely as you spoke softly to answer his query. His gentle breaths fanned your face, his fiery hair down from its original ponytail to now frame his face and rest down his back and shoulders like a waterfall of flames. His eyes blinked between watching your lips as you spoke and gazing into your own with an intensity not of daggers anymore but of interest and intrigue. Your noses were mere inches apart, his body so close to being pressed against your own as his free hand that wasn’t supporting him up by the elbow cupped your face. How you became this close you couldn’t recall, but as you began to finish answering his question, all you could think of was that you wanted him closer, as close as you possibly could be. “Despite my education, I know nothing of this world because I haven’t lived within it. All I know is Athens, so if I don’t leave, perhaps it is all I will ever know.”
“The world is cruel,” he replied. “I would fear it might break you, but it seems your resolve is too strong. You wouldn’t allow it to touch you.” A faint smile graced his lips and the urge to capture them in a kiss, to bridge the gap between you, was so overwhelming in that moment. Your heart, racing as it always seemed to do when near him, was aching with yearn.
Kiss him. Kiss him you fool. Your eyes only watched his lips. “And what brings you to that conclusion?” Your hands, once resting at the apex of your chest, reached up slowly and shakily to grasp the robes upon his shoulders. You gripped onto the fabric to calm the small tremors caused by your hasty breath and fluttering heart. One hand feathered its way into his bangs, brushing them out of his eyes and behind his ear with the lightest touch you could muster. Touching him felt off-limits, as if you were admiring a sculpture and were instructed not to fiddle with it by its artist. But Diluc was real; his breaths, soft and warm on your face, his chest rising and falling steadily in sync with your own, grounded you in the moment.
“When I first spotted you across the plaza, you were staring back at me without fault. Your intensity outdid everyone else's but my own.” You shared a breathless chuckle at this. He inched his face closer, your hands rested around his neck. You fell into silence as your apprehension of one another slowly melted into courage, and as soon as you began to close your eyes his lips met your own.
You never knew what it was like to kiss another being, but you were certain his kisses were divine when held against all others. He was gentle, at first, as your bodies relaxed into the mattress and his muscular form finally lay flush against your own, the hand cupping your face sliding to the back of your head, caressing your cheekbone lightly during its retreat. He held you as if you were fragile, yet firmly as if you would fall through the floorboards and out of his grasp. His lips tasted of the wine fermented from tart cherries and sweet grapes you had shared earlier; everything about him in that moment became your own personal nectar from the gods.
You kissed him deeper, your arms once looped around his neck now shifting to cup his face within your palms, his jaw resting along your pinkies. His skin against your own was warm and soft and electric, a sensation almost as addicting as his kisses. As you parted for air, breaths panting against one another’s, he rested his forehead against your own. There it was again, that uncontrollable grin spreading across your face, except there was no object to hide it behind this time. And this time, it was paired with kiss-swollen lips and a flushed visage.
His position shifted to hover above you as his forearms rested on either side of your head and his knees pressed flush against your hips. Here your hands roamed his face, his hair, his shoulders, his chest; any and every piece of his skin and hair your hands could reach were yours to explore. He studied your face as you did this, peppering light kisses here and there above your eyebrows, along your nose bridge, slowly down your neck. It was quiet save for your stuttered breathing, peaceful save for the lustful mess he was making of you. You were so lost in his touch and his kisses that his serene voice calling out to you by name could barely pull you from your thoughts that were riddled with him and him alone.
Your eyes met him with full attention as he whispered to you, “What is it you want of me?”
You answered without hesitation, “All that you’re willing to give. You have my full permissions as long as I have yours.”
His lips went back to your own with your words. His kisses were deeper, more fervent as if they were trying to draw you closer than you already were. He was nervous to relax his hips against your own before, but with your outright consent, his body moved more freely now. You had spent the day admiring him, lusting over him, so the friction created by your legs wrapping around his waist and his growing cock pressing against your cunt was greatly welcomed. It left you inhaling sharply against the kisses you shared, gripping at his shoulders as your hips moved in slow rolls against one another’s.
Nothing else mattered more to either of you in this moment. No god or city could keep the magnetism he somehow possessed from drawing you into its charge. He was providing you with sensations you had never felt before, an electricity of warmth shooting throughout your limbs at every press of his hips into your own. Everything was entirely too hot, too much in the best way they possibly could be. You were squirming in his hold in a desperate attempt to slip the robes from your shoulders, to feel the heat that radiated off of him in salt waves in the entirety of their ocean.
Diluc seemed to understand your wants; his robe was already halfway down his shoulders from your wandering hands. He pulled away from the kisses, slowly, languidly, a string of saliva connecting your lips to his causing the heat in your face to deepen at the sight. His large, calloused palms soothed down your arms, dragging your robes along with the caresses. Your chest was now exposed to the open air, nipples pebbled from the cool night air and the arousal his touch brought you.
The look in his eyes as he gazed upon your body was like you were something anew, like your mere existence graced breath into his lungs and granted his heart the ability to beat. Stars sparkled in his pupils and an awestruck sigh escaped him. You knew the gods to be insatiable beings who used their titles to seduce women and men alike, but something Diluc said earlier into your night together struck you now with how he regarded you beneath him.
“Do you have any offspring?” you inquired, twirling one of his long crimson locks that had escaped past the curtain of his shoulders around your index finger.
He smiled softly at your question, somberly almost, before answering with an almost immediate finality. “No. I have had very few interactions with humans.”
You wanted to know what drew him into you. A god showing such interest in you was flattering, but seduction from a deity usually meant the need to produce a legacy. Diluc had been nothing but kind to you, accepting and reciprocating of your advances, but if ulterior motives were at play, you needed to halt the feral beating of your heart and the slick building between your thighs.
Diluc smoothed the wrinkle that had formed between your eyebrows as you pondered his response. He chuckled as you looked slightly startled by the touch, having been too lost in thought to notice how long of a lull in the conversation had emerged.
“What is it?” he encouraged, brushing his hand across your forehead before placing a whisper of a kiss where his thumb once resided.
Your eyes wavered as you considered voicing your concerns. The anxiety of the possibility of all of this being a trick to bed and breed you sloshed in the pit of your stomach, even sent a slight tremble into your hands.
“I can’t seem to fully comprehend you.”
Diluc felt this anxiety, but he had not been the one to cause it. He knew he couldn’t just take it away, because in doing so would only brew it forth again in an overflowing kettle of confusion. Only reassuring words could cool the bubbling nervousness within you.
“I do not wish for children. Not with a mortal, nor with a god.” The frown that tugged the corners of your lips gently downwards disappeared as he began. This made him inhale, albeit shakily, before opening up his own anxieties unto you. “Having a child with a human would be painful. The other parent will die and the child would only serve as a reminder of their existence. It makes that heartache twice as prominent.” You hummed in acknowledgement of his words. “Having a child with a god would only cause more chaos amongst us.” He chuckled at this, and you returned one to him, gracing his ears with an indicator that your anxiety was fading.
“Most gods are disloyal and selfish. They see human life as a nuisance. Very few mourn them when they’re gone.”
“Do you?”
Your question struck him like a blow to the back, one that makes the air hide from your lungs in a manner that takes all too long to find again. Diluc knew himself to be selfish; if he is wronged he will hold onto that hurt until the end of time. But he is not cruel, he does not retaliate out of that selfishness. You somehow felt this truth though he did not utter it into existence.
“No, not often.”
“But you have?” You did not want to admit this, not even to yourself, but you pressed these questions with the implications of your own mortality. If you were so captivating, would Diluc mourn you when you descended down into Hades?
“Yes. I think human life is a gift for gods to mold.” Diluc saw satisfaction within you from these responses. Every word was truth.
This truth reflected now in his pupils, blown wide and round in admiration and lust. The allure of your soft skin made his hands more bold as they palmed your breasts. A soft moan from you followed his touch, for no one had seen you, held you in this manner before. The foreign feelings were welcomed because they were being created by him, and the sight of him alone now washed comfort where dread once resided.
Diluc wished to hear anything and everything he could from you. Paired with his desire to feel all he could, his lips kissed from your lips to your chin and down the column of your throat, trailing his tongue over where your breasts swelled from lying down. One hand continued to palm at your right breast as his lips sealed around your left nipple. You moaned, louder this time, the sensation both strange yet heavenly as he suckled lightly. A flick of his tongue sent your back arching into him, hands scrambling to press him further against you by the back of his neck. His now free hand smoothed up your back, supporting you from between your shoulder blades.
His hands were so large and, despite their millenia of existence with littered scars and calluses to prove this, they were soft and gentle, moving with the beating of his heart sewn into their warmth. You couldn’t help but whine his name as he stopped his ministrations on your left breast, but a breath of a laugh at your displeasure fanned across the goose flesh raised on your skin as he switched to your right breast, free hand sneaking your robes further down your form.
His lips all too soon followed the fabric, kissing down to your naval where he dared soft love bites upon the flesh of your tummy. The sensation of his teeth grazing softly against your skin tickled more than anything, causing soft giggles to mix into your moans. He smiled at this, however small, looking up at you now from the apex in between your thighs.
You met his gaze, admired the wild blush that stretched from his cheeks to the tips of his ears down his kiss-bruised neck and chest. The sight alone made you long to clench your thighs together for any form of friction at your disposal, but his hands now cupped your inner thighs, holding them apart with just enough force to halt the action.
Another subtly frustrated whine met Diluc’s ears as he freed a hand to rid you completely of your garments. “Needy little thing,” he purred as he kissed and licked at your inner thighs, hands massaging and squeezing the flesh as he moved your knees over his shoulders.
Your lip trembled at his quip. “Just…” He blew softly against your folds, causing a shiver to frost up your spine. “Just need you. Please.” And who was this god to deny you? Diluc believed you to be the peak of what humanity could be as he observed you during the night’s outing, how you shared the food and drink you purchased with anyone who asked. How you played along with the children who approached and the stray dogs begging for the kind attention you granted your fellow humans. How you took in his aura meant to deter any unwanted bystanders during his search for the fucker that was Hermes yet couldn’t bring yourself to look away. He would be cruel to deny you now after he’s built you up and holds you fragile in his palms, and Diluc was not a cruel god.
His lips met your clit in a sloppy kiss before his tongue flattened up your folds up to the pulsing bud. Your walls fluttered around nothing, a moan of newfound pleasure harmonizing with the groan Diluc relented at the taste of you swirling on his taste buds. He continued to lick at the slick before sucking softly on your clit, causing your thighs to tremble and clench around his head. His hands, hooked around your thighs, soothed them apart ever so slightly so that the moans you produced would not fall on muffled ears.
His mouth slipped from your clit to his tongue pushing past the lips of your cunny into your warmth, the loss of friction and foreign sensation sending your hips bucking up against his mouth. His hands slipped down to your hips now, grip the slightest bit forceful if only to hold you in place as he pleased you.
“Be still for me. I’ve got you.” Your eyes shined with the conviction behind his words, his touch.
His tongue began lapping in and out of you, coating the corners of his mouth and his chin in your shine. With a return to your clit and a few more forceful sucks and circling on his tongue there, your orgasm washed over you with grace.
Toes curling and eyes fluttered shut at the sensation, relief in its purest form spread from its roots in your stomach throughout your veins in a heat that was just as cool as it was blistering. Diluc softened his actions but still proceeded, helping you ride out your first high from pleasure, until the hands that tangled in his hair pushed at his cheeks with whimpers of the beginnings of overstimulation.
“You did so well for me, darling,” he praised. His voice was slightly gravelled with lust. “How does it feel?”
“Like divinity,” you whispered through labored breathing. A hand now caressed his cheek, and he grasped it within his own to place a kiss upon your palm.
Diluc leaned back up to meet you face to face, robes now discarded as well, allowing you sight of his hard cock pressed along your folds. Desire began to course through you once more as he kissed you with fervor, tasting yourself on his tongue, causing you to moan as his hips collected your growing slick along his shaft.
The anticipation of having him inside of you was outweighing the anxiety of the discomfort that was sure to emerge initially. The way your hands gripped his forearms, his biceps, conveyed to him unspoken pleas. Be gentle. Be kind. Be mine.
Diluc’s hands cupped your face, eyes searching yours for any sliver of dread he could find. “How many lovers have you bewitched, such as myself?” A grin spread across both of your cheeks with his love-soaked words.
“Just one.” His eyebrows raised and lips parted to inquire further, but you cut him off with reassurance. “He beholds me now.” You giggled at his sigh of relief. Diluc cared not for virginity, nor measured purity of heart by such an abstract thing. He just did not think he could take it if he found any other man had abandoned the beauty he now found himself above.
His tip now aligned with your entrance, shining with your slick in the vanilla candelight. “Breathe for me,” he uttered, and with a hand still cradling your face and the other grasping his length, he entered you. You sucked in a harsh breath at the stretch, a painful burn following as he slowly moved toward fitting inside you entirely. You remembered his words, breathing as deep as you could, inhaling the lingering scent of firewood on his skin and wine on his breath. It took some time, some halting his movements from your trembling hand on his chest, some moving again as you uttered his clearance to do so.
When he finally reached the hilt, hips flush against your own, you moaned deeply against one another’s panting mouths. Diluc squeezed his eyes shut at the sensation of your heat in its entirety. “Perfection…” he gasped. “I have never felt such perfection.”
Your eyes took the time to wander while his were closed. The burning sensation of before was fading fast, and you awed at the revelation of your connection, proven by where his pelvis hit snug against your own. Your gaze slowly travelled up his toned stomach where a thin trail of crimson stopped at his naval, then up his scarred and sun-freckled chest to find deep, brown eyes already staring back at you when you returned to them.
You were crying, you realized, silent tears from the initial discomfort, that his thumbs swiped away as soon as they crystallized at your lashes. “Tell me what you need. Is this too much?”
Your hands caressed down his sides then up his back, cradling his chest against your own. “No, no,” you stuttered. “Yes, just…please move.”
His lips pecked your own, quirking a smirk in one corner at the desperation your urgent words conveyed. “As you wish, dove.” The nickname had the butterflies in your tummy fluttering aggressively, desperate to break free of you in search of purchase in Diluc’s ruby hair as a decoration of the effect his mere existence had on you.
He took one of your legs wrapped around his waist and slid it up and over his shoulder, leaving a kiss to your ankle. He pulled back to push back into you almost just as slowly as before, but this time he somehow fit deeper within you. The moan you both released as he began his movement was loud and unfiltered. He was drawn into you again and again, pace picking up quickly but not harshly, your hips jutting to circle in time with his thrusts.
One of your hands went searching for his own and you intertwined your fingers as he lavished you. He brought your hands up to his lips, kissing each of your knuckles between groans and panted breath, admiring the sight below him through it all.
“Diluc, I need you.” There was this ache in your chest that you couldn’t describe. He was right in front of you, as close to you as he possibly could be without merging his being with your own. So what had your eyes pricking with tears and voice cracking at your declaration?
He shushed your sniffles and shifted where his nose brushed against your own. “You have me, darling. Why do you fret?” His hand intertwined with your own pleaded this, grounding you as the pleasure built and built. This ache in your chest spurred the same tautness in your muscles as before, but it didn’t relent into euphoria so quickly this time.
Diluc could feel this, he felt your walls reacting to his words and his touch as his thrusts got sloppy from his own building pleasure. However, a shift in his hips sent a thrust too deep and a high pitched yelp escaped you, a bump to your sensitive cervix causing you to shift up the bed to escape the jolting shot of pain the contact caused. Diluc’s eyes grew wide with your reaction, cursing under his breath before halting his movements entirely. He called your name and tried to exit you, but you kept him where he was with a tight leg around his hips.
“I’m so sorry. Are you alright?” He continued a string of curses and apologies as he smoothed down your hair and gazed at you with worried eyes. You nodded, encouraging him to move again by grinding your hips against his own. The friction the movement provided your clit caused moans to ensue from you once more, allowing Diluc the courage to slowly begin once more. He brought one hand down to your clit, thumb beginning pressured circles that built you up much faster than his languid thrusts alone.
“Diluc, please, I’m almost there, I’m-” A more angled thrust cut off your frantic words as the tip of cock hit a spot within you that had you throwing your head back against the pillows and your eyes crossing, stars dotting your vision as he continued to hit that textured spot repeatedly.
He kissed you hard and deep as he came, head spinning as warmth spread within you as his form shuddered above you. This sensation paired with his thumb circling hearts against your clit sent you reeling, coming undone so intensely it had your vision blurring as loud, cracked moans escaped your raw throat.
Diluc kissed your temple, lips lingering the sweat-sheened skin there as you both caught your breath. You stayed tangled within one another for another moment until he pulled out with a hiss, cock twitching as his cum began dripping out of your puffy, reddened folds.
“I think your mother has cursed you.” He glanced at you with slight confusion as you chuckled at your own words. “She must have; I’ve barely known you yet I am so in love with you it’s causing my heart to break.” You smiled, melancholy and adoring, watching his handsome features shifted from confusion to understanding.
“Perhaps,” he mused along, settling between your legs with a small smile and wrapping his arms around your waist. “Or perhaps she has blessed you with the ability to seduce any man you so choose.”
“Even a god?” you quipped.
“Even so.”
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That was not the last time you made love that night, but it would be the final night you were to see him. In the moments you shared, you knew not of this. Mortal optimism coaxed forth daydreams of a life with Diluc, perhaps changing his mind about children and why he did not want them. Mortality was not the only reminder children served; they shared the parent’s memory in their own aspects and existence.No words could convince such a thing of him, however. One night was not enough to ground the god from his lonely eternity.
“Stay with me,” you urged, voice drowsy as sleep called out for you. Diluc said nothing, merely kissed your forehead and nestled into the covers with you in his arms as you dozed off.
As you slept soundly against him, he kissed the top of your head and mumbled a promise to you within your dreamland. “The day you die, I will come find you. I will relieve you of any fear you have of death before you go.” Diluc knew Hades, knew he was a kind man despite their juxtaposition, knew he would take care of you when he could not.
When you awoke the next morning, chilled from the emptiness in your bed, your mind told you it was all a dream, but the empty bottle of cherry wine on your table with two chalices beside it revealed otherwise.
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property of gojotron 2022; do not repost my works on this cite or others. do not translate my works.
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Scarlet
Summary: Diluc has a nightmare and runs off without a weapon. Kaeya makes sure he survives the night
CW: Violence, platonic cuddling, nightmares, hurt/comfort
Word Count: 1620
Requests are OPEN
Scarlet. The color, in all its myriad of shades, is all Diluc can see.
The color of his father’s hair and the blood soaking through their own clothes as the light faded from his eyes. Blood leaking from various wounds as he and Kaeya clash blades. The intense, searing shade of fire burning enemy after enemy to ash,. Image after image, nothing but scarlet.
With the color comes voices.
You should have saved me.
Please, D. Why can’t you understand? I didn’t have a choice.
Murderer. Assassin. 
Unforgivable.
And through it all – the blood and the flame, the voices that he can’t ever escape--the scent of blood and death surrounds him,  reminding him that nothing can wash away the past.
Diluc falls to his knees, face held in bloody palms. Please, please. Just leave me alone. I’m doing my best. I don’t know what else to do.
The barrage of sensations and Diluc’s pleading seems to go on forever and yet for no time at all before his body jerks and his eyes fly open.
Diluc freezes for a moment, eyes scanning his surroundings.
There is nothing. No fire. No blood. Only a quiet room, the whisper of wind outside his window, and cold sweat trickling down his back.
The red-head rolls out of bed, pulling his damp hair out of his face before donning a pair of pants and a shirt.
He reaches for his vision and claymore, but the image of Kaeya’s fear and too many bodies turned to ash stills his hand.
As much as it goes against years of training and habit, he just can’t do it. Not tonight. 
Instead he turns away. 
Diluc pushes his window open and jumps out, landing with a soft thud. The last thing he wants to do is alert Adelinde to his admittedly less-than-wise midnight excursion.
Of all things Kaeya expected to see on a late night patrol (read: another bout of insomnia that he wasn’t going to bother Albedo with), Diluc running away from a mob of hilichurls was not one of them.
Kaeya pinches his arm, wincing at the bite of his nails digging into skin.
No. Now sure that his eyes aren’t playing tricks and that this isn’t some sort of insomnia induced hallucination, Kaeya breaks into a run.
While he hesitated, Diluc stumbled several times, giving the mob a chance to close the gap between them and the red-head.
When Kaeya is a few yards closer, his heart leaps into his throat. Diluc, the ever cautious guardian of Mondstadt, is unarmed.
Kaeya pushes himself faster, trying not to trip over the dimly lit terrain.
If he doesn’t get there in time – the image of Diluc cradling Crepus’s lifeless body flashes through his mind.
No, no, no, no. I can’t lose another family member. Not like this.
As soon as Kaeya’s in range, he throws himself in between Diluc and the hilichurls, taking a flaming club to the chest.
Kaeya’s vision flares white and he summons his sword as his rational mind catches up with his panic.
The ground at the knight’s feet frosts over, a half dozen ice shards impaling the smaller monsters.
Before he can shift his focus and bring his blade up to parry, a mitachurl ax comes swinging down.
But the blow never comes, instead Diluc shoves him to the side, taking a glancing blow to his leg.
Even in the light of a waning moon, Kaeya can clearly see Diluc’s blood staining the frosted earth scarlet.
Kaeya’s world goes white, a blizzard like none he’s ever tried to call engulfing them both. It’s all he can do to cover Diluc’s body with his own, protecting his brother with everything he has.
When the blizzard fades, summer has turned to winter and the remaining hilichurls have frozen, while a pale shield covers the two men.
Kaeya shivers, but shoves the cold aside. He pulls off his cape, ripping it to shreds and binding Diluc’s leg. Despite not taking the blow full on, the wound still bleeds profusely, and it isn’t the only injury the older man has.
“Kae…? Why did….?”
Kaeya finishes tying the makeshift bandage, only to find Diluc staring at him with a dazed look.
Kaeya hurries to stand, maneuvering Diluc so that he’s half riding piggy-back.
“Why did you have to get so big, you bastard?” Kaeya hisses, before starting towards the few lights that still shine in Mondstadt.
The knight curses when the only response he receives is a muffled groan.
The journey is slow. Slower than any Kaeya has undertaken. He talks to Diluc under his breath, promising that they’d be back soon, that everything was going to be alright, all the while praying to each of the Seven that fate would not make a liar out of him.
Eventually the pair makes it to the front gates. 
The gate guards start to salute, only to rush to the pair’s side. “Sir Kaeya, Master Diluc!”
Kaeya jerks his head towards the cathedral. “Go. Bring Barbara to my house.”
“But sir---”
“No buts. I need to take D home.”
Lawrence and Swan share a look, but quickly realizes first,  that the Cavalry Captain is a bit delirious himself and second, is not going to budge on the issue.
Lawrence races off, while Swan gives Kaeya a concerned look. “Are you sure you can make it there?”
“I have to get Diluc home. I can’t lose him. Can’t let him leave.”
Swan shuts his mouth, swearing that no one is ever going to hear what Kaeya is saying to him.
“Be safe, sir. I can’t leave my post.”
“No, no. I have to do this myself. Can’t leave him.”
Swan waves him by, hoping that another knight finds him before he collapses. 
As it turns out, it isn’t a knight that finds Diluc and Kaeya, but Rosaria.
She scowls at the pair, but sighs. “I assume you want to go back to your house.”
Kaeya nods.
“Give him here. You’re not going to make it at this rate.”
“But--”
“No buts.”
Kaeya relents, finally, letting Rosaria shoulder his burden.
She takes a few steps before looking back at her fellow cryo user. “Well? Are you coming?”
Diluc floats in a sort of limbo. As usual, he finds him surrounded by red. This time however, the scarlet hue is comforting.
It’s the warmth of home, his father’s beard framing a bright smile--one he used to share.
It is the fire in winter and the flames of protection, the scarlet that framed his youth. Nowhere is blood to be seen.
Diluc slowly comes to, blinking to clear his vision.
Before he can gain his bearings, a fist slams into his jaw from an awkward angle.
The pain draws him out of sleep fully and the first thing he sees is Kaeya’s face and the fire in his good eye.
Kaeya grips his shoulders, shaking gently. “What in Barbatos' name possessed you to leave in the middle of the night completely unarmed.”
“I---”
“You could have been killed, D! Then what would people have done? What about Adelinde? What about me?”
Diluc freezes the nightmares from before haunting once again. But he can’t find it in him to deflect.
“I couldn’t stay at the Winery, but…”
“But? I need a damn good reason, D.”
“I couldn’t take up the weapon and vision that nearly killed you. That couldn’t save Father. I can’t escape the anger and hate. Or the guilt. I wasn’t intending on fighting, but---”
“You were stupid enough to go out, knowing that the knights can’t take care of everything. Varka could have left some more knights behind, but that doesn’t excuse recklessness.”
“You’re one to talk.”
“At least I brought something to stab someone with.”
Kaeya leans forward and wraps his arms around his brother.  For the first time, Diluc notices the bandages wrapping Kaeya’s chest. Notices the red stain seeping 
“You got hurt protecting me. You’re bleeding because of me. Again.”
“I won’t say you’re wrong, but I’d also be dead if not for you, so I think we’re even.”
“You got hurt because of me.”
Kaeya watches Diluc’s pupils shrink and his breathing quicken. He rests a cool hand on the older man’s shoulder.
“I don’t care about that, Diluc. You’re safe. You’re home. You didn’t leave me. I can’t lose another family member.”
That snaps Diluc out of his panic. “You…think we’re family?”
“You’re all I’ve got left. My father left me. Crepus is long dead. You don’t like me much, but at least you’re still here. I can still watch your back.”
Kaeya lays back, sighing in exhaustion. “I had shit timing and I’m not the most honest of people. But I swear, I never wanted to betray you. I just wanted to live happily with you and our father. You gave me a home and I never stopped feeling guilty.
Diluc lays back next to him, startled when Kaeya curls up next to him the way they used to, before their life went to hell. He closes his eyes and lets the knight settle, feeling, somehow, that the younger man had likely not slept since they were injured.
“Get some rest, Kae. We’re going to have to talk about this later.”
Kaeya nods. “”Bedo said if we didn’t he was going to rope us into six months worth of assistant duty and that he was going to help mediate. Says he’s not going to let me be miserable because we have bad communication skills.”
Diluc chuckles. “Trust Albedo to not beat around the bush.”
Kaeya’s presence and even breathing quickly lulls him to sleep. This time, there is no scarlet. This time, he finds peace. 
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persuasivus · 5 months
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Sooo how do you like the diluc roommate pt 3 spin? 👀 It's different and less smutty (lol so not me ik) it's been a while so I'd love to hear your thoughts 💭
Pt 4 anyone?
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dxliqhted · 1 year
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never again: diluc
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diluc x fem! reader, readers death, angsty.
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the day went as it usually did, he placed a kiss on your temple before getting up to get ready for the long, dreadful day ahead of him. opening the tavern, taking out yesterday night's trash, putting up with kaeya as he passed by, then finally returning to the manor to be met with the new stack of paperwork at the dining table, where his hot cup of coffee waited for him with a folded letter that had tiny drops of the substance due to what he would assume, rushed movements.
he wondered if you left it here, if you were roaming around and hiding to give him one of your daily surprises. his eyes scanned every corner of the empty room before finally unfolding the letter,
' emergency at the guild, i'll be back late, don't wait up for me! xoxo, [name]. ᥫ᭡ '
he thumb traced the tiny heart you drew, the corners of his lips twitched into a sad smile, no sneaky surprises today. no matter how much you thought he hated them he'd always reassure you, he loved whenever you'd accompany him, he'd invite you to sit on the table with him but instead you'd take a seat on his lap, reading along to the paper before him and even dipping the quill in ink for him before he could even reach for it.
but today was not that day, it even made him feel a bit uncomfortable not having you stand around, trying to capture his attention.
the paper before him was just a jumbled mix of words that he no longer paid attention to, his mind far too occupied with the fond memories he had with you, seeing them over in what seemed like a replay,
"do you ever even brush it?" your hands combed through his vermilion locks, with a few hurtful tugs of knots. "of course i do." he spoke nonchalantly, his brow twitching with each slow tug, "really. when?"
he placed the scroll down, and thought quickly, "just earlier this morning." he cleared his throat, feeling your gaze burning holes behind his head, "i thought businessmen were better liars than the rest..oh how wrong i was." you pressed a kiss on the crown of his head, letting the tied-up hair fall loosely onto his back and shoulders, "i woke up with you this morning, not once did i see you tend for it."
he sighed after your words and a laugh escaped past your lips, "you have to take care of it! not everyone is blessed with such healthy long hair of this shade.." your comment made him huff, he could care less, that was until, "besides i really like it, it's soft and has the earthy scent? something like sweet dandelions and pine wood.." you said with small breaks to recognize each smell with tiny whiffs, only making his cheeks burn. he was glad you didn't see him or he'd have to prepare for a night of teasing along with the days ahead.
"master diluc?" a maid's voice echoed through the empty room taking him out of the memory, she seemed out of breath and even, scared?
"what is it?" he stood, to approach her seeing her look back and slightly stutter, "it's name, she..."
diluc's heart skipped a beat, it skipped several, "name? what about her?" he spoke with haste and desperation, "the guild called, naming her injured but she's nowhere to be found-"
he picked up his coat as soon as she spoke the word, injured. "please, fetch a healer at the cathedral to come to windrise near the statue of the seven."
once he saw her a bit shaken with the urgency in his voice he called for someone else, time was limited as it was valuable and he didn't know how much he could risk to waste,
he rushed out, fetching a horse to escort him faster, he knew where you were and he hoped you were fine and that the guild just didn't know too much about your status after the emergency mission.
but his hopes failed to be accomplished, you laid at the very bottom of the statue, your hands leaving numerous printed stains of blood on the stone as you pleaded, "please work, please, please... it can't be it, please barbatos...any god that's hearing me please..." you sobbed, heavy breaths escaping you, the statue didn't glow as it did it when you approached it with a minor cut, it was drained out.
"name." the man shook as he approached you, every inch of emotion pounding onto him at the same time, "you should have stayed back, the guild sent a heal-"
"they wanted to leave me there 'luc.." you sobbed, his hands adjusted your body, softly and careful not to harm you and to lay you in his embrace giving you any ounce of comfort he could give you, "the statue could help me, so i came here...defeated a damn slime that hogged the spot..." you coughed, splattering your fist with blood that only filled your eyes with more tears, "i was reckless, m' so sorry diluc.."
he was wordless, breathless even that the small gasp of air coming from him surprised you, "diluc..." you lifted a hand contemplating whether or not to hold his face, even with the blood.
he made the decision for you, grabbing your hand and placing it on the side of his face where the tears streamed down, "don't apologize, please name, don't apologize...not here, okay? the cathedrals healer will come any minute now, just talk to me okay?"
you nodded, your eyes slightly falling, making him shake his head, "no-no, keep these open for me okay? let me see those pretty e/c eyes..."
you did as he told you and he smiled sadly as more tears roamed down, you both knew what fate had laid out for the both of you at this moment, the only that held the both of you was hope, and you were slowly draining out of it,
"i-i did my hair, just like you like it, see?" he sniffed, you looked up and smiled weakly, "just how i like it..." your face soon broke into another sob, "your an amazing person diluc, inside and out. don't ever forget it, okay? your worth so much so don't ever settle for less..." you coughed interrupted you, your voice was getting raspier and the blood didn't stop seeping out, you groaned at the sharp pain in your abdomen, "name, please.." he understood, it wasn't his first loss, those words only shattered him further as his grip on you tightened, "i can't be without you, i can't. i won't." he handheld yours tightly against him, as you shook your head,
"you'll find someone better, someone that can replac-"
he shook his head, "never." a sob hiccuped from him, "i'll never love again..."
as his final words escaped, rain started to pour, and your body no longer inhaled another breath,
and the only thing that was heard was a was a piercing cry.
©Dxliqhted ♡ please do not steal, modify, plagiarize or repost my works
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To cry over spilled wine IV
Diluc x gn reader (pre relationship)
warnings: mention of slight anxiety, mention of alkohol and drinking, tension, a lot of mutual pinning, characters being smitten and over the heels lmao, fluff, sfw
2.5k+ words, unedited
part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4
writing masterlist
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You were abusing your closet all afternoon, yet you couldn't quite figure out what to wear this evening. You can't possibly go all out, this wasn't a date. He didn't say so at least. It's just a hangout. Yes. A birthday dinner. Just the two of you. Archons. The things this man does to you is unbelievable.
With nervous anticipation you waited for him. You felt your skin tickle and you'd swear the day's heat was remaining even with the setting sun. You paced around your house, checking for something, anything, to help keep your mind busy. However your home was already cleaned after you turned it upside-down, your looks couldn't get any better from this point on and you finished your paperwork this morning and -
Knock knock knock
He was here. Alright, here goes nothing. Deep breaths. You opened the door with a smile and a friendly greeting on your lips which didn't make it out of your mouth when you took him in fully. You've seen Diluc so many times, yet today was different. The changes in his appearance were small, detailed and to a regular passer by unnoticeable. But to you they were as bright as the fading sunlight which was kissing his face right now. He changed his regular white west for a red one, that was matching the jewel adorning his tie and his hair were tied together with a black ribbon that was suspiciously alike the one you tied the windwheels bouquet with.
Time stopped around you two. He was just as stunned as you were, almost unable to breathe. The sunlight coming from behind you made you look like a saint, and for him you were one. You were that and so, so much more. However as much as he would like to admire you forever he was used to declining his hearts pleasures and naturally, he was first to break the moment and cleared his throat, hoping the action would ground him enough to speak clearly.
“Good evening,” he exclaimed in a soft tone.
“Greetings,” you said, “let me lock the door and we can go.”
You grabbed your coat, locked the door and when you turned to face him, he was already offering you his arm. Uttering barely audible thanks you accepted it while he averted your gaze to hide his reddening cheeks. It was true he didn't explicitly state that this was supposed to be a date of sorts, afraid you'd decline. He was sure you wouldn't laugh at him, refusing his affections politely but to be frank his heart couldn't take it. To watch forced smile you'd probably put up while searching for the right words. It felt like hell to him and he wouldn't risk it for anything. You two could simply stay friends for all he cared as long as you stayed in his life. However despite all of that he was curious to know what were you thinking right now. Did you assume it to be a date or you didn't think anything special about it at all? Uncertainty nibbled his nerves yet it was his safety net. The question remained: was he ready to risk the fall? Maybe... Since it was you, tonight he might take the chances. Just maybe...
Idle conversation flowing between the two of you while Diluc led you out of Mondstatd towards the winery. He tried to take several shortcuts and forgotten alleyways to avoid noisy eyes of the citizens, however he wasn't trying to hide. Not when you were at arms length enjoying his company. It was well known that the wine tycoon disliked small talk, who wouldn't honestly, when there weren't many people he could indulge in pleasantly stimulating conversation without awkward mood setting in after a few moments. Maybe it was his lack of social skills, not that he didn't have any, but the ones he possessed were forced and took too much of his energy. With you though, he didn't have to worry about anything. As much as your presence made him nervous, conversations with you came naturally to him as if he was always meant to exchange more than just mere pleasantries with you.
“...and quite frankly it wasn't even the best match I had this week, but when she kept going on about how hard she trained to beat me the next time I was the weeks TCG challenger I didn't have the heart to give her the last blow. So I let her have it.”
“You must have made her day. If not week.” he smiled at you.
“Hopefully. It pained me to make such an obvious mistake.”
“Forgive me for saying this, but wouldn't you think just giving away the win for free was counterproductive at the end of the day?”
“I mean, sure, that is one way to look at it...”
“Giving her a hard time now would only prove to help her improve so she could return the favour in the future.”
“You're right. But at the same time it could destroy the motivation and drive she has inside and if this small gesture helps her to keep working on her strategies, next time I'll encounter a card match I might find the most fitting oponent.”
“Naturally. That purely depends on the type of person one is.”
“Yes. I presume you won't let me have a victory that easily?”
A chuckle escaped his throat as you took a turn towards Dawn's wineyards: “No, I wasn't planning on it. However if you really so wish, I can start more lightly not to scare you off.”
“Oho, don't even think about it Mr. Rganividr. All my victories are well deserved and I don't plan to change that any time soon,” you snickered with michevious glint in your eyes.
“Your wish is my command,” he smiled because of your teasing, and held the large mahagony door, that you found yourselves in front of, open “after you.”
And you entered the comforting warmth of Dawn's Winery. The moment you stepped in, you were greeted with friendly smiles and exchange of pleasantries with the servants. You felt slight weight on your shoulders and when your head turned around to see the culprit, your eyes met his ruby ones as he spoke: “Let me...” Diluc carefully lifted the coat you were wearing, hanged it up and ushered you further inside with his gloved hand softly resting on your lower back a tad bit too long as it usually would.
“Master Diluc, the dinner will be ready in about half an hour, would you like anything else in the meantime?” the maid asked.
“Please bring two glasses of beverage to the library. I'll take grape juice, as per usual. What would you like?” their eyes fell on you, waiting for an answer.
“Oh, I'd like the same, thank you.”
“Anything else?” he asked intently. Something about his gaze told you if you let out the slightest sign of wanting something, anything else no matter how difficult it'd be to obtain it, you would get it. No questions asked.
“I'm fine, really,” you smiled.
“That will be all, Adelinde, thank you.”
“No problem. Please make yourselves comfortable,” she bows and dissappears in a matter of seconds.
“I keep my favourite chess sets in the library. They give the room a nice touch alongside the books...” he spoke and you followed after him.
“Do you collect them?”
“In a way I suppose. Every time work leads me abroad to a new town I make sure to return with a new set. You could call it a guilty pleasure of mine,” his gaze shies away from yours, in attempt to hide his embarrassment.
“This way,” he points and continues towards your destination. In a few quick steps you reach the door he opens and lets you admire the large bookshelves alongside chessboards in glass cabinets.
“Archons, if I had a room like this I would never step out. It's incredible.”
A heart felt chuckle adorned his lips as he appeared next to you, closer than you'd anticipated: “Believe me, it truly is difficult to stay away.”
That phrase proved to be true not just in case of this room, but also the person standing beside him. 'If you had a room like this one...' If only you knew he'd give you this room and much more if you truly so desired. Just one word from you is all he needed to devotedly fall to your knees, at your mercy. Just one word from you.
As you patiently waited for him to take out the chess a quiet knock on the door was followed by Adelinde setting your glasses on the table and leaving with a polite smile on her face.
“You can start,” he said when you looked at white pieces in front of you.
“And here I thought you weren't going to give me any benefits,” you teased.
“Hm? Oh, I apologise I didn't intend to-” he stopped and cleared his throat when he noticed the devilish grin on your lips, telling him he's falling right into your trap. He adored your playful personality, though sometimes it caught him unguarded, which were your most favourite moments.
“It is but a matter of habit, don't think anything of it. I actually prefer to play as the black chessmen.”
“You prefer to have a natural disadvantage?” you raised you eyebrow with a smirk. He was too easy to tease sometimes, and it never ceased to amuse you.
“Yes. In fact, I find it more interesting that way. I belive no man is flawless, just like their tactic and if I won't manage to get better of them by using that to my advantage, the follow up loss is well deserved.”
“You are way too strict with yourself Diluc, do you know that?” you gave him a smile, but this time it wasn't teasing. It was the sincerity and softness of your expression that left young Master speechless.
He heard those words quite a few times. Both Adelinde and Elzer never missed the opportunity to remind him, but he couldn't help but belive, even if only a little part of him, that their words were at the end of the day just servant's worries for their master. He was never the one to challenge their loyalty or how genuine their parental instincts towards him were. But whatever the case he heard them say it every other day, which was maybe what led him to put less weight on those words the more he heard them. You never really said this thought out loud. Even when your actions betrayed your silence on the topic.
Once you realised how stunned Diluc must have been after hearing you say it you spoke in an attempt to saviour the situation: “But I digress, it isn't my place to chide with you.” And with that you made your first move.
You've got to play two rounds before the dinner was announced. Both of them ending in Diluc's favor. He insisted that it was a long time anyone gave him such a hard time during a match, but you still felt pretty humbled even though you expected this outcome from the beginning.
As you were being served Diluc turned on a gramophone and played some background music. So even though you had always a topic to talk about, once you had nothing more to add, you both enjoyed the composition rather than sit in awkward silence. It felt rather intimate. Just the two of you talking over dinner, with slow classical music in the background and moonlight trying it's best to see the scene of itself through the windows.
“I must admit, I haven't eaten such a delicacy in a long time,” you say while Adelinde collects the plates.
“Yes, Adelinde's cooking has that effect on people, doesn't it?”
“I am very glad it's been to your liking,” she coos, “there's still a desert to come.”
“That reminds me, what would you say to one last chess game before the evening ends?”
“Thirsting for another victory?”
“Why no, I am merely giving you a chance for redemption.”
“You -”
“So what do you say? Care to play a round?”
“I can't possibly say no to you, can I?” you avert his gaze, seemingly agitated but you wildly beating heart and your rosy cheeks give you away.
“Adelinde please fetch someone on your way to bring us a chess board from the library. The one on the table.”
“Of course, Master,” she bows and takes her leave.
A few moments later, with sweet taste on your tongue you being yet an other match. The most heated one at that but after your entire brain capacity has been used you become impatient as you see yourself close to victory. However in your base you overlook Diluc's bishop who makes his move right after your king and -
“Chess mate,” he proclaims.
You stay quiet for a moment processing what just happened, face palming the second you realise what kind of mistake you just made.
“Alright, that was well deserved,” you say defeated and shake hands with the victor.
“I must admit for a second I thought you had me,” he smiles.
“So did I and look at where it got me,” you laugh.
“But the dessert is victory enough,” you smile to yourself as you get another spoonful from your plate.
“It really is, this one must be my favourite.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Adelinde never forgets to make it for a special occasion.”
“Celebrating your birthday first time in years truly is special enough,” you smile at him while you're listening to the piano on the record.
“Soo, how do you like it so far?”
“Well I certainly can't complain with you by my side,” the look he gives you makes it almost unbearable to hold his gaze but it's so beautiful of a sight you can't tear you eyes away. You hope the blush creeping up your ears isn't too obvious but you don't have much time to ponder when call of your name brings you back to reality.
“Yes?”
“Would you like to dance with me?”
Your lips form the most beautiful smile Diluc swears he's ever seen and you reply: “I would love to.”
“I, uh, feel obligated to warn you as I haven't practiced my steps in a while,” he admits. In forever actually but he keeps that fact hidden in hopes of holding you close.
“I wouldn't worry myself too much about it if I were you.”
After he changes the vinyl he turns to face you and offers you his hand. With both of you craving yet fearing to touch each other casually, this was a rare opportunity to feel each other's presence more. With rapid beating of your heart you take his extended hand and he leads you closer towards him. One hand resting on your back while the other holds your own and automatically takes the lead. The smoothness of his gloves against your skin makes it tickle and you wonder how would his bare skin feel against yours instead. You meet his eyes that are already fixated on you and notice the gentleness in his gaze that you haven't paid much attention to before, but from this distance it is impossible to miss.
“I, I've been meaning to tell you,” he clears his throat and continues, “just how incredible you look this evening.”
He can feel his blush on his face and he barely registers your voice through the hammering in his ears that is his heartbeat, but he could never miss your voice.
“Ah, I've been meaning to pay you the same compliment, actually.” you laugh. Your voice full of softness, just the idea of Diluc finding you attractive to the point he has to let you know was, quite overwhelming. But still it only assured you that it has to be now or never.
“You know, I've been thinking about your gift. I know you said i shouldn't think too much about it that the flowers were more than enough for you but I believe you still deserve something more special tonight, and i think i figured out a perfect gift for you.”
Diluc was more than amused by your dedication to find something that was fitting to be his gift and that's why this time he didn't protest like he usually would, rather he decided to play along for a while. It's not like he needed a gift you probably prepared him, what he needed tough was your undivided attention that was currently on him.
“Oh? And what might that be?” he woos with a deeper tone than usual.
“A kiss.”
He stops in his tracks and so do you. His blush already reaching his cheeks, head swirling with questions. Was this a joke? Were you serious? Did you pick up on his feelings? Did he deserve this? Deserve you? But all of them are silence when you continue your proposal.
“I- If you'll have it I mean, it's not as if you have to oblige the decision is yours. I just-”
He realised you were getting nervous and so was he when he saw you starting to pull away which he couldn't have so he quickly brought up his hand and caressed your cheek which left the rest of your words stuck in your throat.
“I wouldn't like anything more,” he says. That gives you enough careless confidence to hold his face in your hands, and slowly, while caressing his cheeks you connect your lips. He is affections are more softer than you could ever imagine and the warmth that overtakes your senses feels like a shield through nothing in this world could hurt you. Your soft lips are full of suppressed feelings you had for each other, the times you shared together rushing through your mind, the years of yearning and you finally have what you wished for so long. It felt like a dream. The kiss started becoming more and more hungry, as if this was the only time you will ever get your lips to connect. His hand traveled from your cheek and buried itself in your hair while the other one hugged you around your waist. You gripped his vest like your life depends on it and with slow steady steps you guided him towards the nearest wall and when his back felt the flat surface you finally parted to breathe. He didn't know how you still found your breath to speak since your hot breath made all of his hair stand when you whispered 'happy birthday, Diluc' into his ear. You didn't stop there though. Your warm lips left a line of feather-like kisses on his jaw towards his lips which you connected once more. You could feel the deep growl he let out that you swallowed with another deep kiss, and another and another. After what felt like eternity yet just a few seconds you part your lips but you don't go far when you lean your foreheads against each other.
“If all my presents will look like this i might even grow fond of my birthdays.”
“And you could have so much more, not just on your birthday,” you smile as he leans away to properly look at you with soft exclamation of your name on his lips, that you wished to kiss again.
“Oh, how long I've longed for you. You've consumed my waking thoughts, please, allow me to to have you for as long as you'll want me. And I'll do anything that is within my power to make you happy.”
“That's a promise then. But I'm warning you, dear, I'm not intending to let go any time soon,” you say before you connect your lips once more.
tags: @mitsubakin , @jng-yuan , @fricking-ur-mom
alright pals, you've made it! this is the end of to cry over spilled wine, if you liked my writing feel free to check out my other fics or request something, otherwise have a nice one
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jewels-writes · 1 year
Text
how i think the genshin boys would react to the traveler falling asleep on them
Featured characters: Kazuha, Diluc, Venti, Zhongli, Tartaglia, Chongyun, Gorou, Itto
(Also if you want your own custom story with any character from any fandom, please support me on fiverr https://www.fiverr.com/share/vP6NwZ)
Kazuha
Kazuha had taken the Traveler on a long hike through the mountains, hoping to show them the natural beauty of Inazuma. They had been walking for hours, and the Traveler was starting to look tired.
"Are you doing okay?" Kazuha asked, noticing the Traveler's slow pace.
The Traveler nodded, but their eyes were drooping, and their steps were unsteady. Kazuha knew they needed a break.
"Let's take a rest," he suggested, leading them to a shaded spot under a tree. He sat down and patted the ground next to him.
The Traveler sat down next to Kazuha, leaning against him. Kazuha smiled and wrapped an arm around their shoulders, feeling their warmth against his side.
As they sat there in silence, Kazuha noticed the Traveler's breathing become slow and steady. He looked down and saw that they had fallen asleep, their head resting on his shoulder.
Kazuha's heart swelled with affection for the Traveler. He gently moved his arm from around their shoulders to their waist, supporting them as they slept.
He looked at the peaceful expression on their face, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. He knew they must have been exhausted from the long hike.
He stayed there for a while longer, watching the Traveler sleep. Eventually, he gently shook them awake.
"Hey, sleepyhead," he said softly. "We should keep moving."
The Traveler yawned and rubbed their eyes, looking up at Kazuha with a sleepy smile. "Thanks for letting me rest," they said.
Kazuha smiled back, feeling happy to have been able to help them. "Of course," he said. "We have a lot more to explore. Are you ready?"
The Traveler nodded, standing up and stretching. They started walking again, feeling refreshed from their short nap.
As they continued on their journey, Kazuha couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards the Traveler. He wanted to make sure they were always safe and comfortable, even if it meant carrying them on his back or letting them fall asleep on him during their adventures.
Diluc
It was a peaceful night in Mondstadt, and Diluc had just finished closing up the bar. As he stepped out into the cool evening air, he noticed a familiar figure slumped over on a bench nearby.
It was the Traveler, sound asleep with their head tilted back and their mouth slightly open. Diluc couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, finding it amusing how someone could fall asleep in such a public place.
He approached the Traveler cautiously, not wanting to startle them awake. As he got closer, he could see that they looked peaceful and relaxed, the stresses of their journey seemingly forgotten in their slumber.
Diluc sat down beside the Traveler, watching them for a moment. He had come to admire the Traveler's resilience and determination, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of affection towards them.
As he sat there, Diluc thought about his own journey, the challenges he had faced and the sacrifices he had made along the way. He knew that the Traveler was on a similar path, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie towards them.
After a few minutes, the Traveler began to stir, their eyes slowly opening. They looked up at Diluc, surprised to see him there beside them.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep here," they said, rubbing their eyes.
Diluc simply smiled, feeling a sense of contentment at the simple pleasure of being able to sit and watch the world go by with the Traveler. He didn't need to say anything, the two of them simply sat there in comfortable silence for a while longer.
Eventually, the Traveler stood up, stretching their limbs and yawning. Diluc watched them go, feeling a sense of gratitude and admiration for their courage and perseverance.
As he walked back to the bar, Diluc couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth in his chest. He knew that the Traveler had become more than just a passing acquaintance, they had become a trusted friend and companion on his journey through life.
Venti
Venti had been playing his lyre, entertaining the Traveler as they journeyed through the lush greenery of Mondstadt. The Traveler had been admiring the scenery, but as the soothing music continued, they began to feel their eyes growing heavy.
Without realizing it, the Traveler had leaned their head against Venti's shoulder, their eyes closed in peaceful slumber. Venti smiled, gently cradling the Traveler's head as he continued to play his lyre, softly humming along to the melody.
He watched as the Traveler's chest rose and fell in a gentle rhythm, feeling a sense of warmth and affection towards them. He had come to care deeply for the Traveler, and moments like this, where they were so vulnerable and trusting, only served to deepen his feelings.
As the music came to an end, Venti slowly shifted his position, carefully laying the Traveler's head in his lap. He continued to stroke their hair gently, enjoying the peaceful moment they shared.
For a while, they simply sat there in silence, the only sound being the soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. Venti felt a sense of contentment wash over him, feeling grateful for the moments of peace and tranquility that he shared with the Traveler.
Eventually, the Traveler began to stir, their eyes opening slowly as they looked up at Venti with a sleepy smile. Venti grinned back, feeling a sense of fondness towards them.
"Did you have a nice nap?" he asked, still stroking their hair gently.
The Traveler nodded, sitting up slowly as they stretched their limbs. Venti stood up, taking the Traveler's hand in his and leading them onwards through the forest.
As they walked, Venti felt a sense of lightness in his heart, grateful for the moments of peace and companionship that he shared with the Traveler.
Zhongli
It was a quiet evening in Liyue, and Zhongli had just finished tending to his duties as consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. As he walked through the streets, he noticed a familiar figure slumped against a wall, fast asleep.
It was the Traveler, their head tilted back and their chest rising and falling rhythmically. Zhongli couldn't help but smile at the sight, finding it endearing how the Traveler could fall asleep in the midst of their travels.
He approached the Traveler quietly, not wanting to disturb their rest. As he got closer, he noticed that they looked peaceful, as though all of their troubles had been forgotten for a brief moment.
Zhongli sat down beside the Traveler, watching them for a while. He knew that the Traveler's journey was fraught with danger and uncertainty, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for their courage and resilience.
As he sat there, Zhongli thought about his own journey, the challenges he had faced and the sacrifices he had made along the way. He knew that the Traveler was on a similar path, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie towards them.
After a few minutes, the Traveler began to stir, their eyes slowly opening. They looked up at Zhongli, surprised to see him there beside them.
"I'm sorry, did I fall asleep?" they asked, rubbing their eyes.
Zhongli simply smiled, feeling a sense of contentment at the simple pleasure of being able to sit and watch the world go by with the Traveler. He didn't need to say anything, the two of them simply sat there in comfortable silence for a while longer.
Eventually, the Traveler stood up, stretching their limbs and yawning. Zhongli watched them go, feeling a sense of gratitude and admiration for their strength and determination.
As he walked through the streets of Liyue, Zhongli couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and tranquility. He knew that the Traveler had become more than just a passing acquaintance, they had become a trusted friend and confidant on his journey through life.
Tartaglia
Tartaglia and the Traveler had been on a long journey, traveling through rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions. They had finally made it to a small village, where they planned to spend the night before continuing on their journey.
As they sat by the fireplace in the local inn, enjoying a warm meal and some much-needed rest, the Traveler suddenly slumped against Tartaglia's shoulder, fast asleep.
Tartaglia was taken aback at first, not quite sure what to do. He looked down at the Traveler's peaceful expression and couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and fondness towards them.
He carefully shifted his position to make the Traveler more comfortable, propping them up with some pillows and blankets. He sat there, watching over them as they slept, feeling a sense of contentment.
As the night wore on, Tartaglia found himself lost in thought, reflecting on his time with the Traveler. He thought about the battles they had fought, the hardships they had endured, and the moments of joy they had shared.
He realized that the Traveler had become more than just an ally, they had become a friend. Someone he cared deeply about and wanted to protect.
As the fire burned low and the other patrons of the inn began to retire to their rooms, Tartaglia remained seated, still watching over the sleeping Traveler. He couldn't bring himself to disturb their peaceful slumber.
Eventually, the Traveler stirred, slowly waking up and looking around in confusion. They rubbed their eyes, realizing they had fallen asleep on Tartaglia's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," they said, embarrassed.
Tartaglia smiled, shaking his head. "Don't apologize," he said. "You needed the rest."
The Traveler nodded, smiling gratefully. Tartaglia stood up, offering his hand to help them up.
As they made their way to their room, Tartaglia couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth in his chest. He knew that his feelings towards the Traveler went beyond just friendship, but he wasn't quite sure how to express them.
For now, he was content to watch over them as they slept, feeling a sense of peace and contentment.
Chongyun
Chongyun and the Traveler had been training all day, honing their combat skills and testing new techniques. As the sun began to set, they took a break to catch their breath and rest.
The Traveler, exhausted from the intense training, slumped against Chongyun's shoulder and closed their eyes, drifting off into a deep sleep. Chongyun looked down at them, surprised by their sudden collapse.
He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do, but quickly realized that the Traveler must have been more tired than he had realized. He gently brushed their hair out of their face and adjusted his position to make them more comfortable.
He sat there, feeling the weight of the Traveler's head against his shoulder and listening to their soft breathing. He couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards them, as though he needed to shield them from any harm.
Chongyun's mind wandered as he watched the Traveler sleep. He thought about their journey together, the battles they had fought, and the moments of levity they had shared. He felt grateful to have the Traveler as a friend and ally, someone he could rely on in even the toughest of battles.
As the Traveler slept, Chongyun continued to watch over them, feeling a sense of peace and contentment. Eventually, the Traveler stirred, slowly waking up and rubbing their eyes.
"Are you feeling better?" Chongyun asked, concerned.
The Traveler nodded, smiling weakly. "Yeah, I think so," they said. "Thanks for letting me rest."
Chongyun smiled back, feeling relieved that they were okay. "Of course," he said. "We should probably head back now."
The Traveler nodded, standing up slowly and stretching their limbs. Chongyun stood up as well, still feeling the weight of the moment on his mind.
As they walked back to town, Chongyun couldn't help but think about the Traveler and their journey together. He knew that there would be many more battles to come, but he was confident that they would face them together, as friends and allies.
Gorou
Gorou and the Traveler had been traveling for hours through the forest, exploring the vast wilderness of Inazuma. As the day wore on, the Traveler began to feel tired, and they leaned their head against Gorou's shoulder, closing their eyes.
Gorou smiled softly, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him as he held the Traveler close. He could feel the gentle rise and fall of their chest as they slept, and he was grateful for the peaceful moment they shared.
He looked down at the Traveler's face, studying their features in the soft light of the setting sun. He admired the way their hair fell gently over their forehead and the peaceful expression on their face as they slept.
For a moment, Gorou felt a sense of protectiveness towards the Traveler. He wanted to keep them safe and shield them from the dangers of the world around them. He knew that they were strong and capable, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility towards them.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Gorou gently woke the Traveler, feeling a sense of regret that their peaceful moment together had come to an end. The Traveler looked up at him with sleepy eyes, and Gorou smiled warmly.
"Are you ready to keep going?" he asked.
The Traveler nodded, rubbing the sleep from their eyes. Gorou stood up, helping the Traveler to their feet, and they continued on their journey through the forest.
As they walked, Gorou couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness to the Traveler. He knew that their journey together would be full of challenges and trials, but he also knew that they would face them together, supporting each other every step of the way.
Itto
Itto and the Traveler had been traveling for days across the countryside, making their way towards the next destination on their journey. The sun was setting, and they decided to stop and rest for the night.
As they settled down near a quiet stream, the Traveler leaned back against Itto's chest, sighing contentedly. Itto wrapped his arms around them, holding them close and enjoying the warmth of their presence.
The Traveler soon fell asleep, their breathing slow and steady. Itto felt a sense of peace wash over him as he watched them sleep, feeling a deep connection to this person who had come into his life so unexpectedly.
As the night wore on, Itto remained vigilant, watching over the Traveler and making sure they were comfortable. He felt a sense of responsibility towards them, wanting to protect them from any harm.
As the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, the Traveler stirred, slowly waking up and stretching their arms. They looked up at Itto and smiled sleepily.
"Good morning," they said softly.
Itto smiled back, his eyes softening as he gazed at them. "Good morning," he said, his voice low and gentle.
For a moment, they sat there in silence, basking in the warmth of the morning sun and the beauty of the natural world around them.
As they packed up their things and prepared to continue on their journey, Itto couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards the Traveler. They had brought a sense of joy and peace into his life that he had never known before.
He vowed to protect them at all costs, to be there for them whenever they needed him, and to cherish every moment they spent together. For Itto, the Traveler had become more than just a companion, they had become a cherished friend and a true partner in his journey through life.
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b-as-i-ll-e · 1 year
Text
First Encounter
Basille
Diluc x (f) reader
Summary: a first encounter of making the first move. (Slow burn, mutual pining, hand kisses)
A/N: I love these kind if tropes they are honestly my favorite to read so here's an attempt at this trope.
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
The soft chirping of fireflies surrounded the both of you. Diluc's hair although a bright red dulled under the moonlight finally setting aside his eternal flame. You have never needed an escort before but oh so suddenly he decides to spare some kindness.
If only you really knew what was going on in his head. Diluc was the kind of man to reserve his private life in the comfort of his own space. (He never seems to have one considering his schedule). When he sees you he tends to make some time to take u you home. Today however was different. He wanted to ask you an important question his mind was itching to know. But instead you asked first.
"Master Diluc" he winces at the sound of the title. No matter how many times he tells you to call him diluc you continue to resist. You felt that it was important to call him Master diluc. One, you don't mean any kind of disrespect and two, you hoped it hid any kind of feelings you have for him.
Diluc on the other hand struggled to explore these kind of emotions. He wanted to explore these newfound feelings with you.
"Why do you escort me home every night?" He looks at you and shyly averts his gaze.
"It's dangerous at night" he mutters lowly. A certain part felt playful and prepared to respond.
"How so? The city is always safe with the knights of favonious..." he continues to avoid your eyes and sighs. "Especially with the dark knight hero lurking around here." You smile. This comment brings him back to your face. His eyes soften almost transfixed into a somber look.
"Not even he can keep everyone safe" he speaks softly almost difficult to hear. It was near the end of your time spent together as you reached the little cottage at the end of Springvale. That itching sensation was back, he wanted no he NEEDED to handle this on his own. He needed more of you but he just didn't know how to do it. Should he? The walk was done. The both of you had reached your door. You turned to look at him and he looked at you. He wondered and reasoned this is the only possible way. To show his interest in the most subtle way possible now was the moment.
You wanted so bad to do something. ANYTHING. You wanted to move forward with HIM. Your hand seemed to twitch at the idea of touching his face, kissing his cheek. Move. MOVE! You told yourself.
It was almost as if time had altered. Like you missed a couple steps in between the time you stared at each other to the moment he kissed your hand.
He kisses your hand. His lips feel soft and his hands rough but beautiful. All the wind in Mondstat couldn't compare to the sweet taste of losing air in this moment. Your hand clutched your heart unable to move. He closed his eyes when he did this and for a while they remained closed. You almost swore you can see the tint of red coming off his ears.
He composes himself and once again refuses to make eye contact.
"Have a good night y/n"
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beels-burger-babe · 2 years
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Genshin Impact - Diluc & Injured! Traveller
Speaking of Genshin though, and specifically Dragonspine, I like to mess around in Dragonspine quite frequently because I love winter aesthetics. And while I was up there, I noticed that there's a waterfall that flows down to the riverbank JUST outside of Dawn Winery.
And I adore Diluc, which got me thinkin'. (This is a brainrot/quickly written thing, so it's not properly structured like my other fics. Perhaps, if there's interest, I'll write a proper fic for this eventually):
***
Diluc is working at the Winery one day, doing emo-rich boy things (I dunno) and suddenly Adelinde rushes into his office, panting, eyes wide in panic. "Master Diluc! I-It's the traveller." Diluc instantly gets on his feet and follows.
They arrive at the river bank. A frantic Paimon had apparently banged into Connor, the winemaker, while he was searching for mist flowers and led him to your body. By the time Diluc gets there, Connor has dragged you further on land and is attempting chest compressions. Your skin is tinged blue and is soaked to the bone. The moment he sees you, he shouts at Adelinde to rush to Mondstadt and get a doctor as quickly as she can. She hurries off to obey his order.
"What happened?" Diluc demands quickly crouching down beside you to try and take in the situation. He can feel the chill radiating off you.
"I don't know," Connor breathed as he continued to do CPR. "I found them washed up like this on the bank — unconscious, frozen stiff, half-drowned, and if the red in their hair was anything to go by, probably with a head injury as well," he barely spares Diluc a glance. "By the looks of things, I'd say they got caught in the currents in Dragonspine."
Diluc looks up the cliff said and blanches at the height that you must have fallen from.
Diluc then takes over for CPR from Connor and realizes that you're not breathing. He curses and quickly performs mouth to mouth and just barely manages to get you to cough up the water in your lungs. You're still not awake though, and he's never been so scared.
Minding your injuries, he brings your freezing body to the winery, straight to a guest room. As he enters, he's barking orders — someone start a fire, I need as many blankets as you can find, get me towels and a dry change of clothes, someone wait for Adelinde and the doctor and escort them to this room the second they arrive.
His staff works like a well-oiled machine and quickly get your room as hot as they dare without sending your body into shock and dry you off. Diluc sits in the bed beside you, carefully using his vision to provide extra warmth and paying close attention to your breathing and heartbeat.
The doctor arrives and looks you over. They carefully use their vision to heal your injuries and attempt to clear your airways.
"They're still hypothermic, so you'll need to keep them warm. Fetch me as soon as they wake up. I want to check for any lingering signs of a concussion and secondary drowning."
Diluc agrees and holds you a little closer. He's not sure what went on up on that mountain, but he thanks the Archons for bringing you to him. He stays with you until you finally wake up.
The first thing he does once you're better is buy you a jacket to cover up your less-than-warm outfit, and insists that you inform him the next time you wish to go to Dragonspine, so that someone is there to keep you from freezing and falling into rivers again.
He never wants to find you like that again, and he'll do everything he can to make sure it doesn't happen.
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byizoyas · 1 year
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© byizoyas.
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❃ APRILLUC 2023. DAY 04 — horse | royalty au, prince!diluc, f!reader
event masterlist
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you ran away from your house today; for the first time ever after your parents announced you the venue of the prince they chose to sell you to.
you weren’t exactly sold, but forced into this arranged marriage for the better, except you never agreed to, so it was pretty much the same thing. no one asked about your opinion about it.
‘you will marry that man y/n. you have to.’ your father said, concluding this conversation you’ve had earlier.
if the idea didn’t enchant him a lot, he knew he didn’t have a choice as to keeping you here or not. but still, it did hurt to think about his little girl moving away. you were still so young, you’d always be too young for him to let you go.
even if you cared about them, even if you would do pretty much anything for them, it hurt you to see how the kingdom’s peace mattered most to your parents. more than you. and how they decided, one day, to force you into this arrangement of theirs.
you had not asked for anything. yet you would marry that man in a few days. that man you were only about to meet.
you went to the stable, calling out your horse’s name. it ran to you, resting its head on your shoulder and you fed the animal, looking at it fondly.
this was one of the rare moments of peace you had once in a while. the birds were still singing; the sun was setting. a very beautiful scenery indeed.
‘you must be y/n’ a gentle voice spoke from behind, making you jump and emit a slight surprised noise.
you giggled when you realized how silly your reaction was.
the man before you was standing still, a hand in the pockets of his white pants and the other holding something behind his back. he was a bit taller, but he didn’t look down on you. his eyes were actually full of softness.
‘and you are ?’
his long red hair seemed fluffy to touch. he had reunited them in a low ponytail.
‘diluc. diluc ragnvindr.’
it was then that you realized, that he was your future husband.
‘diluc.’ you repeated. you had heard his name before but since you weren’t interested in that marriage you didn’t remember about it, and didn’t try making any efforts too anyway.
‘that’s right.’ he added
you looked at each other for a few seconds, a smile painted on both your faces. if you could hear his thoughts, you’d hear a sigh of relief.
you were much more gorgeous than what diluc had imagined. he was afraid that he would have to marry a much younger woman; because most arrangements were made with a prince, and the daughter chosen by her parents. so of course, most parents would abandon their most useless child to leave the house.
as to you, your parents never quite gave you the details and so you thought you’d have to marry an old man.
but seeing how attractive that man was; you started to think this was not the worst thing that could happen to you.
you kept on exchanging courtesies, using your most charming voice to please your visitor. the conversation was surprisingly flowing since you two only knew each other for a few minutes.
he handed out a bouquet of flowers to you. it was your favorites, as if he already knew everything about you, and even though it was only a coincidence, you thought fate did its job pretty well for now.
as you started to get lost in your thoughts, humming the great perfume of the flowers you had in hand; you got interrupted by the man who offered to escort you back to the castle where your parents were discussing their arrangement with his.
he stretched out his hand for you to hold it. pretty hands you thought and soft too after you accepts his subtle request. but as you were about to walk along him; someone came back, separating the two of you in your romantic moment.
[horse name] made itself a place between the two of you. it did embarrass you a bit; diluc was a prince and even though you grew up in a pretty rich family too, it didn’t compare to royal people.
rumor has it that they were capricious and impatient sometimes. and even though it didn’t seem to fit diluc’s, you couldn’t help thinking back of these things you heard and apologized in behalf of the horse.
but diluc only laughed. a beautiful laugh, perhaps not as much as the expression on his face when he did but still great to hear.
‘looks like someone is a little possessive.’ he chuckled, staring at you fondly before caressing the horse that was now standing between you two as if it was a safety barrier, and didn’t intend on going away judging by its posture.
to your surprise, diluc wasn’t one of these brutal men you’ve always been around. those who only see their horses as battle objects. those who wouldn’t hesitate to abandon them if needs be.
the only sight of that man acting so tenderly around the horse that had been your companion for years made you super soft.
could it be that you were starting to fall for a man whose name was the only thing you knew.
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ayazure · 2 years
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⋆ ★— I.. liked you
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Genre : Diluc x gn!reader – fluff with a bit of angst
About : You liked Diluc but you only admitted these old feelings now that you've come back to mondstadt after a long time. It seems that Diluc liked you all this time as well.
Warnings : usage of alcohol (getting drunk at some point), late and accidental confession (also, this might be a bit long)
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Mondstadt, a place where old happy memories were spent. It's been five years since you last step foot into your hometown – the city of freedom as everyone would call it. Your sense of homesickness and nostalgia can be felt in your longing heart as you gaze upon its borders.
'So many changes' you commented, but you too realized that with this course of change, you also went along with it. Except not here since you went to Sumeru academia for your studies.
You never really wanted to go but your parents insisted. With that, you had no choice but to say goodbye to the place you called home for the meantime. Not just that, you also had to say it to some particular people.
Feelings included as well.
Feelings that weren't admitted, feelings that were forgotten due to its erosion from time. Feelings that you thought weren't worth it.
In your stay in Sumeru, these same feelings tend to linger in your thoughts as an unwanted distraction. With that, you regret not initiating a proper closure with it.
Now that you're here, you were kind of planning to do so but you were a coward. The sheer confidence you had during your trip dissipated now that the actual chance is in front of you. Now that the person that caused these feelings is probably somewhere near.
That realization made you even more nervous.
'It's fine, it's been 5 years already, it's now meaningless' you say to yourself, coping from the current circumstance. At the same time, easing yourself and trying to calm down.
Just as you said so, your feet has already brought you near the angel's share. It's like your body had a mind on its own – already moving its way inside before you can even react.
Unexpected, you saw a sight to behold, there he was appearing right on time. Luxurious fiery hair, a scowl in his face.
Diluc Ragnvindr, the guy you adored ever since childhood.
He looked lovely as you remembered. Though, looking more mature and his expression being a bit different from his usual one in your memory.
"Diluc.." you muttered out of the blue. Quite understandable since you were starstruck. Various emotion hitting you like a raging truck – excited, happy, sad, regretful.
He looks up to meet your eyes, still wiping the champagne glass he was holding just a while ago. "Hello, please take a seat. I'll prepare your order in a moment- hold on, you look familiar"
You and Diluc shared an eye contact for a moment. His eyes widen, implying that he recognized you already. "Are you Y/n?" He asks.
You nod, relieved as he didn't forget you. You sit in the stool placed in front of the counter. You immediately sink your face in your palms as you were feeling slightly embarrassed.
"How have you been? It's been a really long time" With pure gentleness in his voice, he asks. You fixed your posture and gazed at his figure. "Pretty well, honestly, I felt homesick" you reply.
He hums. "Understandable, being away from your hometown can be.. stressful afterall"
You smiled in agreement, looking straight into his eyes again. It wouldn't be a lie of you said that your heart was doing its dance, as if there was an upbeat yet insane music playing.
"I never knew that you were a bartender now.. You certainly fit the job. But what happened with your position in the Knights of Favonius?" You did your fair share of questioning and catching up.
But that was the wrong question to ask.
"I.. quit" He says, lips forming into a thin line as if he remembered an awful memory. Which was actually the case.
You bent your head down. You never dared to ask the reason anymore after seeing his uneasy bearing. You attempted to change the subject.
"How about Mr. Crepus? Is he doing well?"
Diluc became silent for a second, his expression becoming slightly worse. "He passed away.."
Embarrassment became the only thing you're experiencing at the moment. 'That sure explains the change in his manner of speech and approach'
"I'm sorry" you mumble in remorse.
"It's alright, his death is not your fault in any way"
You thought that it was certainly your fault for bringing it up. But it wasn't at the same time since you didn't have much updates during your long disappearance.
Eerie silence wraps around you both. The rowdy drunkards and clinking of glasses are the only ones making it less awkward. You cleared you throat and decided to politely ask for wine.
Sip after sip, none of you uttered a word. The hands of time moves in its pace and the tavern becomes less crowded. Tipsiness setting in as you took a few glasses. Your true consciousness being a difficult thing to control. You start to sway and say random things.
"You know Diluc, I missed you a whole lot *hic*" you say impulsively. "I was thinking of saying this to you during my trip but I became a coward now"
He listens intently but with a worried gaze because of your state.
"I actually liked you.. that's why I missed you a whole lot haha"
He blinks a few times, processing what you just said. He sighs, hesitantly forming words. "You probably wouldn't remember this anyway, I liked you too.. more than you'll ever know"
Your laugh reaches his ears, fading as you spill over the counter. He slides his arm before your head lands hardly on the tabletop. Your silliness eased his day in his case, thus he's chuckling a bit.
"Archons, I must be this drunk" you then passed out fully, sleeping soundly on his arm.
He somehow wishes for you to be sober. He wanted your honest utter of feelings be said with your sincere smile.
He then frowns again, his heart slightly aching.
"But maybe it's a bit too late now.. like isn't the same as liked"
However..
If fate catches up and pulls you two then maybe that will make this awkward night a sweet memory to remember.
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I call this 2 am's flood of creativity because that's the only time I can finish a fic GANAHN.
I need sleep..
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alcoholandcakes · 2 years
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𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤! ✧・゚: *✧・゚:*
<a fanfiction about diluc losing you.>
⋅︓︒︑∘∗✧∘︑︒⚬∙︓⋅⠄✯∘⠄✧⠄
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TW: suicide, major character death, mentions of depression
every day was about you, it had been a long time since diluc ever loved someone.
ever since losing his father and kaeya as his brother, he feared to open up to anyone ever!
but you changed things in him, its like he got a factory reset. he was happy everyday, he laughed, he danced, he drunk, he enjoyed life again. everything was amazing.
until one day he realized that his happiness wasn’t shared. you looked sick, lost a few pounds and were exhausted just from taking a step.
it couldn’t be that you’re sick? right?
yoy were barely in your twenties, you couldn’t have caught any virus?! right?
well, sadly yes.
a wave of the deadliest virus swept through the whole world of Tevyat.
it was obvious you’d get it one way or another.
working at the tavern put you at a bigger risk than anyone else.
serving drunkards all day, touching their dirty mora and cleaning up their not so appetising body fluids.
‘’you contracted the virus, congrats y/n! you should’ve taken some days- or weeks off.’’— said Barbara, the most reliable healer in Mondstadt. she was unusually harsh today, this isn’t your fault at all! or is it?
‘’ oh, suck it up! you should worry about yourself instead of me. this has nothing to do with me! i’m a strong woman, i’ll fight through this stupid virus! ‘’ - you threw your hands up.
why is the whole world against you today?
•••
you’d never seen diluc as worried as he was today, he paced up and down around dawn winery, where you were examined by barbara.
this virus isn’t something that could be healed by some ‘healer’ like her. nor a real doctor. so much magic and power in this world, yet a contagion had everyone in a chokehold.
this is why diluc was so worried. no adeptus, no archon could save those who were infected. he wanted to spend all day with you from now on. but he didn’t. he was too depressed to even look in the mirror. he burried himself in work.
his workers also became worried, master dilucs fiancée has the virus!
the news spread like wildfire, eventually it reached kaeya too.
•••
after two weeks of you being in quarantine kaeya snuck into your room, just to check up on you.
he might not be on the best terms with your soon-to-be husband, but he had nothing against you. he found you very interesting, you had a way with words. so did he!
he climbed in through your window, with a swift jump he was already at the foot of your bed with a bouquet of flowers and some fruity skewers. the mix of flori and cucumbers filled your room. finally, kaeya began to talk.
。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆   。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆
“ mademoiselle!~ i heard about your condition, hope i’m not bothering you with my blossoming herbs!”— he set the flowers down on your nightstand. the man then cuddled you for a good few moments until your belly scurried as a signs of hunger.
“ amazing timing, kay “ you winked and set down your book in your lap, then reached towards the blue haired boy, holding the meaty snacks.
•••
“ Mrs Ragnvindr, i don’t think you’ll survive the new year.” said a somber voice from across the room.
“ Yeah, i figured…” you sighed.
everyone keeps reminding you of your health status ( which in this case really isn’t good ),
and it’s getting tiring. it weighs down your shoulders. you’re already exhausted from your own sadness, but your family’s concern hurt you even more. you weren’t sad for yourself, you were sad for others!
especially diluc.
he was ruined already, your passing would kill the light in him completely. his dear partner leaving him behind, as everyone else did before would make him spiral down into something deeper than depression maybe.
•••
the days passed, your condition worsened minute by minute. you were weaker than a leaf.
you could die at any moment.
and so you did.
you passed away silently while taking a nap on a beautiful afternoon.
birds were chirping, butterflies were flying around. the smell of dandelion wine filled the air.
diluc was bawling. punching the floor and tugging on his hair.
he knew the day would come, but he didn’t know when. it devastated him.
it devastated the whole city.
everyone loved you.
diluc loved you the most.
he couldn’t deal with the pressure put on him after your passing.
“ good luck dealing with that, diluc.“ the red haired man said to himself before downing a couple bottles of wine.
a thing he never imagined doing alone.
the thing he swore to never put near his mouth
became the one to blame for his death.
diluc layed on the floor of your room, rolling around, knocking over vases and chairs. he couldn’t see straight, he didn’t even know what was going on.
he didn’t notice that a vase fell on his head, he was numb to all feelings. the man was bleeding out, yet he didn’t care.
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he died at 4 am, choking on a mix of his saliva, blood, and vomit. thinking about the one he loved most.
the one he’d hope to see in his dreams again.
it was you.
it was always you.
good luck dealing with that, diluc.
- eden 🎀
fanart credit to witchdetective <3
thank you for your amazing work.
thank you for reading.
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