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[They don't often talk about their time spent in the Knights even now, but Diluc listens quietly while Kaeya speaks. Knowing what he knows now, how much of a risk it was for Kaeya to follow him into the Knights and always be at his back was truly a risk... and he had never really thought about it before.
He settles next to the other man, placing his hand close enough to Kaeya's that their pinkie fingers can link together.
Back then, Kaeya had been his best friend, his confidante, always in his shadow but never complaining, always supporting him in everything he could have ever needed. Diluc had been the confident one, charming, always smiling, while Kaeya had always been slightly more eccentric in manner... but none the less well-liked.]
I wouldn't have it any other way. [He replies with a gentle warmth, softly bumping their shoulders together.] And I know... it's not the most pleasant of topics... but did they ever tell you why I resigned?
He settles next to the other man, placing his hand close enough to Kaeya's that their pinkie fingers can link together.
Back then, Kaeya had been his best friend, his confidante, always in his shadow but never complaining, always supporting him in everything he could have ever needed. Diluc had been the confident one, charming, always smiling, while Kaeya had always been slightly more eccentric in manner... but none the less well-liked.]
I wouldn't have it any other way. [He replies with a gentle warmth, softly bumping their shoulders together.] And I know... it's not the most pleasant of topics... but did they ever tell you why I resigned?
[Kaeya smiled a little brighter as their pinkies linked and he huffed a small laugh at the shoulder bump. He settled down at the question and shook his head.]
No, they didn't. I figured it out on my own. It's why I took your Vision from them. They didn't deserve to hold onto it. [He probably would have gone to grab it regardless of the truth, but he had been unsure at the time. He wanted to respect Diluc's wishes but at the same time, something had nagged at him. So, being the sly little fox he was, he investigated and figured out the truth himself. It was long after that Eroch had been expelled from the Knights too. Fancy that.] I thought about what to do with it after that. Never came to a decision so I just held onto it hoping you'd come back for it one day.
[Come back to him. But when Diluc did return, he was Sir Kaeya. And the Knights were useless and inefficient. Diluc never called him that, but it certainly had stung as if he had and it hadn't been easy to not take it to heart (he still did, at times).]
No, they didn't. I figured it out on my own. It's why I took your Vision from them. They didn't deserve to hold onto it. [He probably would have gone to grab it regardless of the truth, but he had been unsure at the time. He wanted to respect Diluc's wishes but at the same time, something had nagged at him. So, being the sly little fox he was, he investigated and figured out the truth himself. It was long after that Eroch had been expelled from the Knights too. Fancy that.] I thought about what to do with it after that. Never came to a decision so I just held onto it hoping you'd come back for it one day.
[Come back to him. But when Diluc did return, he was Sir Kaeya. And the Knights were useless and inefficient. Diluc never called him that, but it certainly had stung as if he had and it hadn't been easy to not take it to heart (he still did, at times).]
Gods, I was so angry.
[He breathes out the words, almost sighing, and despite what he says he doesn't sound particularly angry now. Of course Kaeya knows already either way, thanks to Amber's excited explanation of her youthful eavesdropping during the Black Fire Incident (something Diluc himself had not been present for, but had inevitably heard about later from Lisa), but he had always wondered if he had been let in on any of it back then. It's no surprise that the resourceful man had worked it out for himself.
Hearing that Eroch had been expelled as a traitor while he was gone had done little to soothe the sharp sting of being betrayed by the Order he had put so many years of his life into.
Diluc smiles, soft and bitter all at once. What would Crepus have thought if he had known that the Knights of Favonius, who he had always regretted never being a part of, had been able to turn their back on him so easily? He could still get angry about it now if he let himself, and perhaps Kaeya might be able to see it coming, but instead of those barbed emotions welling up Diluc simply takes a breath, holds it for a moment, then sighs it slowly out again.]
But thank you, Kaeya... for keeping it safe for me. And for not pushing it into my hands at the first opportunity. [His smile turns wry.] I don't think I would have been able to accept it if you had.
[He breathes out the words, almost sighing, and despite what he says he doesn't sound particularly angry now. Of course Kaeya knows already either way, thanks to Amber's excited explanation of her youthful eavesdropping during the Black Fire Incident (something Diluc himself had not been present for, but had inevitably heard about later from Lisa), but he had always wondered if he had been let in on any of it back then. It's no surprise that the resourceful man had worked it out for himself.
Hearing that Eroch had been expelled as a traitor while he was gone had done little to soothe the sharp sting of being betrayed by the Order he had put so many years of his life into.
Diluc smiles, soft and bitter all at once. What would Crepus have thought if he had known that the Knights of Favonius, who he had always regretted never being a part of, had been able to turn their back on him so easily? He could still get angry about it now if he let himself, and perhaps Kaeya might be able to see it coming, but instead of those barbed emotions welling up Diluc simply takes a breath, holds it for a moment, then sighs it slowly out again.]
But thank you, Kaeya... for keeping it safe for me. And for not pushing it into my hands at the first opportunity. [His smile turns wry.] I don't think I would have been able to accept it if you had.
I'm fairly certain one would have been in your shoes.
[Kaeya had been, when he found out. Even contemplating quitting the Knights. Maybe he should have. Would Diluc have received him better? He didn't know. But the Knights were all Kaeya had left at the time, so he stayed.]
I wanted to. But settled for a gaudy vase instead.
[It wasn't that he knew Diluc wouldn't accept it. Because at the end of the day, he hadn't been sure. So, Kaeya kept it to himself for awhile, contemplating and feeling Diluc out. It was then he knew he had to be sneaky about it. Find the opportune moment.]
[Kaeya had been, when he found out. Even contemplating quitting the Knights. Maybe he should have. Would Diluc have received him better? He didn't know. But the Knights were all Kaeya had left at the time, so he stayed.]
I wanted to. But settled for a gaudy vase instead.
[It wasn't that he knew Diluc wouldn't accept it. Because at the end of the day, he hadn't been sure. So, Kaeya kept it to himself for awhile, contemplating and feeling Diluc out. It was then he knew he had to be sneaky about it. Find the opportune moment.]
I hate that damn vase... [The redhead says wistfully, looking up at the slowly brightening sky. He hated it, yet he had never thought to throw it away and it was still sitting on its plinth in the entrance hall of the winery along with a few other slightly out-of-place ornaments.]
It doesn't look good no matter where you put it.
[And yet!!
He's sure Adelinde found the Vision tucked inside the thing long before he did. Diluc wasn't going about cleaning the place after all. She hadn't told him, and eventually he had found it himself. Some consideration had been given to simply tossing the thing right at the man, but by then it had been so long that doing so felt ridiculous to do that. And besides, he'd missed the warm weight of it at his hip.]
Why a vase of all things? It's hardly subtle.
It doesn't look good no matter where you put it.
[And yet!!
He's sure Adelinde found the Vision tucked inside the thing long before he did. Diluc wasn't going about cleaning the place after all. She hadn't told him, and eventually he had found it himself. Some consideration had been given to simply tossing the thing right at the man, but by then it had been so long that doing so felt ridiculous to do that. And besides, he'd missed the warm weight of it at his hip.]
Why a vase of all things? It's hardly subtle.
[Kaeya laughed as Diluc began to complain about the vase, drinking the last of his tea and setting is aside as his tail swished on the wooden deck from side to side. He lifted his hand and shrugged one shoulder.]
Why not a vase? I never said I wanted to be subtle about it. Besides, I doubt you even knew the Vision was in there at first, hm?
[It had taken a bit after Diluc accepted the vase to start showing up with the Vision at his hip. He knew it wouldn't happen overnight, but the amount of time it took let Kaeya realize that Diluc likely hadn't known it was in there. He wondered what triggered to look inside of it, unless it was Adelinde. Probably Adelinde.]
One must be a little forceful with you.
Why not a vase? I never said I wanted to be subtle about it. Besides, I doubt you even knew the Vision was in there at first, hm?
[It had taken a bit after Diluc accepted the vase to start showing up with the Vision at his hip. He knew it wouldn't happen overnight, but the amount of time it took let Kaeya realize that Diluc likely hadn't known it was in there. He wondered what triggered to look inside of it, unless it was Adelinde. Probably Adelinde.]
One must be a little forceful with you.
Tch.
[Not the first time Kaeya has expressed such a sentiment, though Diluc rarely denies it. When it comes to him one must be a little forceful, particularly if trying to get him to do something that he might not wish to. Back then he wouldn't have wanted to have his Vision presented to him and he would not have wanted to feel like he owed Kaeya a debt for keeping it safe as he had, so the younger man had chosen the right course of action in the end.
His own tail swishes from side to side, occasionally bumping against Kaeya's as the movements synchronise.]
I expect that Adelinde found it before I did. She never told me, one way or the other. [The winery's staff had always respected Diluc's wish to not speak about the past and they did not mention it, at least not in front of him.] I actually discovered it in there myself in the end.
[His expression turns thoughtful for a few moments, then he leans a little of his weight against Kaeya's side.]
I'm still tired.
[Not the first time Kaeya has expressed such a sentiment, though Diluc rarely denies it. When it comes to him one must be a little forceful, particularly if trying to get him to do something that he might not wish to. Back then he wouldn't have wanted to have his Vision presented to him and he would not have wanted to feel like he owed Kaeya a debt for keeping it safe as he had, so the younger man had chosen the right course of action in the end.
His own tail swishes from side to side, occasionally bumping against Kaeya's as the movements synchronise.]
I expect that Adelinde found it before I did. She never told me, one way or the other. [The winery's staff had always respected Diluc's wish to not speak about the past and they did not mention it, at least not in front of him.] I actually discovered it in there myself in the end.
[His expression turns thoughtful for a few moments, then he leans a little of his weight against Kaeya's side.]
I'm still tired.
[Kaeya turned as Diluc leaned against him, he laid his head against the redhead's. It had been a pretty relaxing morning, but of the two them, he was the one that got the more restful sleep since he wasn't the one with the nightmare. So it was understandable that Diluc was still a little tired.]
Sleep a little more then. I can clean up here. Maybe get breakfast started before Lumine takes over the kitchen. Hm?
Sleep a little more then. I can clean up here. Maybe get breakfast started before Lumine takes over the kitchen. Hm?
Hmm...
[He doesn't relish the idea of going back to bed by himself. When had he become so dependant on Kaeya's company? The thought occurs to him as he glances sidelong at the younger man, then he nods with a soft sigh and pushes himself up.]
Yeah, all right. [It's also not like him to go back to bed once he's up, but his sleep had not been restful at all and he has no pressing concerns that day.]
Wake me up in a couple of hours.
[He doesn't relish the idea of going back to bed by himself. When had he become so dependant on Kaeya's company? The thought occurs to him as he glances sidelong at the younger man, then he nods with a soft sigh and pushes himself up.]
Yeah, all right. [It's also not like him to go back to bed once he's up, but his sleep had not been restful at all and he has no pressing concerns that day.]
Wake me up in a couple of hours.
[Kaeya often wondered the same thing. But he would never actually voice that. Instead, he nodded and saw Diluc to bed.]
Anything in particular in mind you want for breakfast? So I know when to start.
[He didn't need a couple hours to make breakfast, but if it wasn't something quick then he was going to need to prep a little bit.]
Anything in particular in mind you want for breakfast? So I know when to start.
[He didn't need a couple hours to make breakfast, but if it wasn't something quick then he was going to need to prep a little bit.]
Mm? No, nothing comes to mind.
[He idly laces his fingers into Kaeya's while they head back to the bedroom, but when he sits down he doesn't try to pull the other man after him. Instead he leans forwards, pressing his forehead gently to Kaeya's sternum.]
We can go out and get something, how does that sound?
[He idly laces his fingers into Kaeya's while they head back to the bedroom, but when he sits down he doesn't try to pull the other man after him. Instead he leans forwards, pressing his forehead gently to Kaeya's sternum.]
We can go out and get something, how does that sound?
[later in the day, hours after a certain post by Diluc, Kaeya will recieve a text.]
So whenever Diluc makes his way home, you should get some ice on his ribs. He ate a kick straight to the torso during a spar with me just to get a throw in, and now his ribs are probably bruised to hell.
Of course, he's tossing 'I'm fine' out, but I figure if anyone has a chance to get him to sit still and get it taken care of, it'll be you.
[Will Diluc be annoyed by the tattling? Probably. Does Chuuya care? Not a damn bit. Diluc is frankly lucky he's a friend and not a mafia member.]
So whenever Diluc makes his way home, you should get some ice on his ribs. He ate a kick straight to the torso during a spar with me just to get a throw in, and now his ribs are probably bruised to hell.
Of course, he's tossing 'I'm fine' out, but I figure if anyone has a chance to get him to sit still and get it taken care of, it'll be you.
[Will Diluc be annoyed by the tattling? Probably. Does Chuuya care? Not a damn bit. Diluc is frankly lucky he's a friend and not a mafia member.]
I did, though he certainly pulled a few fun surprises out. It was an enjoyable fight, but I'd rather not see him badly injure himself over a spar. I hit harder than a regular guy even without my Gift. With it, well...
[And Chuuya less 'won' and more glued Diluc in place with gravity manipulation until he yielded once he realized the spar was about to get out of hand, but hey. It's fair to be cautious.]
It was a dumbass move, but he's your dumbass, so if anyone can get him to sit his ass down and accept some aid, it'll be you. He told me you can do stuff with ice, so freeze him to the couch if you have to.
[And Chuuya less 'won' and more glued Diluc in place with gravity manipulation until he yielded once he realized the spar was about to get out of hand, but hey. It's fair to be cautious.]
It was a dumbass move, but he's your dumbass, so if anyone can get him to sit his ass down and accept some aid, it'll be you. He told me you can do stuff with ice, so freeze him to the couch if you have to.
Gift? Oh, your gravity abilities. Talk about wild, honestly. I suppose if anyone's going to get the upper hand on Diluc, it would be you. I have yet to do it myself, I would be jealous if I was not used to it.
[They did finally come to a draw back at the Kamisatos, which was enough for him. Especially because it had made Diluc proud.]
I can't freeze him to the couch, he would just melt it and ruin the furniture. Fire and ice aren't compatible in the slightest, but I know another way, not to worry~
[They did finally come to a draw back at the Kamisatos, which was enough for him. Especially because it had made Diluc proud.]
I can't freeze him to the couch, he would just melt it and ruin the furniture. Fire and ice aren't compatible in the slightest, but I know another way, not to worry~
Well, it was an unarmed spar. If he was using his blade, the outcome might have been different. My ability doesn't do anything against things like fire, so there were way more close calls than you'd think. Wouldn't mind going toe to toe against you sometime for that matter, I bet it'd be fun.
[Chuuya is, unfortunately for everyone, always eager to test himself against people in a fight. He loved a challenge.]
....Guess that's true. Damn. But if you've got a way, then that's fine.
[Chuuya is, unfortunately for everyone, always eager to test himself against people in a fight. He loved a challenge.]
....Guess that's true. Damn. But if you've got a way, then that's fine.
It would not be impossible, although he uses a claymore so you would need to rely on your speed against that. But if you've got the strength to best him in an unarmed brawl, I would say you are good to go. Strictly without his use of Pyro.
Me? I am not quite like you and Diluc are in unarmed battle, so I'm not sure I would be able to give you a sufficient fight. It isn't really my forte, not unless a sword is involved.
[He knew his limits and learning any sort of martial arts just had not been his priority. He knew the basics, of course, but that was about it.]
I do, don't worry. Diluc will probably hate it, but that's the fun part.
Me? I am not quite like you and Diluc are in unarmed battle, so I'm not sure I would be able to give you a sufficient fight. It isn't really my forte, not unless a sword is involved.
[He knew his limits and learning any sort of martial arts just had not been his priority. He knew the basics, of course, but that was about it.]
I do, don't worry. Diluc will probably hate it, but that's the fun part.
See, I told Diluc it'd be fine to fight me with his weapon, but he felt like it would be unfair. As if I haven't fought guys with all kinds of weapons before. It's not like he'd kill me in a spar or anything.
[Diluc's consideration was cute, really. A little unnecessary, but cute nonetheless.
...But also maybe that says way too much about Chuuya. Does he really have any place to judge Diluc for his injury here?]
So if you're less hesitant about fighting a martial artist while armed... well. The offer still stands. This place gets dreadfully boring, compared to my hometown. If it makes you feel better, I do know how to use a knife?
[Honestly, he was worried he'd get rusty without any fights in this world. A real problem, given his job.]
Oh? How fun are we talking? Gonna get the drop on him?
[Diluc's consideration was cute, really. A little unnecessary, but cute nonetheless.
...But also maybe that says way too much about Chuuya. Does he really have any place to judge Diluc for his injury here?]
So if you're less hesitant about fighting a martial artist while armed... well. The offer still stands. This place gets dreadfully boring, compared to my hometown. If it makes you feel better, I do know how to use a knife?
[Honestly, he was worried he'd get rusty without any fights in this world. A real problem, given his job.]
Oh? How fun are we talking? Gonna get the drop on him?
Well, it most cases it would be unfair. One wrong move and we could accidentally cut your life short.
If you insist, however, then I'll oblige. I'll use my ice sword instead then, rather than my actual sword as compromise, yes? Or a bokken.
Speak of the devil, hold please.
[Diluc had just come home and even without the warning from Chuuya, Kaeya noticed the subtle difference. Still, the heads up made it all the more easy to spot and while he didn't have the device set to audio or video, Kaeya was quite pleased with himself as got the drop on Diluc.
Very cold, frosted hands right up his shirt and pressed against those bruised ribs. After some fussing later, Kaeya returned.]
He is now seated on the couch with an ice pack that will take longer than normal ice to melt and looking adorably grumpy.
If you insist, however, then I'll oblige. I'll use my ice sword instead then, rather than my actual sword as compromise, yes? Or a bokken.
Speak of the devil, hold please.
[Diluc had just come home and even without the warning from Chuuya, Kaeya noticed the subtle difference. Still, the heads up made it all the more easy to spot and while he didn't have the device set to audio or video, Kaeya was quite pleased with himself as got the drop on Diluc.
Very cold, frosted hands right up his shirt and pressed against those bruised ribs. After some fussing later, Kaeya returned.]
He is now seated on the couch with an ice pack that will take longer than normal ice to melt and looking adorably grumpy.
[Kaeya honestly could not help the soft "aww" that left him when Diluc pressed his forehead against him like that. He was not one to really coo at anything except perhaps cute animals or when Klee was being especially adorable. His fingers gently carded through the fluffy curls as he considered the slight change in breakfast plans.
He saw nothing bad about it, aside from having to actually put on more appropriate clothes and it would probably be enough time for the animal features to disappear so putting in proper pants on particular weren't a hassle. He would have to think of a place then.]
Sure, why not? I will think of a place unless you think of one in your dreams, hm~?
[He would probably just spend the next couple hours doing some light cleaning. It was his turn coming up anyway.]
He saw nothing bad about it, aside from having to actually put on more appropriate clothes and it would probably be enough time for the animal features to disappear so putting in proper pants on particular weren't a hassle. He would have to think of a place then.]
Sure, why not? I will think of a place unless you think of one in your dreams, hm~?
[He would probably just spend the next couple hours doing some light cleaning. It was his turn coming up anyway.]
You say that, but I've been assuming you're both proficient enough that the risk is fairly low. I've been fighting since pretty much my first memories, so I'd like to think I've got a good sense of opponents.
But an ice sword sounds like fun, actually. Would love to see what you can do with that.
[He wonders about the durability and efficiency. Is it as sharp as a real blade? Is it sharper? How much force could--
..Oh, looks like Diluc's home. Chuuya waits for Kaeya to come back, letting his mind wander a little bit before the next text comes and a grin settles on his lips.]
Good. If he complains, it's only what he deserves. Though I'm almost sad missing out on his grumping, that sounds fun.
But an ice sword sounds like fun, actually. Would love to see what you can do with that.
[He wonders about the durability and efficiency. Is it as sharp as a real blade? Is it sharper? How much force could--
..Oh, looks like Diluc's home. Chuuya waits for Kaeya to come back, letting his mind wander a little bit before the next text comes and a grin settles on his lips.]
Good. If he complains, it's only what he deserves. Though I'm almost sad missing out on his grumping, that sounds fun.
It has nothing to do with proficiency.
I use it as I would a normal sword, but it's a bit more versatile and allows me to use my Cryo abilities with far greater accuracy if need be. Also, if it breaks, I can make a new one, easy.
[He wasn't going to go into further argument over fighting an unarmed man while armed, so he had left it at that. Fighting dirty was not out of the question, but in a friendly spar, he certainly didn't like to resort to such tactics.]
I'm sure you will have your chance some other time. You're very persistent when taking care of others, after all.
I use it as I would a normal sword, but it's a bit more versatile and allows me to use my Cryo abilities with far greater accuracy if need be. Also, if it breaks, I can make a new one, easy.
[He wasn't going to go into further argument over fighting an unarmed man while armed, so he had left it at that. Fighting dirty was not out of the question, but in a friendly spar, he certainly didn't like to resort to such tactics.]
I'm sure you will have your chance some other time. You're very persistent when taking care of others, after all.
It sounds useful, honestly.
[Far greater accuracy, huh... He's terribly curious to see what Kaeya can do.]
Oh probably. And you say that like it's a bad thing! I like to look out for my friends, that's all. Surely you'd agree that's fine?
['That's all' he says, as if he doesn't practically bully people he likes into getting taken care of or taking better care of themselves.
...Okay, he's been protecting his people since he was a kid, it's pathological.]
[Far greater accuracy, huh... He's terribly curious to see what Kaeya can do.]
Oh probably. And you say that like it's a bad thing! I like to look out for my friends, that's all. Surely you'd agree that's fine?
['That's all' he says, as if he doesn't practically bully people he likes into getting taken care of or taking better care of themselves.
...Okay, he's been protecting his people since he was a kid, it's pathological.]
[It felt like the right idea in the moment and even though he feels his cheeks heat at the strange intimacy of it he doesn't move his forehead away from where it's resting. While Kaeya combs his fingers through his hair, Diluc's wolf ears twitch and flick back slightly each time the other man's hands come near to them.]
I'm sure there are plenty of options. [He says, though he is mildly amused by the idea that he might wake up spontaneously having an idea of where to go.
With a sigh he sits up, coaxes Kaeya down to kiss him, and then smiles.]
And I mean it. Wake me up. Don't let me sleep all morning.
I'm sure there are plenty of options. [He says, though he is mildly amused by the idea that he might wake up spontaneously having an idea of where to go.
With a sigh he sits up, coaxes Kaeya down to kiss him, and then smiles.]
And I mean it. Wake me up. Don't let me sleep all morning.
Oh, there are and that's the problem.
[He chuckled softly. He wanted to pick a good place but he needed to mentally catalog what was out there and what seemed to be the best choice for a day like today.
He leaned down to kiss the other man, smiling all the while.]
Yes, yes. 8am, on the dot.
[He didn't look at the clock but he was only guessing that it was around 6am by now. Either way, he would do as asked. He gently pushed Diluc down to the bed with a hand on the his chest.]
Now, get some sleep and be sure to wake up with an appetite.
[He chuckled softly. He wanted to pick a good place but he needed to mentally catalog what was out there and what seemed to be the best choice for a day like today.
He leaned down to kiss the other man, smiling all the while.]
Yes, yes. 8am, on the dot.
[He didn't look at the clock but he was only guessing that it was around 6am by now. Either way, he would do as asked. He gently pushed Diluc down to the bed with a hand on the his chest.]
Now, get some sleep and be sure to wake up with an appetite.
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