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The last day of the Weinlesefest had arrived. For most people it meant celebrating to the fullest, as if there was no tomorrow. But in fact, everything indicated there would be a tomorrow and that tomorrow was a holiday for people to wear off their hangovers and recover before the beginning of the week.
However, for those on duty it meant before they could look forward to the time off, they must first assist a few excessively intoxicated people who did not know their own limits to find their way back home.
Many subscribed to catastrophic thoughts of not knowing when they would ever get to taste the wine of the festival again (a year later, exactly) and used it as a pretext to over-indulge. Others had the excuse of the following day being an unofficial hangover holiday - a fact now endangered by Timaeus and Albedo’s recent creation of an Extra Strong Sobriety Potion. But none of that mattered, for the day was still today, the festival was still going strong. Families played, people danced, drank and rejoiced.
The Anemo Archon, the people said, had blessed them with a sunny, warm day, though in truth the weather did not even fall under his jurisdiction. But during these festivities, however, all good things were attributed to their deity.
During the festival even the most hardworking Knights of the Ordo found a moment to enjoy with their friends and loved ones.
A secluded table with a spread fit for royalty was where Lisa and Jean enjoyed their Angel’s Share tasting menu and their rare time alone.
A quiet corner with no people, but a great view, was where Sucrose found a place to breathe and relax.
The edge of the crowd surrounding the stage of the festival was where Albedo took a bit of time off from his sobriety experiments with Timaeus to observe the festivities.
The center of that circle, center-stage, was where the Spark Knight and Cavalry Captain had been drawing all eyes to them as they giggled and jumped around, following the choreography of the little folk-dance challenge happening.
An empty table close by was where the former Cavalry Captain found a place to discreetly sit and watch, all the while politely refusing the offers to try out several types of ‘a spectacular new vintage’ a few up-and-coming wine-makers brought over in the hopes of attracting Diluc’s attention for possible partnerships. The glasses piled up on his table, untouched, as his gaze was trained on the little girl and the flamboyant man on stage.
His eyes were on them when Kaeya picked Klee up in his arms and celebrated their victory. They chanted their victory song while he set her up on his shoulders in the exactly same way Crepus used to do with them as children.
Even the practiced motion was as if watching his father move. The chant was the same they used to sing as kids whenever a moment of victory came about, and the bittersweet pain of memory and loss was all that was left in his field of vision. Diluc’s mouth felt dry and he reached out blindly for the first cup he could find on the table, downing it in one gulp and absolutely forgetting it was wine. Very strong wine.
~~
Kaeya was a Knight, a Captain, but he had not been one of those on duty that day. He was blissfully free to have fun and make use of his Ordo colleagues in dragging *his* ass home if he got drunk from all the marvelous offerings of different wines around.
But for now, he ran around with Klee over his shoulders, his hands holding firmly onto her ankles to make sure she would not fly off anywhere. There was a flutter of nostalgia in his chest. He remembered Crepus doing this with him and Diluc when they were kids.
At first, when he arrived, he had been too shy to participate. He just watched the tall man run around with Diluc on his shoulders, and their smiles and laughter pulled strings in his heart he did not even know he had. He felt jealous, but too embarrassed to ask to have his turn and join in.
The following year he had been at home enough to promptly jump up and climb Crepus’ shoulders as if he were about to pilot a giant war machine. To them, their father looked so tall and powerful, like nothing could ever bring him down.
The following years he and Diluc had both battled over their chance to see the world from above for a few moments, and it was one of their favorite games, singing their victory song and celebrating together.
When they became too big to be carried around the games had changed, but Crepus’ willingness to indulge them and run around with them had remained.
Kaeya had vowed to himself he would do that with his children someday, if he ever had any. While he had not had any of his own - and was not sure he ever would - Klee was as precious to him as anyone could ever be. To him she was family already and her glee and giggles of joy lifted his heart up like few other things could.
“Why little miss, you are getting heavy! I wonder if it is all that Fisherman’s Toast you’ve been having!” He teased
Klee giggled. “Klee is getting tall and strong like a powerful knight! And The Fisherman’s Toast helps Klee grow!”
“Indeed it does!” Kaeya chuckled. “We should go get ourselves some celebratory drinks and rest a bit, what do you think?...”
Before he could get an answer from her though, another small girl blocked his path, arm outstretched, her hand splayed out in a gesture for him to stop. Diona. And She looked furious. Not that that was anything new.
“Stop right there, Mister!”
Kaeya felt Klee shifting on his shoulders, likely wanting to join her friend, so set her down.
“Uhm…yes? How can I help?”
“Despite our business competition and differences in thought I have respected Master Diluc for being able to abstain and run his business with a clear head, but now look at that!” She pointed accusingly to the table where Diluc had been sitting. He was asleep, head resting over his crossed arms, resting on the table. The telltale signs of purple lips and droplets of dried wine on his cheek were too evident to miss. Not only that, but many of the mugs and chalices on his table had been knocked over, likely by the drunken stupor that had led him to crash asleep half on top of the table. They could see, even from a distance, that Diluc was mumbling in his sleep.
“Diluc was drinking?!” Kaeya’s smiling mask froze for a second, a slight crack of worry visible through it. He knew well of Diluc’s choices for no drinking, the way it affected him emotionally being one of them. If this had taken place - in public no less - something serious must have happened.
“Aww, Klee thinks the strange grown up looks friendly when he is asleep. And less angry.”
The words made Kaeya snap out of his own stupor and he smiled “He does, doesn’t he? Klee could you help me with something? Could you look for Albedo and ask him if he still has any bottles of his Extra Strong Sobriety Potion? It would really come in handy right about now.”
Klee jumped and nodded at once “Yes! Klee can help! Diona, come along too!”
Diona nodded “I would like to commend your brother on his invention as well. I would like to buy a pack and ensure a lifetime subscription to be delivered weekly to my house.” She nodded to herself, but her eyes snapped back to Kaeya for a moment. “You should stop being a bad influence for Master Diluc!” She made a soft indignant sound before following Klee.
“Me? What did *I* do? I was just winning a dance competition…” Kaeya shook his head, approaching Diluc slowly. Gladly the attendance in the festival was winding down and people were occupied enough with their own enjoyment to notice Diluc. Good thing too, or else he would be the talk of town the next day. He seemed to be a favored topic of gossip as it was already. “Diluc?” Kaeya asked as he stopped beside the other. Diluc was even snoring lightly.
The Cavalry Captain sighed and crouched down to be on the same level as his estranged brother. “Diluc.” He said more firmly, poking his shoulder. The touch made the Master of Dawn Winery grunt and shift a little, his lips moving with some barely audible words. Kaeya leaned in a little to try and listen.
“We stand strong…la la la…”
Oh. It was their little victory chant. The one he had been singing with Klee. The one Crepus had taught them as kids. Kaeya’s expression softened and his heart mellowed to the point he wished he could pinch Diluc’s cheeks or give him a hug. But that wouldn’t do. Not while Diluc’s reputation as an upstanding citizen was on the line. Kaeya would instead choose to tease him about his drunken relapse later on, when the sobriety potion kicked in.
He stood up again and looked around. There was no way of waking Diluc up right now, nor any form of carrying him away in a remotely dignified manner with so many people around. Kaeya also needed to wait for Albedo to hopefully bring him a vial of his miracle potion. Therefore, there was nothing else to do but to sit down next to Diluc and enjoy the samples of wine still left standing on the table as he passed the time. In any other situation it would have been a joyous moment for a wine connoisseur like himself, but right now, he was feeling like a big brother taking care of his teenage sibling in an alcoholic coma. It did not mean he could not have a little fun, though.
Kaeya repositioned Diluc to be sitting up straight and leaning against the back of the chair. He snorted to himself as he played with Diluc’s limp arms until he managed to get them crossed over his chest. Those closed eyes made him look as if he were in a permanent little sneer of superiority and Kaeya felt it was quite in-character.
Whenever someone showed up, he would discreetly grab onto the back of Diluc’s head, using the thick head of red hair as his puppet strings to make Diluc nod to whoever spoke to him. It was not all that unlikely for Diluc to refuse to waste time with words sometimes, so Kaeya would just discretely produce a deep “Mhm..” in his throat and hope people believed it came from the man next to him. A true masterpiece in puppetry.
“Kaeya.” A soft voice sounded close to him. Kaeya was so immersed in his role as puppet master that he made Diluc nod and said a little “hmm” mid sip, one that nearly went down the wrong pipe when he realized the voice was Albedo’s. “Oh! Hah, there you are.”
Albedo watched him with an amused look in his eyes. “I wonder what he will think of this when he wakes up.”
“He need not know,” Kaeya smiled sweetly. “So…do you have the potion?”
“I’m sorry…I do not. I came here to tell you in person. We sold out all our stock. So unless we can convince someone to sell a bottle back to us, you will have to wait for me to brew some more. I could make an emergency batch.” Albedos’s eyes landed on Diluc, a frown creasing his usually smooth brow. “He does not drink usually, does he?”
“No, he does not. It got me a bit worried about why he did. I think I should…be a proper brother and take care of him…” There was a mix of uncertainty and eagerness in Kaeya’s voice. Of course he did not want Diluc to be feeling poorly, but a chance to do what family would…it made him excited to be able to help, and even a little guilty too, because he knew he was enjoying this a little too much.
Albedo chuckled, his smile tender. “You look very sweet and endearing being a good brother. And you should help him, yes. Take him home, stay there until he is well. I will bring the potion to you as soon as I have it ready, alright?”
Kaeya cleared his throat. Albedo was one of the few people who could make him feel shy. “I’m sorry to make you work *and* leave you alone on our last day off.”
Albedo shook his head “Not at all. I get to be around you every day. I think it is a fitting end for the Weinlesefest that you get to be with family. I just wish Diluc was conscious for it.”
“If he were, then I would likely not get to spend it with him though…” Kaeya smirked, but there was clear sadness in his eyes, only visible for those who knew him well enough to notice.
“Now…do not exaggerate. He did invite you to dinner the other day and you were the one who nearly refused.” They both knew the relationship between Diluc and Kaeya was tentative and fragile, but each day a tiny step was taken, and it should not be taken for granted.
“Fine…fine…I’ll just sit here for a while longer until there are less people around, and then figure out a way to carry him back there. This man can’t even have the decency to be a slobbering, babbling drunk; he just passes out cold.”
~~
It had taken longer than he had hoped, but once the festival stands were closed and most people retired for the night, Kaeya had gotten Geoff to help him load Diluc onto a wheelbarrow. He had also reminded the man of the consequences of exposing his employer and after promises of discretion and secrecy, Kaeya set off.
The path down and up slopes all the way to the Dawn Winery had been a test of Kaeya’s determination.
Damn the Darknight Hero for choosing brawn over lithe agility. But he would not give up. Huffing and puffing Kaeya had made his way to the Winery, with a much deserved break to take out his Kamera and take a photo of himself and his unsuspecting ‘bro’.
When would he ever get such a chance again? And surely this picture would never see the light of day if Diluc played by the rules, so no harm would come to anyone. This would be useful for future blackmail if Diluc refused to let him taste the new vintage they were producing at the winery, or refused to let him take leftovers home whenever he was invited by Adelinde for a meal again.
Basically, it was a guarantee for a joyful life, if it became necessary to resort to such methods. Deep down, however, Kaeya hoped these refusals and grudging invitations were slowly becoming more of an act between them, not to lose face, than true distaste for each other’s presence.
Since Kaeya had decided to make this a covert operation, he was also intent on not worrying Adelinde or Elzer with the shocking news of Diluc being drunk as a skunk, so he chose the backdoor.
He paused, poling Diluc’s cheek in the hopes of discovering he was awake.
“Diluc…Are you pretending to be asleep? If you are…I promise I will not be mad if you wake up right now.” Kaeya sighed as he put Diluc’s arms over his shoulders and pulled him out of the cart, ready to carry him piggyback style. It was the only possible way.
“Less Fisherman’s Toasts for Klee and less Pile ‘Em Ups for you…holy Archon.” Kaeya refused to go down without a fight, however. He made his way up the steps and into the house with less grace and more noise than he had originally hoped for.
Finally the end was in sight. The empty sofa was waiting patiently for them in the living room. Kaeya walked straight over, plopping Diluc down like a sack of potatoes. “Victory…” He panted, resting his hands over his knees to catch his breath.
He looked up at Diluc, slumped over himself, half falling to the side on the sofa, and could not help but smile. For all his grunting and complaining, his heart suddenly felt full at the idea he was just here helping family. He was doing something he could have done throughout their teenage years - if Diluc hadn’t been such a stickler for rules and later on distanced himself from him. He could have bailed his brother out, carried his drunken behind home safely, been his wing man. Well…perhaps not that. Perhaps…Kaeya could have helped him run away from the swarm of suitors instead…yes that felt more likely.
He could have been all of that. He still wanted to be. Did they still have time?
Kaeya sighed and pulled Diluc up, sitting down beside him. His altruistic gesture meant that instead of Diluc plopping down on his face again, he could rest on Kaeya’s shoulder, even if it meant getting wine drool on his fancy jacket.
“Bluh…”
Kaeya shifted his attention as he heard Diluc babble again. He leaned in a little, wondering if he would get to hear another bit of their victory song.
“We shhtand s..strong. We sstand togetherrr…”
The slurred words brought another nostalgic smile to Kaeya’s face. “We do stand together, even if you do not acknowledge it.” Kaeya patted Diluc’s knee gently before shifting to make sure his head was resting comfortably on the fluffy fur on Kaeya’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I made you sad enough to drink today.”
“I rather think what made him drink was remembering happy times, not sad ones.” The well-known voice was low and soft. Adelinde. Of course. Who did he think he was to manage to sneak into that house without being noticed? “Perhaps soon enough you two will start making new happy memories together, instead of relying only on the past.”
Kaeya looked up at her, his visible eye looking so hopeful and full of emotion, he resembled a young boy again. He noticed she carried a blanket in her hands, and she promptly spread it over both his and Diluc’s legs.
“I think it will be a while before he wakes up, if I recall how it went with the Fire Water event,” she told him. “I’ll leave you a snack and a cup of tea on the side table.” Although her features betrayed no surprise at seeing him here - at least not in the dark - Kaeya could hear the eagerness in her voice. He knew she liked to have him over, and he would be lying if he said he did not enjoy being back home again, even if it brought a small amount of pain with it every time he lay eyes on a room that brought back memories that told him Crepus belonged there with them, and not buried and forgotten. But at least he was not forgotten by them.
If it was hard on him, he wondered how suffocating it must be for Diluc at times.
“Thank you, Adelinde…” Kaeya smiled, watching her retreat silently as she always did. He could hear Diluc still mumbling softly. Had he just heard the word brother? His heart clenched.
“Still…brother…?” The drunken mumble echoed again.
Kaeya shifted, sliding down on the soft a little so he could rest the back of his head. If he was going to be a proper sibling and see Diluc through the hangover, vomiting and headache, he might as well settle in for the night as well.
He found a comfortable position to both serve as a pillow for his drunk-as-a-skunk brother as well as a viable way to rest. All the while, there was an amused smile on his lips. He could not remember the last time he had taken care of Diluc, but he did remember being defended by him many times when they were younger, be it from bullies, or beasts or even himself. He could return a bit of the favor this time.
“I will still be your brother, even when you are sober.”