Chapter Text
Diluc woke to Kaeya coughing again.
It had been a regular thing. After all, the panaceas weren’t meant to be used repeatedly. They weren’t really meant to be used at all, really. The fact that they had had to rely on them had already been a bad sign. They needed to make sure Kaeya was okay.
Pushing himself up, Diluc swung his legs over the edge of the bed and walked towards his brother’s bed. He wasn’t even really thinking. Hurrying to his side, Diluc sat down on the mattress. The blankets sank beneath him. Kaeya lay there, still coughing with his eyes squeezed shut. Panting, he tossed his head to the side. Again, in his sleep, he coughed. “Kaeya.” Diluc murmured. Gently, he touched his brother’s shoulder.
Eyes snapping open, Kaeya stared up at the ceiling. Reaching over, Diluc fixed the bandages on his head. The day before, Kaeya had decided to get up instead of staying on bedrest. When his legs finally gave out on him, he’d gone falling down the stairs. Whacked his head on the banister. In all likelihood, he’d gain another scar. For now, they had bandages wrapped around his head. At least it covered the eye he kept hidden, because otherwise…
Sighing, Diluc repeated, “Kaeya, it’s alright.”
His hand stayed on his brother’s shoulder. Blinking, panicked, Kaeya glanced around the room. He tried to shove himself up. A shudder passed through his arm. He almost hit his head against the headboard behind him. Before he could, Diluc shoved his hand under Kaeya’s head. The wood smacked into his knuckles instead. Better his hand than Kaeya’s head. He didn’t need an even worse concussion.
“Diluc.” Kaeya murmured. Tangling his fingers in Diluc’s sleep shirt, panting, he relaxed back against the bed. His hand went to his head. Gingerly, he brushed his fingers against the bandages. He winced. Diluc pulled his hand away, “Sorry, sorry.”
“It’s fine. You’re fine.” Pulling away, Diluc slowly cracked his knuckles one by one. The small snapping sound split the air, repeating. Glancing at the movement, Kaeya sighed. Oddly, his shoulders relaxed. Diluc glanced at him.
“Sorry, sorry. You—you used to do that all the time.” Kaeya started. Crossing his arms, he closed his eyes. “When we were younger. When you decided that everything was fine, you would do that. It’s…it’s dumb. Sorry.”
“Quit apologizing.” Reaching over, Diluc lit the nearby candle. Soft, golden light filled the room. It rippled on the wine-purple curtains. Standing, he went over to the nearby desk. There was a tea set there, and all he needed to do to boil the water was press a hand to it. Visions came in handy, sometimes. Besides, relearning the control he had once so carefully cultivated was…a necessity. With his other hand and the practice of a bartender, he pulled out two mugs, two sticks of hot chocolate, and then stuck them in the mugs.
The water was boiled in less than a minute. Pouring water over the chocolate—Kaeya’s first, then his own—Diluc stirred it around. Then, he returned to Kaeya’s side.
“Sit up. Hot chocolate.” Blinking, Kaeya dragged himself upright. He stared at the proffered mug. It was blue. “Kaeya.”
“Right, right,” Taking the mug, Kaeya pulled his legs up and gave Diluc some space he didn’t actually need on the bed. Diluc sat in that space, anyways. Another shiver passed through Kaeya. Watching him carefully, Diluc blew on and then sipped his own drink.
The two of them said nothing, drinking their hot chocolate with only the chirping of crickets to keep them company.
Lumine, Paimon, and their friends arrived just in time to witness Kaeya having a tachycardia attack.
Unfortunately, Kaeya was having his attack in the middle of the foyer. Sitting on the floor with his brother’s head in his lap and Jean holding his hand just off to the side, Diluc sighed. “This is getting old.” Kaeya said, mimicking his own thoughts perfectly. “It’s been a week.”
“It’s only been a week.” Jean reminded them both. “That poison was meant to be capable of killing a horse. The fact that you survived is only thanks to Adelinde and those panaceas.”
“Yeah, and that’s something else we need to think about.” Kaeya mumbled. Jean glanced at Diluc. Eyes narrowing, she arched a brow.
You didn’t tell him? The question, and the judgement, was clear enough.
Scowling back at her, Diluc turned away when the Manor door opened. “Lumine, Paimon. Friends.” He welcomed.
As per usual, the Traveller had arrived with her…admittedly odd assortment of friends. One of them was a man Diluc was pretty sure was Fatui, along with a Liyuean funeral parlor assistant, a man with fox ears and a matching tail dressed in Sumeran wear, and Albedo. Somehow, Paimon was the odd one out. Turning to the funeral assistant, Lumine elbowed him. Then, she started signing. He started speaking a moment later. “Sorry for not showing up… Kokomi was not available, nor were several of the other healers….Baizhu was otherwise occupied. This is…Childe….Zhongli…and Tighnari. You know…Albedo already.” The odd pauses where Lumine was clearly signing a name were almost humorous.
(Yes, Diluc knew that much of Lumine’s signing, because he had learnt the alphabet of it while Paimon was absent. Or eating. She was often otherwise occupied. Clearly, Lumine was frustrated, but in a fond way.)
Zhongli, the parlor assistant, continued signing, “We came as soon as we got…Bennett’s letter about the situation. Though, we were also contacted by someone else. We needed to make a stop in Fontaine along the way to pick up this.”
Crossing over to Diluc, Lumine held out a letter. She then nudged Kaeya in the shoulder with the toe of her boot. He looked up at her.
“It’s a letter from the Iudex himself. We dealt with the whole investigation.” Shrugging, Lumine continued through Kaeya’s mouth, “Sorry that it wasn’t quick enough.”
“Ah, no worry.” Kaeya huffed. Shrugging, he paused and then squeezed his eyes shut. “Sorry, sorry, I’m fine. Just…dizzy, I guess.”
“Nothing to be concerned about.” Lumine said. Through Zhongli. At this point, it was kind of entertaining, hearing a deep man’s voice that wasn’t Lumine and knowing it was still her words, anyways.
Unfortunately, it seemed that the Fatui agent was the one who could provide the most help.
Tighnari, the Sumeran man, did try, to his credit. However, he was also more curious about the poison itself. Albedo was also curious, so the two of them investigated what they had of the poison. It was diluted by the drink. Neither of the two seemed to care. As for Zhongli, he wasn’t…very useful. Instead, he began speaking with Adelinde involving some of the artifacts in the Manor. Whatever. Diluc didn’t care what he did.
He did, however, care what the Fatuus in his house did. The man’s name was Childe, or at least that was the name that he went by. Lumine didn’t seem to mind. Paimon was off elsewhere.
Standing in Kaeya’s room, arms crossed, Childe watched Lumine as she signed. Unfortunately, he had to be the translator. Turning one of the panaceas over in her hands, Lumine frowned. She turned to Childe. Already, her hands were moving—faster than they were with Zhongli. Even Kaeya was having trouble keeping up, and Diluc wasn’t faring any better. Somehow, Childe kept up, “I’d be careful with these things. Only use them when there’s no other option. They can heal, but there’s also some other consequences.” She signed something else.
Frowning, Childe said, “I don’t know how to translate that. Sorry.”
Pausing, Lumine touched her chin for a second. Then, she started to sign again. Childe watched her. A moment later, he nodded, “If someone’s delved into the Abyss—the phrase she uses was ‘touched by it’—they can have it. It won’t be lethal, but it won’t be fun, either. I recognize it.”
“You recognize it?” Diluc asked, turning to Lumine. Nodding, she laid a hand over her heart, then began signing again.
“I do.” She continued signing. Frowning, Childe shifted on his feet.
“What is she saying?”
“She’s talking to me.” Glancing his way, Childe shrugged. Then, he pulled a bag around and began to rifle through it. Watching him, eyes narrowed, Diluc continued to stare at him. Childe held out a small bottle—not to Diluc, but to Kaeya. “I know what poison Camembert used. One of Dottore’s inventions. This is an antidote.”
Kaeya reached for it, but Diluc snatched it from Childe’s hand before he had the chance. “Diluc.” Kaeya growled. “Hand that here.”
“One second.” Looking over the bottle, just barely larger than a vial and shaped similarly, Diluc glanced up at Childe. “You’re sided with the Fatui. Why should we trust you?”
Childe stared at him with those oddly dull eyes of his. “You shouldn’t. Do you really have a choice?”
Lumine stepped in, elbowing Childe to the side. Standing between him and Diluc, she stared up at him. Then, voice quiet and raspy, she forced out, “Do you…trust me?” The words were stuttering, hoarse.
Diluc stared down at her.
Turning, he handed the antidote to Kaeya.
Then, looking at Childe, he pointed at the man.
“If that’s poison, you’re going to pay.” He threatened. Staring at him, Childe shrugged. His Delusion clung to his belt. Glancing down, Childe adjusted his jacket to hide the damned thing.
“Diluc, relax.” Kaeya said. “Childe, why don’t you and I go outside in the hallway? I think Lumine wants to talk with Diluc, here. Besides, I’d like to talk about this with you more—the poison and the antidote. Maybe we can make it more often.”
“Of course.” Childe said. Looking sharply at Diluc, Kaeya led him out. Childe paused at the door. He glanced over his shoulder. His and Diluc’s gazes met again. “I’m not here to hurt your brother. You may not believe me, now or ever. But I can’t blame you for it.”
With that, he left. Then, Lumine socked Diluc in the shoulder. He turned to her. Staring at him, Lumine growled out, “Fool.”
“Fool?” He echoed.
Nodding, Lumine said, “Fool. You. I—” Her throat bobbed. Vocal chords locking, she did a sort of half-tilt of her head. Stuttering hurt her. Talking hurt her. Diluc knew that much. So, even despite the anger, he felt some part of him recoil. Shaking off the pain, Lumine continued, “I trust him.”
“I can’t imagine why. He’s part of the Fatui.” Crossing his arms, Diluc leaned back on his heels. He watched her.
She looked at him. A long moment passed. Pulling something from her own satchel, a small pouch of Schneznayan make. Pulling out a small hard candy—no, not a hard candy, a throat lozenge—Lumine untied it and then popped it in her mouth. She tucked the trash in her pouch, then opened her mouth.
“You don’t need to—”
“I’m talking—because it’s important.” Nose wrinkling, Lumine swallowed and continued. Diluc waited for her. “He will make…the right choice. When it’s time. Mo—drive. Fa—amily. Abyss trauma. Besides. Re—minds me of—my brother.”
Diluc couldn’t help the flinch.
Lumine raised her eyebrows, crossing her own arms. “My point.” He turned away, looking out the window. Anyone who had run into Lumine—in Mondstadt, in Liyue, in Inazuma and Sumeru and Fontaine—knew about her searching for her brother. Some time back, she had confided in him about Aether’s current whereabouts. How she was pretty sure, from information she’d gotten from Dainsleif, he had ended up with the Abyss Order and was working with him. She’d spoken of the unknown god, of their separation, of the loss of their wings.
A hand settled on his shoulder. Turning, Diluc met her gaze. Her eyes were a sharp, clear gold, far brighter than Childe’s dulled blue. Maybe that has to do with what she mentioned earlier with the panacea. Maybe she and Childe can handle some of it, he thought, searching her face. Another moment passed. Then, face softening, she smiled at him. Her thumb rubbed across his shoulder. She pulled back, raising her hands and signing.
“Wayward brothers.” He sighed. Turning to look out the window, arms crossed, he mumbled, “Right.”
Through the window, he could see Tighnari, Zhongli, and Childe leaving.
Jean found him upstairs a few hours after Lumine took her group, except for Albedo, and left for their camp for the night.
Albedo wanted to stay with Kaeya. Honestly, Diluc wasn’t about to look into that too much. Sending him to find Lumine so quickly right after seeing Kaeya almost die…well, Diluc wouldn’t judge him. He was just going to let that be. He was just glad that Childe wasn’t in his house anymore.
Lumine had her reasons for trusting him. However, unlike her, Diluc couldn’t do that. If Childe decided to use that Delusion against them, there was only so much that Diluc or any Vision user would be able to do. Lumine was more powerful than them, like it or not. She wasn’t quite an Archon, but she was…something.
“You haven’t told him?” Jean marched over. Standing above him, arms crossed, she stared at him. Her hair was down for once, falling around her shoulders. She’d been staying at the Manor, too, in case her Dandelion Breeze could help Kaeya during his tachycardic episodes. Or, worse, if Kaeya suddenly had another seizure.
“Why are we playing the pronouns game, exactly? There were a lot of men—”
“You know who I’m talking about.” Bending down, Jean grabbed one of Crepus’ old journals and whacked Diluc on the top of the head with it. The leatherbound pages creaked. Flailing, Diluc snatched it away from her. He clutched it to his chest. “Kaeya. You haven’t told him you were investigating. You haven’t even told him that Crepus has journals to investigate.”
“He’s the Ordo’s spy captain, isn’t he? He should know.” Diluc replied bitterly. He didn’t look up at her. Instead, he looked down at the journal. His father’s handwriting was carved into the old, brown leather. Tracing the letters with a finger, Diluc sighed. Then, he turned to look at her. “What would I even tell him? He knows what I would say.”
“What? That you know he’s from Khaenri’ah? That my father knew? That a few other people knew, but never said anything? What if he only knows that you knew?” She replied, arms crossed again. Eyes sharp, she crouched and then began going through the other journals. There were several of them, at least two or three for every year that they had had Kaeya. Each one was labelled, too. There were a few for the years before Kaeya had come to them. Even less for the years before Diluc had been born. He’d known Crepus had had journals, but… “What have you even been doing?”
“Reading through the old ones. It’s slow going.” Diluc said. Again, Jean snatched the journal he was holding from his hands. Glaring at her, he started, “Can you quit that—”
Flipping to a random page, Jean stood up, took a step away, and then started to read, “End of Winter. Kaeya is nine. It’s been a year since he arrived. In the time since, I’ve had to build him a small compartment in his room to—”
“Jean, quit that.” Standing, Diluc went to grab the journal out of her hands. Sidestepping him, Jean grabbed his wrist and spun him, shoving him to the side. She paced away, eyes still on the book. “Jean.”
“—let him store food. I don’t know why he still stores food. He’s hoarded it ever since he arrived here. I wonder if, perhaps, they have a food shortage where he came from.” She paused, eyes flicking over the page.
Diluc tried to grab the journal again. He didn’t dare use his Vision. Neither did Jean, apparently, or else he would have been blocked with a wall of Anemo. Even without it, though, Jean blocked him again. Another sidestep, a feint to the left, and then she was on the other side of the room from him. Crossing his arms, Diluc watched her sourly.
“Adelinde has been making him as many sugar cookies as he can eat. Diluc has been enjoying them, too, though he never secrets them away for himself. I’ve caught him doing that several times for Kaeya. Thankfully, the new compartment I installed involves using mist flowers to lengthen the shelf life of Kaeya’s stored items. Hopefully, one day, he’ll learn to trust us enough not to have to store food anymore.”
Jean’s voice trailed off slightly. Standing there, one hand raising to brush her lips like she wanted to cover her mouth but aborted the motion most of the way, she sighed. Her eyes flicked up to Diluc. “He still has a compartment in the Ordo. It’s in his desk. I don’t know how or when he installed it.” He said, shrugging. When she looked at him curiously, he added, “I was…trying to see if he had any information in there. About Khaenri’ah.”
“There’s a note in here. About…hot chocolate?” Jean asked. Shoving his hands in his jacket pockets, Diluc shrugged again.
“Favorite drink. Even more than wines. Crepus…used to make it when we were younger and needed comfort.” He stepped over to her. This time, he didn’t try to take it from her. Instead, he traced his fingers over the parchment. His father’s handwriting was loopy, curled in an achingly familiar way. The ink had splotches in some places, where Crepus had pressed the quill to the paper too hard. The yellowed edges were flaking away in some areas. Even a delicate touch could crumble it.
Sighing, Diluc turned and left the room.
Kaeya was sitting up in his bed, holding the letter, when Diluc and Jean found him.
Looking up, he smiled in that fake way. “Hey! Apparently the Iudex writes his own apology letters. Turns out that Louis Camembert is actually a Fontainian ambassador. This poor Iudex—Neuvillette, I believe—just keeps on…apologizing.” He sat there, looking over the letter. Then, very quietly, he mumbled, “I wonder if I should let Neuvillette know that Louis technically tried to commit regicide? Does it count as regicide if it was unintentional? Is it regicide if it wasn’t politically motivated?”
The words processed a moment later. Turning to look at him, Diluc glanced at Jean and then asked, “Does it count as what?” Kaeya paused and then looked up. He paused.
Mouth drawn into a thin line, Kaeya said, “Oops?”