Lady Lampgrass Blossom (Maid Kaeya for Diluc’s Birthday)

by CielsFics

Summary:

Due to Tiffany G's candidacy for the OTW board that runs ao3, this fic might be removed soon for private-viewing only.

Happy Birthday Diluc! Please enjoy your present; a new maid named Lady Lampgrass! What? It's just Kaeya in a maid outfit?! Oh, well, enjoy anyway!

Smut.

--- Day 0: Evening

 

Kaeya’s cold lilac-blue eye flashed in the dark of the room. Glinting with malice as he took in the report in his hand. It was past drinking hours--Angel’s Share had closed and Diluc had gone off for the night to do his usual skulking about Mondstadt’s many roads and secret paths.

 

Whilst the Darknight Hero was doing his self-imposed duty, Master Diluc Ragvindr of Dawn Winery was in quite a bit of danger.

 

One of his little birds had told him of a rather harrowing tale. A merchant, plump with gluttony and bloated with pride, driven mad with envy, was now after the young, handsome, wealthy bachelor’s life. He was in every way, Diluc’s opposite. Old and worn-out, having gone through many wives and lovers, the typical sordid tale. That and his business was in decline to boot. 

 

It’s all Dawn Winery’s fault , is it? What a boring way of thinking. Still, sending an assassin or two out with whatever wealth you had left was a rather interesting move. It implied that the man had more connections to the underworld that anyone had previously perceived. He could be a valuable source of information.

 

Not Kaeya though--he could smell a rat a mile away.

 

Thankfully, he had just the solution. Whilst he, Kaeya Alberich of Ordo Favonious was well-known and unwelcome at the Winery’s grounds--someone else was completely inconspicuous. Marching over to his closet in the corner, he pulled out a small box, a smile curling the corners of his lips. Ah, he’d been saving this for a special occasion, perhaps that mysterious “Valentines” or “White day” or “Christmas” that sweet Aether had told him about.

 

But since this was an emergency, he supposed this would have to suffice. That, and it would be a rather slow week otherwise.

 

This was going to be interesting .

--- Day 1: Morning

 

“I...I see.” Adeline’s hesitation was obvious. “But M-Mas...Sir Kaeya...”

 

Old habits truly did die hard. Despite Diluc having expressed his excommunication of Master Kaeya, Adeline found herself unable to truly stop calling him such.

 

“Ahaha, no, no…” Kaeya laughed, turning, the skirt that sat atop his chiseled hips spinning with his movement. “It’s Lady Lampgress from today onward, Miss Adeline.”

 

Adeline sighed deeply as Hillie and Moco stifled their giggles. The other maids didn’t fare much better, all either looking away, or looking right at the tanned man, all covering their mouths with a shade of pink in their faces.

 

“I...suppose if it’s just for until after our guests have left...” Adeline relented, looking at Hillie and Moco sternly. 

 

What was she saying? A few days? One day was too much! What was Master Kaeya thinking? Was this some sort of prank between brothers? It had to be...no, Master Kaea couldn’t be so free.

 

Hillie didn’t seem to notice. “His legs are so long…”

 

“Isn’t that open chest too much?” Neither did Moco.

 

Unfortunately, they’d said what the other young ladies must have also been thinking. The flustered looks and gazes only worsened. Kaeya put a hand on his hip, raising the other in a gesture.

 

“Oh, is it?” he questioned, head turning to Moco.

 

“Eek!” Moco broke into a laugh. 

 

“Well then, I suppose we can do this…” Kaeya smirked. “Seeing as we’ll be having a poorly timed visit from our Snezhnayan friend in two days, I’m going to assume you have something planned for his reception Miss Adeline?”

 

Hille knelt, following long, long legs up up under the skirt that was far too short to pass as one of theirs. She stifled a squeal and smacked Mocco, who also knelt to have a look. A couple other maids followed.

“Yes, we do.” Adeline nodded, before snapping at the rest of the staff. “Stop that!”

 

Kaeya turned, smiling at the ladies.

 

“Kyaa!” Hillie was the first to scream.

 

“Good. I have a plan.” Kaeya chuckled, turning back to Adeline. “Also, isn’t something rather special happening soon? I think we best prepare for that too. The decorations and arrangements for the visitors will do just fine.”

Adeline felt the pit in her stomach open up as Kaeya explained his plan. This was going to be a terrible idea. Master Diluc would definitely not approve of this. Still, it was...difficult to refuse Master Kaeya.

 

“Ah...how did you both grow up to be like this...?” She withered.

 

She remembered them playing dress-up when they were children. Sometimes, Diluc even went as far as putting ribbons and flowers in kaeya’s hair and asking him if he would wear a skirt.

 

But this…

 

How did they become like this? Had she raised them wrong? Oh Master Crepus...if only you were still here...

 

“Hm?” Kaeya looked up from the detailed layout of the manor he had prepared and laid out on the table.

 

“No, it’s nothing, Master Kaeya.” Adeline said, then gasped, covering her mouth. “Oh-”

 

“She said it, she said it!” Hillie and Moco laughed.

 

It was going to be a long four days…

--- Day 1: Afternoon

 

“Have you been to Dawn Winery recently?” Nimrod asked.

 

Aether had just finished another short errand, he was surprised that yet another person had asked about Dawn Winery. There was a new rumor going around town, that a ‘dangerous beauty’ had taken up residence in dawn Winery. It had started seemingly just this morning, when a couple of delivery men arrived with the latest shipment of Dandelion wine. Aether remembered--protecting that transport balloon as it floated through the canyon had been one of his more annoying errands.

 

“Ah, I’d really like to go and see if the rumors are true.” Nimrod replied, “And...well...you know. I believe someone else might want to know about Master Diluc’s new flame.”

 

‘A new flame’ is one of the things people were saying about the ‘mysterious beauty’. From what Aether had gathered, she’d started working at the winery recently and her hard work had quickly caught the attention of everyone around her. This included Master Diluc. The wealthiest bachelor in Mondstadt.

 

Donna had been the most devastated by the news. 

 

“Well, why don’t you go then?” Donna interjected.

 

Nimrod flinched, the Cecilias that he had requested from her gripped tightly in his hand. Any tighter and the delicate flowers would’ve withered. “W-well…”

“Go on.” Donna folded her arms crossly. “I’ll be sure to let your wife know where you’ve been and why, so she doesn’t have to worry.”

Aether swallowed a little. “Don’t tell me...those flowers are for…”

“No, no!” Nimrod defended. “They’re for my wife of course!”

 

Aether sighed through his nose. As far as he knew, Nimrod’s relationship with his wife had been rocky during Windblume. Still, he did help make that gift for her--the little fairy house he had to get materials for--so maybe they were doing better? He was buying Cecilias for her, so that should be it. Come to think of it, it was Kaeya that asked him to help Nimrod out, wasn’t it? Hmmh...did Kaeya know about Diluc’s ‘new flame’?

 

“Master Diluc!” Paimon suddenly exclaimed.

 

“Ah-!” Nimrod flustered, quickly looking around before spotting the flaming red hair, heading right for the flower shop. “Well, I’ve got to go! These Cecilias won’t last forever!”

 

Donna’s shoulders shivered and she clasped her hands together at the sight of Diluc approaching. “Master Diluc!”

 

Diluc smiled--a sight that Aether had also grown accustomed to when he wasn’t on the hunt for something, or chasing a lead. “Good morning.”

 

He then turned to address Aether and his little pixie.

 

“You’re here too?” He asked, looking a little concerned. “Don’t tell me; here to buy flowers?”

 

Diluc’s manner of speech was always interesting. When he was addressing someone familiar, he spoke frankly and without pretense. When he was addressing someone he knew by acquaintance (and was keeping secrets from), he was very respectful and disarming. His mannerisms reflected this too, when he was speaking to a guest or a fellow Mondstadtian outside of his ‘underground’ contacts, he was very smiley and sweet-faced. In contrast, he was always serious and gruff when he spoke to people he was closer to, in and out of the underground--like Jean for example;  or well, of course...Kaeya.

 

Well, the only reason Aether knew all of this and started really noticing it was because Kaeya had pointed it all out.

 

“Uh, no.” How strange , Aether thought, “why would you think that?”

 

“What about you, Master Diluc?” Donna asked eagerly--her eyes suddenly darkened, though the rest of her face kept the pleasant demeanour. “I-Is there someone you’ll need them for in a few days…?”

 

Aether shuddered--she was clearly envious.

 

But...what did she mean by ‘in a few days’? What was happening in a few days? 

 

“Oh.” Diluc raised a hand to his mouth in thought, pressing a knuckle into it. “Hm. I’m having some guests two days from now. I’ll be needing something to welcome them, seeing as they’ve come from so far away.”

 

“Oh, of course!” Donna beamed, relieved. “Let’s see...a welcome for a guest...something to represent Dawn Winery. Oh!”

 

Good, good, so that lady is just a rumor! The look was written all over Donna’s face.

 

“I know, what about some Flaming Flowers and Windwheel Asters? It’s the perfect representation of Dawn Winery, don’t you think Master Diluc?” Donna suggested.

 

Diluc’s eyes widened a fraction. “Do they really?”

 

Aether couldn’t really tell how much of Diluc’s expression was genuine and how much was him pretending. Was he really surprised about the flowers? He could ask Kaeya more about it later--come to think of it, where was Kaeya?

Wanting to start a conversation with their lovely local star, Diluc turned to Aether. “What do you think?”

 

Aether smiled, “I think Donna is right. The Flaming Flower would represent you. The Windwheel Asters look a lot like Mondstadt’s windmills.” 

 

“Hm.” Diluc considered it for a moment, before nodding. “Yes. I think it would be perfect. Then, a bouquet of one Flaming Flower and Windwheel Asters.”

 

“Right away, Master Diluc! Ah-but…” Donna suddenly stuttered.

 

“What? What’s wrong?” Paimon questioned.

 

“Well, the thing is...Flaming Flowers aren’t usually requested. They’re rather...difficult to harvest.”

 

“Oh right. They’re on fire.” Aether remembered.

 

“Hm, that is a problem.” Diluc’s brow furrowed.

 

“Well, I could put in a request at the guild…” Donna trailed off.

 

“Wait, wait, wait!” Paimon interrupted. “No need for that!”

Donna turned to them in surprise. “Oh, why?”

 

“We can do it at a discount rate! Right, Aether?” Paimon beamed.

 

Aether gave Paimon an exasperated look. But he did nod and reply to Donna in her stead. “Sure.”

 

“Oh, thank you!” Donna exclaimed, clasping her hands together again. 

 

Diluc smiled. That was one matter taken care of. Now, for the other… “Donna…there’s one more thing I would like to order.”

 

“Ah, yes. Those Calla Lily seedlings. Are you trying again, Master Diluc?” Donna asked.

 

“Hm?” Aether looked at the young winery master.

 

“Yes.”

 

Huh? That was weird. Whenever Aether was out, Diluc always asked him to bring any extra Lampgrass blossoms if he found them. Why would he be asking for Calla Lily seeds? Wait, didn’t someone else need those? Yeah, wasn’t it…

 

“Then, I’ll have them ready by tomorrow.” Donna giggled-- oh, she was going to see Master Diluc again tomorrow , she thought.

 

Diluc smiled in return. “I shall pick them up tomorrow, then. Thank you, Donna.”

 

Now that the menial things were taken care of, there was still something left to do. Yet again, the Fatui were trying to dig their way into Mondstadt and set up a hideout in one of the abandoned domains. As he turned to leave, he heard Aether and Paimon following behind.

 

“So about that thing-!” Paimon yelled, flying ahead of him to hover right in front of his face.

 

Diluc’s sweet smile dropped. “Tonight.”

 

Aether nodded, smiling. 

 

“There’s a Snezhnayan merchant on the way to the winery. We’ll need to get rid of the rats tonight.”

 

Hmh, Aether thought. If Diluc was having visitors and that’s whom the flowers were for...what else was happening in a few days? Maybe he should ask later.

 

“No way, is he...working with the Fatui?” Paimon’s question was laughably redundant.

 

“There isn’t a merchant from Snezhnaya you can trust.” Diluc stated flatly. “Not one.”

 

Once they had made it across the bridge, Diluc stopped. Aether did so as well, turning to fully face the man, eyes whining excitedly.

 

“Meet me at the edge of Dadaupa Gorge at sunset.” the darknight hero instructed.

-- Day 1: Evening

 

It had been one of the better nights. The presence of Aether and his teamwork had made the cleanup swift and efficient. Despite the fact that nights like this were rare, Diluc hurried home. There were things to organize, names to cross off the hit list, new names to add to the same list and--

 

Diluc paused at the window, hand at the sill, ready to open it up and head back into the manor. There was someone here. Someone he didn’t recognize. He knew every footstep, every nuance, every habit of everyone of his staff at the winery. Diluc could recognize Tunner’s knobbly-kneed step, Adeline’s little mutterings, Conner’s clicking teeth when he was busy thinking...every little thing.

 

This sound was not familiar.

 

Not good. If he was seen here now as the so-called darknight hero , or blackfire criminal --whichever people chose to believe,--by some unknown person, it could be trouble for ‘Master Diluc of Dawn Winery’. Without pausing any further, he removed his mask, tucking it away. Removing his coat and long-sleeved top, he remained in his blouse and pants underneath. Taking off the cursed glove and the satchel that disguised his pyro vision, he tucked the vision into his pocket.

 

It was casual enough to pass as nightwear.

 

---

 

Kaeya hummed, shuffling his way around the upstairs of the manor. The winery had changed a lot over the course of his and Diluc’s falling out. When he had first found out about the sale of the land, it was quite the devastating affair. He’d been at the Headquarters, organizing provisions and assigning new barracks that day.

 

When he’d come home...he’d been informed that he’d no more home to return to. Someone else owned the winery by then and Diluc had taken off. Adeline had informed him that she would be finding work somewhere inside the city. In an instant, he’d been practically kicked out of the place Crepus had taken him into...so was everyone else.

 

He remembered the years after that--how over the course of a week the estate had been demolished to make a restaurant chateau by the lakeside.

 

Malice flashed across Kaeya’s eye, the blue hue glimmering in the dark of the manor. It was a smaller space than the estate. He recalled the area around it having been repurposed as some sort of vacation spot, the owner at the time having also acquired the land where the cottages of the on-site winery workers lived.

 

It was satisfying, seeing the emotions play across the man’s face when Diluc had returned. The method Diluc had used to re-acquire the winery lands where they had grown up had been quite the show. Suddenly the restaurant started doing poorly. People became fearful of the woods around the winery, the cliffside along the path to the chateau was suddenly occupied by a massive hilichurl camp. Diluc had let them in; by then he had made contact with underground members in Mondstadt, adopting old winery workers into the system and using them to withhold information from the knights.

 

No patrols were sent out to that area--the information about the land there had effectively been cut off. Once Diluc had driven the existence of the resto-chateau from local Mondstadtians, he set his sights on the visitors that would pass by the winery coming from the travel routes coming from Liyue.

 

It didn’t take much for them to lose interest in the offers of the restaurant once Mondstadians started spreading word about how awful the food was there. Quite the underhanded trick, but it worked.

 

Kaeya remembered how he felt Diluc had purchased the land back, moving into the smaller chateau and renaming it Dawn Manor. With how he was then and now, Kaeya couldn’t imagine he had much use for an elaborate estate anyway.

 

Still...what was with the emptiness of the floors above when compared to the rather elaborately furnished manor below? It was an odd arrangement, but Kaeya didn’t imagine Master Diluc really allowed anyone upstairs. There couldn’t be much but Diluc’s own bedroom up here, he thought as he made his way down the empty hallway

 

---

 

Opening the window, Diluc slipped inside and quietly shut it behind him. Looking around, he saw the usual dim light of candles that served as silent watchmen of his manor. From downstairs, he could only make out the soft shuffling of the maids in their quarters, a giggle here, a shushing there. This wasn’t the peculiar sound he had heard.

 

Click.

There. That was it.

 

Click, slip, shuffle…

 

“Who’s there?!” Diluc shouted into the hall, grabbing a candle.

 

“Ah-...!”

 

Slip, thud.

 

Diluc turned towards the hall, the light of his candle falling upon...long, creamy thighs, strapped up in a garter, stuffed into stockings that stopped just before the round plump globes--perfectly framed by a short, frilly skirt--Diluc quickly tore his gaze away.

 

A maid? But whom?

“Master Diluc?” Adeline’s voice came from downstairs. He could hear her hurrying up, the rush of her footsteps loud in the night.

 

Quickly, the person who had fallen quickly rose to their feet, hurrying to Adeline.

 

“Oh, Mast-...L-Lampgrass!” Adeline stammered in surprise.

 

Diluc went after them after his momentary shock. “Who-...”

 

The maid uttered a small noise that Diluc didn’t quite catch, before leaping over the railing, completely by-passing Adeline and landing on the bottom floor.

 

“Hey!” Diluc ran to the rail, free hand going to the banister.

 

But by the time his candle-light fell onto the floor below, the person was gone.

 

“Master Diluc, I’m so sorry.” Adeline quickly apologized.

 

“Lampgrass?” Diluc questioned, turning to her.

 

“Yes, Master Diluc…” Adeline nodded. “You requested that we hire new help for the upcoming expansion. I have to apologize for acting alone, but...seeing as we would be rather busy as of late due to both the expansion plans as well as our incoming guests...I went ahead and hired a new maid.”

Oh. So that was it. That’s why he didn’t recognize the sound of her footsteps.

 

“I...see…” Diluc replied--but still, what was. “She’s...not wearing our standard uniform. ”

 

Adeline’s mouth cracked in a nervous smile. “Oh yes, that...I...she specializes in certain...areas. I...hired her temporarily.”

 

“ Certain areas ?” Diluc’s brows furrowed. 

 

“Y-yes…” Adeline stammered. “Due to the...rigorous requirements of our work, Master Diluc…”

 

Diluc’s eyes widened with understanding. “Oh. I see.”

 

Someone who could keep his secret, perhaps? Good. He needed more capable hands like that. But temporary ? Why?

 

“Tell me the details in the morning.” Diluc instructed. “I’m sorry for startling you so late. Please send my apologies to her as well.”

 

“Yes, Master Diluc.”

--- Day 2: Morning

 

They kept disappearing , Diluc noticed. It wasn’t that it was a big deal; there would be no reason to be growing such flowers at a winery. Still, the fact that they should always be there was something Diluc couldn’t let go of. Even in his earliest days, he remembered there being just a handful of Calla Lilies on the banks of the winery, facing Liyue. Yet for some reason as of late, he’d noticed that they would sometimes disappear. The spots they used to be completely uprooted, as if something or someone had yanked them out of the ground. 

 

It was a shame, really. He’d rather than at least this scenery would remain never-changing, though the days he’d spent in the sun of his childhood were forever gone. 

 

Diluc reached into his coat, pulling out the little seedlings. The pathway towards the river was clear, the sun was bright and the winery was bustling in preparations for the arrival of their guests. Tonight, he had another mission, then tomorrow night he would need to tie the loose ends. He sighed as the warm glow of the sun that speckled through the trees heated his shoulders and face. He squinted, the lake in view...but so was something else.

 

Through the trees, a shape moved...black and some white--a uniform? He couldn’t make it out in the sheer bright sunlight. Ah, was this the new maid? What was she...

 

The figure person knelt, wrapping his fingers around the Calla Lily stem. With a yank, they uprooted the plant in one swoop.

 

“Hey!” Diluc yelled.

 

--

 

Beautiful. Just as he remembered it. Branches swayed in the gentle breeze that blessed all of Mondstadt, the leaves rustling, brushing and slapping against the bright red apples that hung heavy and ripe.

 

He picked one and sank his teeth into it, letting the sweetness wash over him. Ah, didn’t pirates like to eat apples in their stories too? He felt a little like a pirate captain like this.

 

Maybe he should bring one to Beidou sometime and see what she thought of Diluc’s apples.

 

Though he enjoyed his little distraction, he had come here for a reason. Taking another bite, he tossed the apple to a nearby squirrel. “There you go~...”

 

Ah, there it was.

The Calla Lily.

 

There it perched on the edge of the waters in between Mondstadt and Liyue. This little loch that sat in the path between flowed down from the dreaded mountain. The cursed ice always melted once it came too close to Mondstadt’s glorious warm meadows and cliffs. In the end, just as flowers wilt, ice too would melt.

 

What better to make the finest wine in all of Teyvat than magical, melted glacial ice?  

 

“Hey!”

 

Kaeya’s eye widened and he stood, turning towards the shade of the trees, where the little cottages of the winery employees lived on site. A bright plume of red came racing towards him.

 

He knew that when he’d put the stockings and garterbelt on for the first time that they would be tight. But somehow, they were even tighter now than before!

 

Oh dear . It was time to go. Quickly he turned and ran towards the other end of the river.

 

--

 

Diluc grunted, using his momentum to push himself against the ground and make a sharp turn. He continued to sprint, dashing after the figure.

 

Was this why the Calla Lilies kept disappearing from the river?! This new maid...they seemed too familiar with the winery grounds.

 

One tree...two...three...four trees...no good. As he came closer, he saw the figure disappear behind each trunk. Every time they reappeared, they seemed to blend into the surroundings.

 

...no good…

 

Skiff --he stopped.

 

Diluc had lost them.

 

“Hah…” With a sigh, Diluc stopped. Looking around, he couldn’t find hide nor hair of the person he’d been chasing.

 

With a shake of his head, he turned towards the vineyards. In just a few moments, he’d run all the way to the other end of the winery. Nevermind that for now. He needed to ascertain the paperwork for their new hire.

 

Diluc made his way back to the manor. It was time to do some digging. After thinking for a moment, he recalled where his staff might be right around this time, before making his way to the back of the manor. The tables had been set up, carpets set to cover the stone and the parts for a tent-roof cover gathered in the corner and checked for condition. 

 

He found who he was looking for. “Adeline.”

 

The head maid turned, greeting him with a bow. “Master Diluc. Welcome back. Was your morning walk pleasant?”

 

“It was fine.” Diluc cut to the chase, “About the new maid...”

 

Adeline nodded, but there was a look in her eye that Diluc didn’t like. “Yes...after you instructed us to hire new help for the expansion…”

 

“I see. Where is she now?” Diluc asked quickly.

“Oh...yes, I...well…” Adeling stumbled. “They...insisted on cleaning up the bottom floor of the manor for when the guests arrive.” Adeline’s throat was tight as she spoke.

 

“They...insisted?” Diluc folded his arms in thought.

 

What kind of person was their new hire?

 

“Master Diluc.” Adeline reached into her apron pocket, producing a small letter. “This is from...”

 

It was intricate, Diluc noted as he eyed the envelope. The paper was embroidered with gold leaf patterns, the windmills of Mondstadt and a silhouette of the Anemo Archon. All around an accompaniment of windwheel asters, painted in red and orange, completed the scene. 

 

“From…” Diluc took the envelope and turned it over to where the flap was sealed. The hardened wax was in the shape of...a familiar small blossom. “Lampgrass.”

 

He looked up at Adeline, before returning his attention to the envelope. Breaking the seal, he opened it.

 

“Is that an alias?” Diluc asked as he unfolded the paper inside.

 

Dearest Master Diluc Ragvindr, 

 

I hope this little love letter finds you well.

 

A gentle fragrance struck him, the scent of the whistling woods. Gentle, soft, lively yet quiet and subtle. It was the scent of the view of Mondstadt across Cider lake through the dense of the trees.

 

A little birdy told me that you needed some help. A young, strong, rich bachelor like you is very popular with the ladies. I would know, I find you very attractive as well. Now remember carefully:...

 

“I believe so, Master Diluc.” Adeline replied.

 

Three days from now, we’ll have our first date. Like a spider I shall devour my mate. Once Lady Lampgrass has been summoned, your enemy’s fate is sealed. I shall accomplish my duty so that your true name may not be revealed.

 

“I see. Is she one of our ‘acquaintances’?” 

 

Lots of kisses from your new, fleeting sweetheart. Though I’ll always keep an eye on you, even though we may be apart.

 

Adeline was one of the few that Diluc could trust with such matters. Whenever he referred to ‘acquantes’ he always meant anyone with ties to the underground network of suspicious and seedy individuals. She always knew what he was doing, even if she was privy to the details. Surely Adeline would find someone capable enough for their more discreet operations.

 

Love,

Lady Lampgrass

 

“...part of several groups, I could say.” Adeline answered truthfully.

 

Diluc felt something else in the envelope, under his thumb. Sticking his finger into the seam, he pulled out a small lock the colour of Wedgewood Blue on ceramic. “Is-”

“Master Diluc.” Adeline interrupted. “My deepest apologies for being rude but...I would trust them with my life. My life and the fate of Mondstadt.”

 

Diluc felt a cold shock run through his body, from his ears, into his head, down his shoulders and right through to the rest of him. These were heavy words coming from Adeline. It was even heavier...when he suspected that she had been lying to him about the identity of this ‘new help’ of theirs.

 

“I see.” Diluc said, his shoulders sinking into a relaxed pose. “That’s all I need.”

 

Honestly...what kind of prank was it this time?

--- Day 2: Noon

 

Kaeya tugged on the garter, nipping at his thigh. This really was a very stimulating outfit. Perhaps he shouldn’t have gone all out on the fine details of the attire. A thong was a little too airy for his liking and it’s thin string pulled so snugly that it completely disappeared between his buttcheeks. Not only that, but the garter squeezed into his thigh muscle, making the stockings hug his leg to the point where it looked plump around where it started at the lace.

 

How did women work like this? Master Diluc truly did have some odd tastes. No, wait...surely he didn’t know what his own maid’s underwear looked like. Then again, that reaction from him last night didn’t seem to be much.

 

Huh, perhaps he did know what a maid’s underwear looked like...he had been doing all sorts of things for 3 years...ah-...

 

Now that was a depressing thought.

 

The Diluc he knew really was gone, wasn’t he? Ahaha. The sweet, smiling young man that always knew what he was thinking, every step he would make--the only person in the world who understood him...he really was gone.

 

He had memories, experiences, secrets that Kaeya would neve know about. What a depressing thought, indeed.

 

Well, that was another one to add to the pile of silent skeletons in the closet in his empty chest. It’s not as if someone with a heart could lie to anyone they cared about, could they?

Hah, he really was the worst, Kaeya thought.

 

Ah, no. The worst was….how this corset seemed to always be pulling the neckline at his chest just a little too low everytime he bent over to pick something up!

 

With a small grunt, Kaeya sank to the floor, trying to keep the strings from the corset at his waist from snagging onto anything. He got to his knees, inspecting the tile of the bathroom floor one more time.

 

“Hmmh…” Kaeya hummed. “It really is difficult keeping stone floors clean. Diluc should really get tiles instead.”

 

Getting up, he sighed. Seemed that there were no secret passages here. Good. Nothing any outsider would find easily, at least. Him knowing the layout of the manor helped--just within the day, he’d already checked every last nook and cranny the place had to offer.

 

Turning to the sink and cupboard he smiled a little fondly--this bathroom used to be Diluc’s favorite hiding spot.

“Ah, he always did like dark places.” Kaeya chuckled. “Perhaps he really hasn’t changed at all.”

Somehow, the thought comforted him.

 

But there was little time for that now. Exiting the bathroom, he made his way down to the cellar, which he knew had another passage to outside that could only be accessed by the winery staff. This way, when entering alone, guests were faced with a dead-end. This of course, was on purpose and a trick Kaeya knew well. It was one of his favorite traps that he coerced Diluc into using.

 

“Oh…” Kaeya pinched his throat, “Please excuse me. I hadn’t known anyone was here.”

Magar, a new hire for delivery and stock keeping was there, alongside Connor and some other men. The back entrance to the cellar was open and they seemed to be moving some goods out.

 

“Oh, hello miss.” Magar greeted.

 

Wow.

 

The look on the other’s face was clear. It was fortunate that there were only 2 types of staff at Dawn Winery--those that knew him for too long and those that didn’t know him aside from his reputation as the Quartermaster and a fleeting glance here and there during rare moments in the city. Magar was the latter.

 

“I don’t believe we’ve met…” Kaeya uttered a small laugh, as gentle as he could muster--he mumbled, more than he spoke. 

 

If he spoke too loudly, he’d sound too obvious.

 

Oh, she’s a shy one too. What an exotic beauty… Magar swooned. “Ah I’m sorry miss. I-I’m Magar! I do deliveries for Master Diluc.”

“Oh…” Kaeya mumbled, turning his head away and shrinking his shoulders a little to make himself appear smaller. “To Mondstadt?”

 

The glint of the icey blue eye was bright, even in the dark of the cellar. Magar swallowed--her eyelashes were so long… “Why, yes. Have you been to Mondstadt? I’m sorry I...I assume you haven’t. I’ve never seen you around here before.”

 

“Why no.” Kaeya lied, smiling a little and blinking his eye a few times to bat his lashes. “I’ve just been hired here recently. I’ve never been anywhere inside the city before…”

 

Magar blushed. “Oh, so...well...we’re going to be going there later.”

 

“Idiot!” Connor snapped.

 

Kaeya pretended to jump, covering his mouth.

 

“I’m sorry miss…” Conner’s voice softened as soon as he realized he’d startled the maid.

 

“Eh? What’s wrong?” Magar complained, turning to Connor.

 

“You can’t be asking out a young lady to accompany us on that route.” Conner frowned at him. “It’s dangerous in the canyon. It’s no place for a young miss.”

 

Kaeya smiled. This was working out better than expected. If he just kept quiet and to himself, then he might just pull this off.

 

“Are the preparations done? Don’t forget to leave the Dandelion Wine in the corner alone.” 

 

This time, Kaeya really was startled as Diluc’s voice came from behind him. He hurried deeper into the cellar, closer to the exit door in the very back.

 

“Oh-ah…” Magar stumbled back as the maid ran around him. “Ohh…”

A soft fragrance,--like the cool of the evening,--emanates from the maid’s hair. He turned, completely captivated by the scent.

 

“What-...” Diluc glanced towards the back of  the cellar. “Hey, you. Wait!”

 

He gave chase, the blue hair--it was the same as the one in the envelope. 

 

Kaeya hurried, making his way around Connor and the other men, dodging barrels and under arms. He felt a hard stone against the toe of his heeled shoe and smirked. He’d made it to the stairs.

 

Diluc reached out, barely dodging the wine-laden barrel that Ben was hauling towards the same exit he was rushing to. His finger nicked a lock of blue, before it pulled away.

 

Clack, clack, clack!

 

Heavy heel-steps echoed through the cellar as his target sprinted up the path. Diluc’s arm folded in as he grabbed, missing, grasping at nothing but air. But he continued to run.

 

“Oh my…” Connor said, scratching his head. “So it’s like that…”

 

Magar was shocked. “What? Huh? What just happened?”

 

“You haven’t heard?” Connor looked at him pitifully.

 

“Poor guy…” Ben sighed.

 

The other men scattered about the cellar agreed. 

 

“Give up, Magar.”

 

“You’ve got no chance with that one.”

 

“She’s off-limits.”

 

“No chance.”

 

“You can’t compete for that one.”

 

“What?” Magar’s jaw dropped. “What are you all talking about?!”

 

“Haven’t you heard?” Connor asked, surprised. “It seems that maid...is Master Diluc’s ‘new flame’, you know?”

 

“Huh?!” Magar couldn’t believe it.

 

Well, there was no way he could compete against Master Diluc, that was for sure.

 

---

 

Aether hurried back, the Flaming Flower wrapped in paper in his arms. Paimon hurried after him. They’d easily found a flaming flower--the very first one they’d seen was right next to the Temple of The Wolf, from when they’d first met Kaeya during the incident with Dvalin.

 

“Donna!” Aether called as he arrived.

 

Donna turned towards him, having been chatting with another customer. “Oh, there you are. Ah, you’ve got the flower!”

 

Aether presented it to her, still whole, not the way it was normally harvested. The petals lay open, revealing the corolla inside. It was bright whilst the petals were blood red, truly an image of dawn.

 

“It’s lovely, oh…” Donna’s smile widened and her eyes softened as she took it from him. “...and it’s still warm as well.”

 

It was rare to have Flaming or Mist Flowers as orders, but it was the rare moments like these that made them even more beautiful. They were normally dangerous things.

 

“Ah, come to think of it, I have another strange order.” Donna looked up, as she went inside of her home and placed the flower on the table to start preparing it. “Please, if you could get one now...it’s a last-minute but urgent order.”

 

Aether and Paimon looked at each other, before Aether nodded. There was no way they could refuse a person in need.

 

“I need a Mist Flower, for pick-up this afternoon. I know it’s a rush, but there should be one close by around the rim of Cider Lake...but...the problem is…” She trailed off. “There’s also been hilichurl sightings there recently and--”

 

“No problem.” Aether said before she could continue.

 

So, off they went. Within the hour, Aether returned with the Mist Flower, still intact, having been sliced neatly a long way down the stem. Like the Flaming Flower, it opened up, to reveal it’s corolla.

 

“Who’s this for?” Aether asked.

 

Clack. Clack.

 

“Oh, this second flower is--...” Donna looked up at the loud footstep.

 

A tall heeled shoe tapped against the cobblestone pavement. The sound was loud and uncharacteristic of the common women of Mondstadt. The soft scent of Lampgrass permeated the air, sweet and mild, but very much present. 

 

Mark stopped mid-patrol, the scent in the air luring him away from thoughts of his duties. He turned to see a figure, mocha-honey skinned, dressed in a rather decorated uniform of black and white. A maid?

 

A bonnet sat atop a mix of either jay or aegean blue hair--it seemed to fracture under the light, turning shades as dark as midnight and as bright as the morning sky. On the bonnet was weaved a large ribbon, black as if to accent the ocean of hair under it. Fixed under the ribbon were sweet flowers, arranged in a cascade down bangs that hung over the soft tanned skin of the maid’s face.

 

Even with half her face covered, the one visible eye was nothing short of gorgeous,  bright and shimmering, bright lilac and royal blue in an odd combination. A soft blush of deep coral just below her one visible eye seemed to warm the tanned face even more.

 

Tall...but that was only because of the heels. Towering, thin stilettos seemed to be molded into the feet that wore them perfectly, wrapped around lean, long legs with overlapping ribbons, tied neatly behind each calf. 

 

Long, long, long legs were wrapped in tight stockings, black and sheer, leaving little to the imagination. Despite the size of the skirt, it was wide, but short, extremely short, sitting atop creamy tanned thighs that were stuffed where the lace of the stockings met garter. The plump loins looked firm, but plush, each bulging under the straps slightly.

 

Mark wasn’t the only one ogling. It didn’t help with the rather...alluring outfit that the madam was wearing. 

 

The rest of the maid outfit wasn’t any milder. No; although the top covered the madam’s neck, it revealed creamy shoulders, smooth and shining in the sunlight. Yet still, it showed more; a large hole, decorated with yet more lace and ribbons, opened up right in the middle of the blouse. Further not helping things, it was a skin-tight blouse, showing a slender, almost tiny waist for how big the bosom that sat atop it was. To make matters worse, the skintight top was only held together by criss-crossing ribbons over an otherwise exposed back. It wasn’t a large gap in the fabric, but it was just enough to reveal the toned, sculpted line that ran down to where it should have stopped just above the waist. Instead, it was interrupted by a large ribbon that held the lady’s short, frilly apron atop the skirt.

 

What a sight. Well-blessed at the top, but slender and long, supple and caressed by the sun into an almost caramel-creamy tone...

 

“Aherm.” another maid’s voice snapped at Mark.

 

“O-Oh, Miss Adeline!” Mark exclaimed, swallowing hard. “Here for an errand?”

 

Adeline glowered at the knight. “Why yes. I suppose you’re not here to escort us to Floral Whisper are you?”

 

“Uh-h..I...why I just happen to be on patrol!” Mark quickly replied, trying his hardest to look anywhere but the beauty standing beside Adeline.

 

Aether couldn’t stop staring. As the two ladies approached, Donna too ended up staring. 

 

“Hi Donna.” Adeline smiled. “We’re here to pay for Master Diluc’s order.” 

 

Adeline’s stomach was twisted into knots. There was no way, there was absolutely no way that this was going to work. Master Kaeya was too... too obvious! Too blatantly obvious! That outfit... what was he thinking?! Certainly, Master Kaeya had a slim waist, but...no matter how you looked at it, he was still a man!

 

“O-oh...that’s a little odd.” Donna said, brows furrowing in thought.

 

Aether looked at her, then back at the two maids. He recognized Adeline from Dawn Winery. She was the one that had slipped up and said ‘Master Kaeya’ once. He still didn’t know too much about that…

 

Speaking of which…

 

“Ah, this is Miss Lampgrass.” Adeline said, her smile almost stiffening--there was no way this would work.

 

Donna folded her arms. She knew exactly who this was. “Oh. So it’s you.”

 

Paimon scratched her head. “Huh?”

 

“You know.” Aether whispered in a low hiss, trying not to lean too close to Paimon and make it obvious he was speaking.

 

“Oh!” paimon exclaimed. “You’re...Master Diluc’s ‘new flame’!?”

 

The bluenette startled, before smiling, shoulders rising in what seemed to be embarrassment; speaking softly. “...ell…”

 

“What?” Donna gasped, looking at Paimon, aghast.

 

Adeline could’ve sworn she felt the whole of Teyvat turn upside down. “Ah...th- that …”

 

“That’s just a rumor, i-isn’t it?!” Donna fumed.

 

Raising her hands, Adeline tried to calm the situation. “A rumor? We haven’t heard of such a thing.”

 

The bluenette next to her nodded. Adeline produced the payment for the bouquet, trying to lighten the mood with a chat. Though it seemed Donna had been put into a bad mood for some reason or other…

 

“That Nimrod!” Donna almost wailed out loud. “He’s been spreading something ridiculous around lately!”

 

“Oh, I see. Ignore him, Donna...you know how he gets…” Adeline sighed. 

 

A bright snowy eye slipped to the side, eyeing the golden boy and the pixie.

 

Aether swallowed. “Uh...hi.”

The little smile seemed somewhat...off-putting. Somehow, it was familiar, friendly yet...off. The little traveller just couldn’t place it. The smile suddenly curled a little higher and Aether found that beautiful face suddenly closing in on his. He froze.

 

“Shhh…” a soft, unmistakable voice whispered.

 

Kaeya?

 

“Oh-oooh!” Quinn exclaimed.

 

Oops, Kaeya thought. He forgot that he couldn’t bend over too far without showing a little too much. Straightening up slowly, he turned and glanced back at the poor fruit stand owner, causing the man to turn away. His face was beet red. Kaeya chuckled.

 

“Come to my favorite place tonight.” Kaeya whispered, eye twinkling.

 

Oh , Aether thought. This had to be some kind of plan or something. For some reason, Kaeya was pretending to be someone else! That...sort of made sense? But..why a maid?

 

“Hey, hey!” Paimon suddenly shoved herself between the two of them. “What are you doing?! Aren’t you supposed to be Master Diluc’s new sweetheart!?”

 

At the little floating fairy’s screeching, Donna’s attention was torn away from the conversation Adeline so painstakingly wove her into.

 

“Wha--” the flower shop owner stammered.

 

“What are you doing already cheating on him?” Paimon accused.

 

Kaeya had a crooked, overly amused smile on his face as he raised his hands and backed away slowly. This was going a little too well. Not that he didn’t appreciate the help, but Paimon could really scream when she wanted to, he realized a little miserably. Oh well, it wasn’t as if he needed an absolutely clean reputation as ‘Lady Lampgrass’ afterall.

 

Hah, he just might find some use for this maid gimmick in the future, thanks to all this attention. Maybe he should be thanking the little butterball. Though...for the Lampgrass-perfume to be working on her as well...that was a bit of a surprise.

 

“Aether is Master Diluc’s friend!” Paimon declared. “He won’t betray Mas--EH?!”

 

The little golden boy quickly grabbed Kaeya’s hand in a panic, breaking into a sprint. Kaeya almost tripped, his heel having been caught on a loose cobblestone.

 

“Wait, stop!” Diluc’s voice came booming from behind them.

 

Donna gasped, “M-Master Diluc-!”

 

“Master Diluc?!” Adeline spun around, turning pale-- this wasn’t supposed to happen! Why was Master Diluc here?!

 

“You!” the young master came sprinting, right through the gates of the city and making a beeline for the ‘mysterious new maid’ being dragged away by Aether.

 

“Ah-!” Kaeya fell forward as his heel caught, his skirt flying.

 

Diluc’s jaw dropped--teeth bared in a ghastly expression as he saw…

 

...thong, milky round, caramel-globes...plump, stocking-squeezed thighs and--

 

Brrrk-!

 

The toe of his boot caught on one of the steps cascading down the center of the city. He fell forward, hand flailing, trying to grasp at the fleeing ‘maid’. “Gah-!”

 

“Master Diluc!” Donna and Adeline screamed in unison as he plummeted towards the ground face-first. They both leapt into action, trying to stop his fall.

 

“Gh-haa!” Kaeya yelped.

 

But the red-palmed gloved hand managed to catch, right on the edge of the skirt, just as he came down. Plush, but firm flesh greeted his face as the chain reaction caused all three to fall.

 

Diluc’s face went right into the ass in front of him.

 

Kaeya’s face went red, he could feel Diluc’s nose and cheeks, the clear cut of his jaw pressing into the back of his thighs, suspended in the small gap between his loins, right where the stockings ended and the straps connected up to his garter past his--

 

SLAP!

 

“Ghu-?!” Diluc yelped as he was suddenly backhanded.

 

“Kyaa!” Donna shrieked in terror, having stopped mid-stride.

 

She couldn’t believe it! What was this?! So...so..--!

 

Adeline was panicking. Quinn was panicking. Even Wagner had looked up, a stern expression on his face as he wondered what all the fuss was about. Mark came running, just in time to see...Master Diluc Ragvindr holding onto the bluenette’s skirt, tugging on it ferociously.

 

“Wait! You--gmph-!” Diluc roared, but his voice was muffled by hands pressing into his face, completely obscuring his vision.

 

Kaeya pushed, feeling the usual cold drain from his body in his own state of distress. 

Diluc wasn’t supposed to be here! What was he doing here! Why was he after him?! Was it because of the Calla Lilies he’d picked this morning?! Was it really that?! Why was he tugging so hard on his skirt like a pervert?!

 

Aether shook his head--he’d felt the full weight of Kaeya on him smack him right into the ground when they’d all fallen over. Paimon was fretting over him, having been calling his name with no answer. Finally, he heard her--and the commotion of the two men behind him.

 

“Are you okay?! Aether! Hey!” Paimon yelled. “Can you hear me?! Ah, you’re alright!”

 

Turning, he saw Diluc pulling hard, Kaeya getting dragged by his skirt just a little closer with each tug as he struggled and pushed. 

 

“Sto-mphh-!”

This wasn’t good. Putting two and two together, Aether moved without thinking too much. He raised his hand and focused.

 

WOOOSH~!

 

A gust of wind gathered at his hand in a small ball, whipping up everything around him. 

 

“Eek!” Donna screamed pushing her own skirt down.

 

Adeline was forced to do the same. “Aah!”

 

Mark was confused, his line of sight suddenly blinded by green anemo shades and dust, whipping up all around them.

 

Diluc held on tight, refusing to let go. He pulled and pulled, despite the wind. Why was Aether helping?! What was going on here?! He shut his eyes, the dust around them flying with how vigorously the summoned wind whipped about.

 

Fwup!

 

Suddenly, Diluc felt the resistance in his hand give. He flew back, the tug of war with the cloth having abruptly ended; his momentum sending him backwards onto his ass on the cobblestone. 

 

“Ugh-...” Diluc grunted, hands going to shield his face instinctively.

 

Fwoo...whoo…

 

But the wind had died down, just as instantaneously as it had manifested. 

 

Huh?

 

No!

 

Diluc opened his eyes, his dust-blurred vision now clear--just in time to see the golden silhouette as well as the black and white uniform, sprinting away from him across the fountain plaza ahead. He sprang to his feet.

 

“Mas--” Adeline didn’t even have a chance to speak, or make it to him in time.

 

Diluc took off, a maid’s apron firm in his grasp--it had come off during their struggle. “Stop!”

 

By the time all four had disappeared, all heading off towards the statue of their gracious Anemo Archon, nobody knew what to make of what had just happened. Donna sank to the ground, crestfallen and in shock. Mark ran off towards the other patrolling knights, their shouts of surprise sounding off throughout the city as the chase continued. Adeline was exhausted. More exhausted than she had ever been in her life. Quinn looked around, some of his fruit having fallen off the stand--but he just didn’t have it in him to pick it up.

 

Eventually, Adeline found Master Diluc at the top of the steps to the Cathedral, having lost sight of both the boy and the ‘mysterious maid’. Though Adeline had hoped her master’s odd fixation on Master Kaeya’s disguise would have waned...there was no such luck for the poor head maid.

--- Day 2: Evening

 

The rumors had spread like a wildfire--an uncontrollable, allconsuming flaming frenzy that ravaged the peaceful meadows of Mondstadt. As the noon sun turned bright red and seemed to set the sky ablaze--so too was the city of Mondstad aflame with speculation and gossip.

 

Soon, even the returning merchants and vacationers from Liyue and Snezhnaya were speaking about it. There wasn’t an adventurer in the hills of stormbreaker mountains or the treacherous cliffs of Dragonspine that hadn’t heard of it. 

 

Master Diluc Ragvindr of Dawn winery was desperately trying to win the affections of a dazzling, drop-dead beauty by the name of Lady Lampgrass. 

 

The tale of the love-sick young man’s embarrassing attempt to caress the maiden in public , chasing her and the Honorary Knight who had come to her rescue all around Mondstadt was told over and over again within the last few hours. 

 

By morning, people had been adding all sorts of details to the event.

 

“I heard that he tried to grope her!”

“Master Diluc would never!”

 

Various descriptions of what transpired occurred. Of course, the only few who saw what happened knew the little details. Poor Donna was bombarded with questions, ranging from mild to mildly infuriating, to absolutely infuriating --regarding Master Diluc’s new ‘mystery beauty’.

 

“Don’t say that, you never know what a man might do when he’s in love!”

 

“What did she look like?”

 

Adline for one was grateful that Hillie and Moco were being helpful for once. Master Kaeya’s little plan of course, was to effectively establish a new identity in the city of Mondstadt. Being so distinct in appearance, she honestly didn’t know if it would work out well. But to have the rumors spread so effectively...why, the head housemaid just didn’t know what to make of it.

“Why, she had royal blue hair and was covered in flowers!”

 

“Wasn’t she wearing some crazy outfit? That ‘Lampgrass’ was it?”

Wagner unsurprisingly, refused to answer any questions regarding what he had seen. He was too busy crafting weapons and enhancement materials to care about that sort of thing. That however, didn’t mean that people stopped coming to him about it. It became so irritating that he started taking custom orders only. Not that he minded--there was a special order that he was currently trying to fulfill, anyway.

 

“That’s what I heard too, something imported from Snezhnaya? It looks like something from up north!”

 

“How do you know that? What I heard was that she slapped Master Diluc after rejecting his proposal.”

 

Lampgrass. That was what she was called--at least according to word at the tavern. Unsurprisingly, people had gathered around Quinn, as he was one of the people who had actually seen the exchange. As he regaled newcomers with the story for what seemed like the hundredth time, people kept on asking questions--bringing up little things that they heard. Of course, Quinn did his best to try and dispel some of the false information. However, with gossip being as it was, it wasn’t long before his corrections too, were twisted, forming new, vicious rumors of their own.

 

“He proposed?! I didn’t hear that!”

“Could she really be that pretty? No way…”

 

The biggest mystery was where could someone like that had come from? Mondstadt saw it’s fair share of visitors. But someone so exotic and exquisite...it was a rare thing indeed. After hearing the fact that the lovely lady was, in fact, a maid, the full story seemed to take shape, even with little details changing here and there. It truly was something out of a fairytale, indeed--Kaeya couldn’t be any more proud of himself.

 

“I heard that the Honorary Knight and Master Diluc were fighting over her!”

 

“Oh my goodness! Yes, yes that must be it, I saw her running away with him!”

Apparently the poor young woman had been found on the side of the road. Having lost both memory and the travelling companions she did remember, she was left to wander the wilderness alone until finally stumbling her way onto a delivery route. It seemed that Master Diluc himself had been the one to find her. He was completely enraptured by her gorgeous foreign appearance and took her home.

 

“Did you see where they went?”

 

“Master Diluc came asking around here to see if she had come by.”

 

It was a lovely story. Truly out of s fairy-tale. Only now, as things progressed, the tale seemed to have progressed to it’s dramatic chapter. After confessing his love, Master Diluc was promptly rejected. It was no surprise of course. Seeing as the poor maiden had no idea as to her origin and most likely wished to go home. Could his love ever reach her? It was a little tragic to think about.

 

“My Archon, he’s really looking for her?”

 

“Oh, poor Donna…”

 

It didn’t take long for the very guests that Master Diluc was waiting for arrived in town. After spending some time pestering the nightguard, eventually, Merchant Maximm was told to find him at the tavern. It seemed that every person he passed by was talking about the famous young master. Him...and apparently someone else, someone rather stunning.

 

“Hey, you!” Maximum shouted.

 

Aether turned in surprise, stopping in his little scamper to the tavern. “Uh...me?”

 

The man was round to say the least. He was dressed similarly to most merchants passing through. Extravagantly, that is. Though his clothes weren’t over-the-top, they were definitely made of fine material. With him came a company of younger men, most likely his lackies or entourage. From the look of it, Aether could tell this guy smelled fishy--not literally, though.

 

“Is this Angel’s Shame?” The merchant asked.

 

Paimon didn’t hesitate in correcting him right away. “Angel’s Share! You’re being rather rude, who are you anyway ?!”

 

“Oh my, is that a toy of some kind?!” Maximum gasped, staring at Paimon.

 

Paimon was horrified, “Hey! Paimon isn’t emergency food, or a toy!”

 

“Is that for sale, my young man?” The merchant ignored her, looking at Aether.

 

Aether was about to argue, when someone else came along.

 

“Hello little adventuring Hero of Mondstadt!” Cyrus greeted. “Are you here regarding those rumors as well?”

 

Aether and Paimon were grateful for the interruption.

 

“Branch Master Cyrus!” Paimon greeted.

 

“Actually...y-yeah!” Aether stammered--if Kaeya told him to be here, he must have something in mind.

 

The little traveller just had to play along, right? 

 

“Well, I don’t think you’ll be finding him here today.” Cyrus said, chuckling. “C’mon, let’s talk inside! We have plenty to discuss if you’re here about that… ”

 

“He isn’t here?” Maximum interrupted.

 

“Hm? Who are you?” Cyrus questioned in return.

 

It was easy enough to convince the merchant inside. Since he’d already come all this way, it was also the best place to get to know the who’s-who of Mondstadt, afterall. After a quick introduction, Aether, Paimon, Cyrus, Maximm and his entourage entered the tavern. It wasn’t long before they were seated at a table upstairs, seeing as downstairs was packed full, what with Quinn telling his story in the corner next to the stage. Cyrus was more than happy to fill in the blanks of the broken conversations about Master Diluc that Maximm had been hearing around town.

 

“Oh what a shame. I heard that Master Diluc Ragvindr spent nights at the famous Angel’s Share as a bartender as well.” Maximm said. “He isn’t here tonight?”

 

“It’s not surprising, Master Diluc seems to be very busy as of late afterall!”

“Oh, some new business venture?” Maximm wouldn’t be surprised.

 

“No! No! A new conquest! A peak of manhood yet to be explored!” Cyrus exclaimed.

 

The Merchant didn’t quite understand, but after giving it a moment of thought…”Oh! Of course, of course! It must be…”

 

“That’s right!” Cyrus said with a jovial laugh.

 

“A…” Aether hesitated, making a face--he really wasn’t so sure anymore. “A lady?”

 

Ahh. So it was that sort of ruse . The little traveller had seen many things. It wasn’t as if he was unfamiliar with cross-dressing at all, but to think that someone like Kaeya would...no...wait...actually.

 

Thinking about it now, it was completely in his character. For some reason or other, he wanted to torment Diluc. Kaeya also wasn’t the type to be against a bit of a show; playing the part, it didn’t take a stretch of the imagination to think he enjoyed dressing up.

 

“That’s right boy, a lady!” Cyrus pointed at him as if he’d just won a game. “You’ve got it! Master Diluc found himself a lovely little lady. Although…”

 

The sudden change in tone caught the merchant’s attention. “What is it? Is she some sort of foreign noblewoman?”

 

“No, no, she’s a maid.” Cyrus said, looking rather embarrassed for getting all worked up. “It seems to be one of those fairy-tale love stories. Oh how exciting!”

 

“Huh?” Aether gawked. “A...fairy-tale love story?”

 

Paimon sighed. “Ahh, you know, you know…! Like…” She turned towards Aether to explain to him more directly, gesturing dramatically with her hands. “Like Cinderella! A poor but beautiful lady gets to marry a rich, powerful guy and live happily ever-after!”

 

Urgh, what an amateur. Maximm sneered to himself inwardly. Of course a young man would make such a foolish mistake. Whatever ‘lovely lady’ Master Diluc Ragvindr must’ve fallen for was definitely just a poor whore who wanted to sleep her way up in society. Typical. No matter. After tomorrow, there would be one less rival winery to worry about.

 

“It is important for Master Diluc to sire an heir after all. Else, who will his winery go to once he’s long gone? Dawn Winery has always belonged to a Ragvindr!” Cyrus said, hands on his hips, as if he himself were proud of the winery’s reputation.

 

“That is true.” A smooth, cool chuckle interrupted the discussion.

 

“Kaeya!” Paimon exclaimed. “When did you get here?”

 

The quartermaster smiled amicably strolling up to their table. “I was just here for my usual evening drink, when I overheard you all. Seems you’re all discussing the latest interesting rumor about our local wine tycoon?”

 

“And who might you be?!” Maximum demanded. 

 

“Ah, this is our esteemed Cavalry Captain Sir Kaeya Alberich!” Cyrus introduced with a wave of his large arm. 

 

Aether had to duck out of the way--seems the man was already getting more than just tipsy.

 

“There’s no better man in Mondstadt to ask about anything; Sir Kaeya here is the most knowledgeable man I know about anything in and out of Mondstadt’s walls!” The Adventurer’s Guild Master rambled. “If there’s anyone who’d know about Master Diluc Ragvindr’s personal affairs, it’d be Sir Kaeya!”

 

Kaeya turned, looking slightly concerned. “Now Cyru-”

“Why, he’s Master Diluc’s brother after all!” 

 

Too late, Cyrus had said too much.

 

“Is that so?” Maximum laughed loudly, greatly interested. “Well come on, have a seat Captain Ragvindr!”

 

“Alberich.” Kaeya corrected, “Diluc and I are like brother, Cyrus, or have you had so much to drink already that you’ve forgotten?”

 

“Ugh-ah…” Cyrus bumbled, slouching over the table, leaning on his elbows.

 

“Oh? But if you are like brothers, you must be on such good terms!” Maximum insisted.

 

Good. This was going splendidly. Even if he hadn’t met the winery master as he had wished, he’d found someone possibly better! Who more to know about his rival’s secrets than someone close to him? Surely he could get some rather good information from this man!

 

“Ahaha…” Kaeya chuckled, rubbing his head and smiling.

 

“Uwaah...Kaeya looks embarrassed.” Paimon pointed out.

Aether remarked. “Kaeya’s always shy about Diluc.”

 

First names? This little boy was using such a casual manner of addressing the two men; whom as far as the Snezhnayan merchant was concerned, could be two of the most important figures in the whole of Mondstadt. Maximum was impressed. This little lad seemed to also be close to not only the blasted winery youngster, but also the cavalry captain who seemed to have information he might need on his rival.

 

“Come now, come now, no need to be shy!” Maximum insisted, waving to one of the younger men in his entourage. “You! Get us a round of drinks! We have a very important guest here!”

Kaeya eyed the young man as he went off, his usual genial smile gracing his lips. “We’ll need some wolfhook juice for this little one Master Maximm.”

 

“Oh, too young to drink is he?” 

 

“Actually-” But Aether wasn’t allowed to finish.

 

Kaeya answered for him. “He’s our dear Honorary Knight you see, too upright to let so much as a sinful drop grace his lips.”

 

They chatted awhile, drinking--Kaeya knowing just how to gauge himself and how to make it look as if he was downing more than he actually had. Cyrus of course, didn’t hold back and after about an hour, had slumped over the table completely.

 

Maximum had slowly been growing more impatient; Kaeya could see from the way his face reddened faster than one’s should. His remarks became more blunt and his voice cracked as he yelled every once in a while. Taking one last side-glance at Cyrus and seeing his slow, relaxed breaths, Kaeya decided it was time.

 

His one eye then quickly flashed at Aether.

 

“Uh...it’s late.” Aether excused, slowly getting up from the table--he had finished his juice a good half-hour ago.

 

“Oh, that’s right.” Kaeya cooed, “Good little boys need to go to bed whilst the adults talk about more...serious things.”

The cavalry captain purposefully cast a glance over to the merchant, smiling just a little wider.

 

“I wouldn’t want my little bird to be too exposed to the unsavoury businesses of the adult world.” He said with emphasis.

 

Aether tilted his head, looking confused. “Huh?”

 

Maximum lit up, catching onto the obvious look the bluenette was giving him. Perhaps there really was something more to this man than just another dumb free-loving Mondstadtian! He did look the part; that exotic, foreign appearance...surely there was something he could glean from him. 

 

“The captain is correct!” The Snezhnayan merchant insisted. “An Honorary Knight of your age should remain as honorable and as straight-arrowed as you always have! Go on now, to bed! No doubt adventures await you tomorrow!”

 

Kaeya was onto something. It was obvious now from the way he inserted himself into the conversation between himself and the foreign merchant and had just cut him out. Aether knew better than to ignore it.

 

“O-kay.” The traveller said as innocently as possible. “Goodnight Captain!”

 

Kaeya purred, “Goodnight my little bird.”

 

No sooner had Aether left did the filthy merchant utter dreaded words that Kaeya found his usually cool demeanour almost boiling inside.

 

“He’s a fine one.” Maximum remarked. “I see you like blondes, have you trained him yet?”

 

Part of the human trafficking trade, huh? Only one with their grubby hands in such a distasteful part of the underworld would say such a thing.

 

“How much to take him off your hands?” The merchant said casually.

 

Ah, that made sense now. His Entourage was...Kaeya glanced about the tavern where they were currently seated around their table. Nothing their different builds and dynamics, he could see past their veiled conversations into the power-play that was happening amongst them. Who had the right to take whom that night, who got to ask their master for favors, and so on.

 

How predictable .

 

“Unfortunately, he’s not for sale.” Kaeya smiled, thin and dangerous.

 

Of course, the merchant was far too intoxicated to notice.

 

“Come now, a handsome, fit young man like you can surely find another! Why, as far as I’m concerned, there’s no shortage of beauties in Mondstadt!” Maximm laughed, downing another mug and smacking the table.

 

“Speaking of another…” Kaeya latched onto the hint quickly. “Surely a man with a keen taste for beauty such as yourself would have heard the latest rumors about our young, handsome, local business mogul.”

 

Maximum hiccuped, then leaned closer. “Yes, yes! That woman, what’s she like?”

 

Kaeya smiled.

--- Day 3: Morning

 

Diluc surveyed the scenery, the tents to accommodate the number of guests coming over seemed secure, the decorations lavish, the stone scrubbed clean and dried...everything was ready for the arrival of his guests. Just as expected of Adeline.

 

No, not his guests, Diluc reminded himself.

 

Diluc Ragvindr, Master of Dawn Winery’s guests.

 

He sighed--what a tiring pretense. No matter. He had dealt with the problem earlier on with a little help from Mondstadt’s favorite adopted son; the Honorary Knight. No further trouble should come to the nation even if this merchant was planning to ruin their economy by stealing some of his brewing secrets.

 

Of course, there would be no fair judgement without evidence. If it meant he had to allow someone to steal from him, then he would.

 

He settled in his seat, throwing one leg over the other.

 

There was another pressing matter to be dealt with.

 

After ensuring that everything was prepared, Diluc ventured back in towards his favorite seat by the fire--the only untouched part of the manor. It was rare that he hosted parties on the winery grounds; he rather disliked having to allow such treacherous, blackened hearts onto his property.

 

Lying. Faking smiles. Always scheming something.

 

Ah, yes...there was the first treacherous heart he had encountered that was like that wasn’t there? One he could never forget; one he could never be rid of.

 

There.

 

A flash of blue.

 

Diluc stood from his seat at once, leaping out the window he had left open to allow the breeze in.

 

---

 

Kaeya smiled, shifting his weight from one hip to the other. “Oh...?”

 

He kept his voice small, the flowery shawl around his shoulders falling just a little to show just a tiny bit more skin. 

 

Magar placed his hands together, bowing, pleading. “Please...I understand that in comparison, I don’t measure up.”

 

Lifting a hand, Kaeya couldn’t help but bite his lip behind an obscuring figure at the pitiful sight. He hadn’t intended for this plan to go so well. Perhaps Wagner’s new little device had proven far too effective. Not that it was a bad thing.

 

All around the Winery, he had placed tiny bottles of pure Lampgrass scent; amplified by the skills of that little perfume shop in Liyue. Thanks to Ying’er’s skills, the aroma had transformed into a rather effective, though still mild, hallucinogen.

 

“But if you’re willing to give me a chance...I…” Magar stammered, looking up from behind his joined hands. “I heard about it from Cyrus, did you really lose your memory?”

 

Kaeya blinked. Oho? Was that officially part of the story behind ‘Lampgrass’ now? Really...the Adventurer’s Guild always seemed to take the most outlandish stories as truth. Oh well. It wasn’t something he couldn’t work with.

 

“Oh...that’s-...” Kaeya drew his words out, fidgeting purposefully. “Has everyone...really been saying such things about me? It’s not that...it’s not that I don’t want to remember it’s just-”

“Then come with me!” Magar begged. “We can go on an adventure, we’ll find your memories! I just...I want to know you more too-”

“YOU!”

 

Kaeya stiffened--that was Diluc’s voice.

 

Oh dear, not again. Unfortunately for Kaeya, Aether wasn’t here to jump in and save him; he was busy getting his requested preparations done! Breaking into a run, Kaeya pushed past Magar.

 

It would be troublesome if Master Diluc caught him now. If the way he had reacted to the sight of him at Mondstadt just the other day, Kaeya surmised that Diluc too had been greatly affected by the illusion-casting scent. Ah but to think that even Master Diluc, the always serious and dedicated night-time vigilante could be swayed by just the slightest touch of perfume…

 

“Stop!” Diluc barked.

 

“Ugh-?!” Magar staggered as he was shoved aside, then again as red flashed across his vision. “M-Master Diluc, I swear I wasn’t-uh…?”

 

But Diluc ignored him, instead pinpointed on his fleeing blue target.

 

Kaeya felt a heat nipping at his heels; almost quite literally as his stilettos clacked across the stone courtyard. If he could make it to the treeline, he could-

 

“Hyaa-!” Kaeya screamed--his voice cracking a little too high for his liking--as a sharp tug stung the back of his hair.

 

Maybe he’d gotten into playing his part a little too much.

 

Yanking at Kaeya’s hair again, Diluc forced the other to stop, no doubt the workers in the fields in front of them getting an eyeful of Kaeya’s front as the other’s leg stuck out, skirt flying.

 

“Khh-...come with me!” Diluc demanded, tugging a little harshly.

 

“Oh dear-...” Hillie gasped, looking up from her cleaning.

 

Mocco raised a hand to her mouth. “Oh no-...”

 

Glancing about, Diluc first felt then saw everyone’s eyes upon them.

 

Kaeya whimpered, shaking as his hands went to his hair, trying to ease some of the tension Diluc’s grip caused, roots stinging in pain. “M-Master Di-...”

Magar was slack-jawed. 

 

“Shit.” Diluc hissed under his breath.

 

He let go.

 

Kaeya gasped, doubling over in pain and holding his head. “Ow, ow, ow…”

 

Nobody dared say a thing. What was there to say? They had never seen Master Diluc lose his temper so violently before. That poor new maid…

 

Of course, the staff that did know had also gone quiet. What could they do to get Sir Kaeya out of this situation? They’d gone along with this entire charade in hopes that the captain’s plan would go smoothly…

 

“Come with me.” Diluc growled, grasping Kaeya’s wrist and marching towards the door.

 

Kaeya stumbled after him, nearly tripping over one of his own stilettos.

 

Curious and frightened staff could only watch as their fiery master disappeared behind the double-doors, followed by the scantily-dressed bluenette.

 

SLAM!

 

--

 

“Explain yourself.”

 

Kaeya chuckled, placing his hands respectfully in front of his person like a good maid should. “Master Diluc, I don’t quite understand.”

 

Fire bubbled underneath the surface of Diluc’s skin, all of this running around and lying--all this trouble coming his way because of those rumors. It was a hindrance to his work. With the entirety of Mondstadt with their eye on him, there was no way he could move as freely as he had been doing. But that wasn’t the real problem right now.

 

What... what was this? Tight stockings, a thong that hid nothing under a skirt that was useless...his chest exposed, plumped by the tightness of his skimpy little black uniform that was a joke of an attire. It was like...it was like one of those slave-dresses Diluc had seen on his journey in his encounters with the unsavoury side of the underground. Human-traffickers who trained people to be...gh, the thought made Diluc sick.

 

Kaeya shouldn’t look like that--Kaeya shouldn’t show himself like that to anyone--just-...he...it was...

 

“Kaeya!” Diluc bared his teeth.

 

At that, Kaeya could only laugh a little bit. “Well, I can’t say I was expecting my little story to go around so quickly…”

 

“So it was you.” Diluc seethed. “I’ve been pestered with questions everywhere I go lately. Kaeya…”

 

The captain shivered--Diluc’s voice simmered, low and threatening. Just like that night…

 

“Now, now…” Kaeya raised both hands in self-defense. “I was just having a bit of fun.”

 

“By dressing up like that and causing me trouble?!” Diluc roared, slamming his hands on the work table in front of him. “Kaeya...if you get in my way…”

 

Damnit. Those long, long legs...exposed and plump...Kaeya’s scent everywhere as he strutted about in a skirt that covered nothing. Three times...three times he had seen that perfect round ass--

 

“Oho...I know very well what you’d do, Master Diluc.” Kaeya remarked, cat-like icey eye softening.

 

Diluc’s mind reeled. Everyone in town had seen Kaeya like this. Almost completely naked...that strong back, tapering down to an unbearably tiny waist. Such a perfect little waist for anyone to throw an arm around and ensnare him... what was Kaeya thinking ?!

 

“Still...it’s not as if I decided to do this to ruin you.” Kaeya confessed.

 

Suspicious.

 

That was definitely suspicious, Diluc noted bitterly. Just what kind of prey was Kaeya after? What sort of sick, perverted bastard would he be trying to honeypot by looking so...so... delicious ?!

 

“What then?” Diluc demanded, standing back and crossing his arms. “If you’re planning to use me as a scapegoat for another one of your-”

 

“No, no, no…” Kaeya laughed, finally relaxing, his usual gait present as he sauntered closer, placing his hands on the desk.

 

Diluc resisted the urge to let his eyes glance downward, the flimsy skirt revealing more hip than it had a right to.

 

The maid-captain’s fingers brushed against the little dents in the wood Diluc’s own palms had left. Ah, such force...Diluc was always so heavy-handed nowadays.

 

“That mess in Dadaupa was recently cleaned up. Imagine my surprise when my men and I found nothing left to take back as proof of our hard work.” Kaeya said, eye crescenting in amusement..and a bit of hurt. “A wasted trip I say, I wonder who we have to thank for that…”

 

Such a soft but firm-looking chest. It was no wonder that whatever little concoction he had placed around the winery--yes, Diluc had found one of the bottles in the hideous vase Keya had gifted him--had driven everyone mad. With a little touch of a sweet mind-altering aroma and the image of a perfect little treat, it wasn’t too far of a stretch to think that anyone who didn’t know Kaeya well enough would’ve fallen for the ‘Lady Lampgrass’ trick.

 

“Revenge, then?” Diluc scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. “I have no time for your games.”

 

“No, Master Diluc…” Kaeya smiled, “A distraction .”

 

Was that it then? Something as silly as a distraction from his work? No, there had to be something more. This had to be a distraction for someone else--or from something else? There was something about this entire visit that Kaeya knew and he didn’t. But what?

 

Tch…

 

“Did you really think I’d fall for that disguise?” Diluc scowled; it was insulting, really. “I could tell from the start.”

 

Could it be...yes, this time of year. Wasn’t it rather close to...no, no...would Kaeya really go this far? He said it was a distraction--come to think of it, why had Aether helped him out the other day? So there was something he was plotting. But to think he would go this far for something so trivial...no, no, no, it couldn’t be...could it?

 

“ Oh… ?” Kaeya’s brows went up.

 

Ah, so he had been wrong about Diluc being fooled by the Lampgrass-perfume illusion. 

 

“Well, you’ve got me.” Kaeya raised both hands again, shrugging. “Shame, I had thought that this little experiment would have fooled even you, Ying’er will be so disappointed.”

 

“That explains...that.” Diluc squinted. “You smell stronger than usual.”

 

Kaeya tilted his head.

 

What?

 

Was Diluc talking about the perfume? Did he mistake it for something else?

 

“You mean the Lady Lampgrass’ signature scent?” Kaeya suggested, righting his head back up in amusement.

 

“No, yours .” Diluc insisted, scowling even further. “Stop spreading your smell all over the Winery. My staff has gotten quite strange because of it.”

 

It was the only explanation Diluc had due to recent events. Kaeya’s fault--it was always Kaeya’s fault.

 

Hm, Kaeya didn’t know what to make of this. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, honestly, Master Diluc…”

 

“Don’t lie. You’ve always smelled like that. ” Diluc growled, growing tired of all this rather quickly. “I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish, but I have gotten to the point where I no longer care. Leave. ”

 

He sat down, scooting his chair back lest he strike the table again and make a mess of his work before his guests arrived.

 

Kaeya went quiet.

 

He’d...always smelled like Lampgrass blossoms?

 

Was that...was that why Diluc always tended to the wild Lampgrass blossoms at the other end of the winery…?

 

Was that...also why Diluc wandered into the Whispering Woods on the more quiet nights, settling down next to the softly glowing blue…

 

“Do Lampgrass blossoms remind you of me, Master Diluc?” Kaeya asked--all pretenses aside now, truly curious.

 

At the question, Diluc felt a shiver run through his body.

 

Caught.

 

Not that he had been keeping it a secret. It was just...he hadn’t really dwelled on it. This time of year...every year ...ever since they were little, Kaeya had always given him a small bouquet of Lampgrass Blossoms.

 

Ever since…

 

Ever since he had said he liked them.

 

He’d never told Kaeya the reason as to why , though.

 

Shit.

 

Diluc mentally scolded himself. They were too old for silly little notions like this. Affection, trust, family...what did all of that mean to him now? Kaeya was so busy having fun, whilst he himself was at his wit’s end. He thought of them sometimes; those old days, where they were like twins in all but blood.

 

...that day, on his eighteenth, he was about to ask their father if it was alright for him to choose Kaeya.

 

...for him to end the Ragvindr bloodline by wedding the one person in his life he had trusted with all of his secrets; his fears, his darkness, his hopes and dreams, his most embarrassing desires…

 

Yet-

 

“Hm-?!” Diluc was suddenly torn from his thoughts as a leg, then another swung over his lap.

 

No.

 

“Hm~?” Kaeya mimicked in a sing-song tone. “What’s wrong Master Diluc…?”

 

Resist.

 

Kaeya cooed low, staring down at the shocked, angry expression on Diluc’s face. Such sweet words, even when spoken in a harsh tone--Kaeya knew what Diluc felt now. All this time...the little hints and small spats, the off-handed remarks and the fiery wall that shielded Diluc’s true intentions...it was all so obvious now.

 

“Diluc…” Kaeya beckoned, leaning closer. “...you want me.”

 

Let him go. Kaeya... Kaeya wasn’t his to have. Kaeya wasn’t that sweet loyal voice that would always be by his side.

 

“Stop.” Diluc snarled, trying to lean away, back pressing hard into the chair. “If you make a mess of all of this, I’ll-”

 

“You want to make a mess of me, Diluc.” Kaeya purred.

 

Diluc knew he didn’t have that right. That whatever path it was that Kaeya followed; if it meant they would clash again…

 

“I’ll roast you.” Diluc threatened. “If you’re going to play the part, then do as I say!”

 

He couldn’t be so selfish as to want to offer up the fate of everyone else’s in exchange for his own selfish fantasy--of Kaeya and he, quietly slipping away and growing old together, like he always thought it would be.

 

Gingerly, Kaeya leaned away once more, climbing off of Diluc’s lap. He knew now--his affections were not one-sided. How could he stop now? With Diluc so close...so honest after all this time…

 

Thud.

 

Diluc’s body stiffened as Kaeya dropped to his knees.

 

“Don’t you want to sell the story?” Kaeya cooed, rubbing his nose into Diluc’s crotch, burying it between his thigh and clothed cock. 

 

Diluc grimaced. The little maid hat swayed a little, it’s thin frills moving with every nibble and rub. What was meant to be a sign of servitude only fueled the perverse image of Kaeya’s head between his legs.

 

A soft chuckle from the tanned man caused Diluc to bare his teeth in a grimace. “Kaeya, stop pretending to be-”

 

Shffft-...

 

Opening his mouth, Kaeya playfully cupped Diluc’s bulge between his teeth, breathing out slowly. The humid breath caused the thighs at his shoulders to jerk suddenly, his face suddenly cupped by the hard muscle of Diluc’s legs.

 

“Gh-!” Diluc winced.

 

“Hmph-!” Kaeya yelped, muffled by Diluc’s crotch still in his mouth.

 

Well, he hadn’t expected that reaction. Now, with Diluc’s legs keeping him firmly placed, he couldn’t move his head back to release him.

 

“Tch-...” Diluc took a deep breath, slowly parting his thighs to let Kaeya go. “You...they’ll be here any moment. Stop playing around.”

 

Kaeya lifted his head away, allowing the temperate room air to soothe Diluc’s slowly awakening manhood. “Hmmh~...alright then Master Diluc...as you wish.”

 

At this, Diluc raised a brow. 

 

Too obvious.

 

Wait.

 

“...he’s planning to kill me, isn’t he?” Diluc concluded.

 

Kaeya’s little smile said it all, even before he spoke, slowly withdrawing back under the table. “My, my...what makes you say that, Master Diluc?”

 

Enough with that, Diluc inhaled sharply through his nose.

 

Kaeya stood, his knee buckling a little as he felt the bruises from cleaning the toilet floor start to sting a little. Ah, the angle his heels caused his knees to be at really wasn’t good for him.

 

“A trained maid’s work isn’t something you can handle.” Diluc sneered a little. “Stop this now, I’m busy.”

 

“Oho, why Master Diluc…” Kaeya cooed, bending over to do a little curtsey, turning--causing the skirt to fly up and expose his ass and what little underwear he had on for the third time in front of the young master. “That’s precisely why Lady Lampgrass is here.

 

“Tch-...” Diluc’s eye visibly twitched.

 

Was there no end to the ridiculous difficulties Kaeya was willing to put him through?! 

 

Day after day, he always had to wonder just what sort of silly plot he was scheming. 

 

Day after day after day, it was always something else in the works--either roping him into trouble he hadn’t planned for or causing difficulties in what should have been a rather easy night…

 

“Leave before Maximm gets here.” Diluc persisted, standing from where he sat.

 

Kaeya smirked--perhaps he did go a little too far this time. But to be so close to Diluc, when normally the man always kept him at least a bar-table’s length away. The fact that he had gotten so close to the object of his obsession, tasted the musk of his crotch through his pants…

 

Ah, Diluc’s scent and taste was something he still remembered well from their younger, more foolish days--trading innocent kisses in the sun.

 

It was too bad that Diluc...could never look at him that way again.

 

“Now, now Master Di-…” Kaeya stopped mid-sentence, his gaze dropping down.

 

Oh...

 

Knock, knock, knock…!

 

“Master Diluc, Meister Maximm’s carriage has arrived.” Adline’s voice interrupted from behind the door.

 

Diluc glanced in the direction of her voice. “I’m on my way…!”

 

Kaeya continued to stare, down...at a suspicious angle. “Diluc…”

 

“Stop this now!” Diluc quickly said, tone rising. “Leave before-”

 

“You have a bulge in your pants, Diluc.” Kaeya said pointedly.

 

“Ugh-...”

 

---

 

As Maximm hobbled up to the front steps, he heaved--what was this incline! It was like they hadn’t even tilled the land properly for such a business! Ridiculous! His fields were always perfectly flat, like a properly groomed gentleman!

 

How did a mess of a vineyard ever produce such good wine?! It made no sense!

 

“Meister.” Diluc greeted with a smile. “Welcome to Dawn Winery, I hope your journey here was not too arduous.”

 

Hoh. So this was the guy? He was nothing but a snot-nosed brat! The rumors couldn’t even begin to describe just how young he was. Such pale skin... did this man even do any of his own Winery work? Maximum couldn’t imagine it. Why, he almost looked like a pretty little prince !

 

“Bah, it was nothing!” Maximum replied, trying to keep his wits about him. “I’m sure the story of my trip here would be quite boring compared to the tales of your winery! Come now, let’s not stand in ceremony!”

 

He was finally here. Finally, his insurgents could get to work. It was time to take down this naive little tycoon and take the crown of ‘best wine brewed in all of Teyvat’ for himself!

 

Kaeya emerged then, a little smile on his face as his clicking heels sounded loud against the cobblestone.

 

“Hm?” Maximum turned towards the sound. “What is that horrible noi-...”

 

Oh. Tsaritsa. Sweet mother of ice.

 

Blue locks, cascading down a gorgeous face, sun-tanned and soft as if it were molded by the Archon of Geo himself, eyes as if they were plucked from the briney blue shores by the god of Hydro and molded into perfect almonds...Maximm stopped his train of thought before he tread into the territory of blasphemy.

 

Diluc felt his blood boil at the look on the Meister’s face. That filthy, degenerate gaze...directed right at Kaeya. Oh he knew what this man’s kind was. He knew all too well.

 

Why did Kaeya have to complicate things?!

 

“Meister Maximm, please.” Diluc said politely.

 

“Oh-! Yes!” Maximum said, clearing his throat. “Lead the way!”

 

It was Kaeya who turned first, instead being the one to lead the motley group towards the back of the Winery, where the tent and the decorations were set up. The white drapes were lavish, accented with ribbons of bright red, enhanced by the dotting of little sweet flowers--a common and simple, but tasteful addition.

 

A long, long, Fragrant Cedarwood table stretched the length of the setup, shaded and cool, dotted by the round drinking tables of the winery. Extra bottles of different brews of red and white wine, pink and golden champagne and even a few bottles of the rare Applebloom Cider that was said to only be available in Mondstadt once a year piled on each of the surrounding tables.

 

“Please, have a seat.” Diluc said, motioning. “The flowers, please.”

 

As Maximm and his entourage each decided where to seat themselves at the table--with Maximm being at the opposite end to where Diluc sat at the head of the table, Kaeya quickly fetched the bouquet Adeline had painstakingly retrieved from Donna after their little mishap. He casually strolled up to the end of the table between the two men, bending over coyly and presenting it to the slightly shorter man with a smile.

 

“Welcome to Dawn Winery.” he giggled.

 

Maximum stared, long and hard--was was this creature? Such a supple-fleshed, exotic being...as if from somewhere far, far away...farther than even across the ocean. So warm and yet...there was a soothing frost emanating from their icey eyes, like his beloved home Sneznhaya.

 

“Thank you ever so much for the flowers.” Maximum chortled. “My lady, what is your name?”

 

Fat, sausage fingers reached out, attempting to take a hold of the fair being’s hand.

 

No. Diluc wasn’t going to allow that.

 

“Hgh-?!” Kaeya bit back a yelt as the strap slapped his thigh. The tanned skin turned pink, in a long line that ran up his supple leg under his skirt. “Gh-!”

 

Maximum was surprised as the fair hand quickly retracted out of reach, followed by the shrill cry. 

 

“I told you to stop teasing the guests.” Diluc’s voice rumbled, low, menacing.

 

“Master Diluc-...” Kaeya whined, scooting away from the Meister and closer to the red-head.

 

Oh dear. Kaeya hadn’t anticipated Diluc’s little tantrum. Was this...was he...could Kaeya allow himself to think that Diluc was...jealous? Ahaha, this could get a little more interesting than he had anticipated.

 

“Please excuse her.” Diluc addressed the table of gawkers. “She hasn’t been in my service for very long.”

 

How shameless . But this was good, good, Maximum thought. There was no way a virgin-faced boy like this Diluc could know the value of such a magnificent specimen. 

 

“Master Diluc…” Kaeya protested as innocently as he could. “I was told by Adeline that I should be more helpful to you.”

 

Just look at her! Such little clothing, the obvious rejection of his advances--clearly she did not wish to be with him! She was too good for someone like him. So polite and demur and yet so full of mischief!

 

Diluc smirked--was that how Kaeya was going to play? Fine.  

 

“You can help by taking better care of yourself. Your stockings can’t hide the bruises on your knees. There isn’t a point to you working so hard if you injure yourself whilst doing something as simple as scrubbing the floors.

 

Scrubbing the floors, huh? What an obvious statement! Maximum brooded, eyeing the shining, sun-glowing skin, the tiny waist waiting to be filled...such a shame, such a shame that she had found such a young and inexperienced Master.

 

“M-Master…” Kaeya stammered, playing into the accusation, batting his eyelashes at Diluc coyly. “Please don’t-”

 

“Do I need to remind you what happens if you try to run from me?” Diluc struck suddenly, words like knives in Kaeya’s ears.

 

A shiver, hot, searing, crept up kaeya’s toes, up his legs all the way up his spine, his ears ringing. 

 

Diluc…?

 

Before Kaeya could catch his bearings and counter, trying to douse the tickling flames that Diluc had lit in his chest that were threatening to go wild, Diluc spoke again.

 

“Wait for me inside.” Diluc commanded firmly as Adeline and the other ladies emerged with brunch. 

 

Kaeya’s breath hitched.

 

Despite his little fantasy in being in such a demeaning situation, Kaeya noted the look in Diluc’s eye. He knew that look--that serious, determined look. Diluc had given in and was playing his part.

 

He was giving Kaeya a chance to slip away and set up whatever trap he was laying.

 

“My room. Don’t come out until I tell you.” Diluc ordered.

 

Oho, ahaha...Kaeya bit back a smile. Diluc was quite the actor when he wanted to be. Bowing low, low enough for Maximm to get a good look at the side-curve of his ass, he excused himself.

 

“Yes, Master Diluc.”

 

--- Day 3: Noon

 

Glass after glass, the Meister’s tongue became loose. Just as it had the night before. Kaeya chuckled, leaning just out of sight in the window of Diluc’s study, listening to everything the other had to say.

 

He went on and on about the different wines women liked, how Snezhnayan Fire-Water should be allowed back into Mondstadt, why a partnership between their wineries and the Meister’s other businesses would make Diluc’s fortunes grow and so on…

 

It wasn’t until the fifteenth bottle of Dandelion Wine--amongst other drinks, which had no doubt already mixed into the Meister’s system--that Kaeya picked up some conversation from the other men at the table. Ah yes, it was important that he remembered the Meister’s loyal dogs.

 

---

 

“Meister looks displeased.” One of the younger men whispered a little.

 

His assigned partner leaned over the table, shoulders bumping into the other’s. “It’s that little whore-maid. He’s smitten.”

 

“That’s the lady the whole city is talking about.” One from across the table announced. “Didn’t that knight guy say she was quite the catch, too? Do you think we should take her?”

 

The one next to him spoke up. “She was told to wait in his room, right? I say we take her now and throw her in the back of the carriage before anyone notices.”

 

“What if she becomes Meister Maximm’s next favorite?” The youngest one spoke up, concerned.

 

Out of the six men, the largest and therefore the most senior in position finally gave his two cents. “Then we break her until she’s a loose cocksleeve. You know how the Meister likes a tight hole.”

 

Maximm side-eyed the end of the table as two of his loyal dogs stood, excusing themselves. Good boys, such good, good boys, already going after his latest fixation. He had raised them all very well...

 

“Now then Master Diluc, about that young lady…” Maximm pushed. “As you can see, I too have a taste for certain types. I understand that being in this industry is quite stressful.”

 

“Oh?” Diluc raised a brow.

 

Yes, this man was precisely the type of scum he despised. The type that saw other humans as nothing more than commodities with prices to be put on their heads.

 

“Of course, of course!” Maximm chuckled. “That Cavalry Captain told me all about your little troubles. I must say he’s got quite the refined sense in seeking out quality specimens as well!”

 

So Kaeya had already confirmed what kind of trash this bastard was , Diluc noted.

 

“How about it? I could take her off your hands for a couple weeks--no, no, a few days!” Maximm bargained, becoming quite animated, going so far as to accidentally spill a little wine on the white table cloth and staining it red. “My boys here are quite adept at breaking in new toys.”

 

 The hairs on the back of his neck began to stand in anger as the merchant kept speaking.

 

How would this wretched lump of shit feel if his own freedoms were stripped of him--if he were reduced to nothing more than a piece of meat?

Diluc’s rage burned quietly, behind smouldering blood-red eyes. “Are they now?”

 

Feeling like he had wormed his way into the young master’s good graces, Maximm let more of his true colors show. 

 

“Why…” he leaned in close, speaking in a low voice. “There isn’t a hole that my boys here can’t train. When you get her back, she’ll be a good, obedient little thing, just to your liking.”

 

Die.

 

Diluc decided then.

 

All of these men needed to be burned away.

 

“I’m interested in hearing more, Meister Maximm.” Diluc said just as quietly--if he had said so any louder, his anger would have shown. “But first...wouldn’t you like to walk amongst the fields that produced the wine at this table?”

 

“Oho! Certainly, certainly!” The Meister cleared his throat, the wine having made it dry. “You there! Fetch me some water! I need water if we’re going to walk in this heat!”

 

The fat man motioned to Mocco, who visibly flinched.

 

Quickly, one of the butlers stepped in instead, smiling genially; as genially as he had learned to from Kaeya, as of late. “Your water sir, iced.”

 

Diluc’s eye wandered over to the dark window of his study knowingly, as the fat man chugged the entire pitcher of water down. The two who had left the table hadn’t returned yet, no doubt they were up to something.

 

“Come, we will be meeting several of my most trusted staff, including Elzer.”

 

Meister Maximm choked on the last bit of ice from the pitcher. “Buhah-Eh-Elzer?! As in The Elzer?! The Executive Chairman of Mondstadt’s Wine Guild!?”

 

“He’s quite the capable man, so I hired him to help manage things.” Diluc said; smiling a little at the envy beginning to bubble in the other’s expression.

 

---

 

Sitting atop the study, Kaeya wasn’t too surprised to hear the footfalls of unfamiliar gaits heading in his direction. Really, all of these idiots were far too predictable. Dangle a little bait, utter a few words, sprinkle some perfume and there and viola.

 

It was too easy.

 

No sooner than they had opened the door, one of the men had made right for him, barrelling in like a mindless boar; no doubt trying to take him to the ground.

 

But Kaeya wasn’t some hapless maiden.

 

FSSSST-!

 

“AAH-!”

 

Kaeya smiled, eye glinting as the blood that coated his frost-born blade painted the redwood floor. 

 

One fool down.

 

Aa..AAH!” The other man turned to flee, his legs shaking with fright.

 

What just happened?! A Vision holder?! Since when--

 

“Oya, oya…” Kaeya hummed, “There’s no point in you running~...!”

 

Snap!

 

“AAH! AHH -GHA-!” The man’s screams were cut short, the air in his lungs suddenly freezing over.

 

Splat!

 

“Gh-ah...hu..ua…” Shivering violently, the fleeing would-be-kidnapper looked down, his neck cracking through the frost that froze his very bones...to find a chunk of ice piercing right through his middle.

 

Kaeya sighed, looking at the water and blood that dripped onto the floor; right next to the man’s ejected guts. That was something he would need to clean up.

 

“How rude.” He remarked, stilettos clacking against the wooden floors. “It’s a good thing Master Diluc favours Redwood pine flooring, else this mess would stain the floors.”

 

He smiled as the man slumped over the ice that had erupted from the ground beneath him. Now, there were only a few left to clean up.

 

Oh…

 

Oh dear.

 

Kaeya suddenly felt a trickle of sweat as he realized…the chunk of ice had broken up from the moist soil in the ground and right through the boards.

 

...he had ruined Diluc’s floor.

 

“I knew this would happen.”

 

Spinning around, Kaeya nearly tripped over his heel when Diluc appeared in the doorway. “Ah-...Diluc...ahaha...ah…”

 

Well, he had no excuse now.

 

“I was attacked first, you know? Clearly it was self-defense.” Kaeya noted, smiling.

 

The captain backed away, right up against the table, bumping into it with the back of his heel. He yelped in surprise, having forgotten where exactly he was in the room.

 

“Is that so…?” Diluc questioned, stride taking him right up in Kaeya’s face before the other could move.

 

“Ahh, so Master Diluc did notice.” Kaeya chuckled, raising a curious brow in anticipation.

 

“So it is that he wants to kill me, then.” Diluc remarked, face inching closer.

 

“Ah-...” Kaeya jumped when a burning hand grasped the side of his asscheek. “Master Diluc, aren’t you getting a little too into your role? Where’s the Meister? Don’t you have a winery tour to be attending to?”

 

Kaeya always  talked a lot, Diluc knew. But he talked the most when he was nervous. It was a sight that Diluc hadn’t seen in years. Not since their younger days. The usual quiet Kaeya would always start making excuses, trying to distract the object of his panic. Now, Kaeya was always talking...always, always talking too much.

“You’re the only one pretending.” Diluc snapped.

 

Kaeya’s eye widened.

 

“Mast-mph-?!” 

 

Hot. Diluc’s lips were hot . Diluc’s tongue was hot as it forced its way past his lips and pressed up against his own.

 

Kaeya gasped, losing his balance against the table, subsequently ending up half-sitting on it. “Mh-uh...haa…!”

 

Diluc shoved his arm under one of Kaeya’s thighs as he flailed, lifting it and spreading the other’s legs apart and hoisting him up on the desk farther. “Mpha...nh-...”

 

He licked the other’s tongue one last time, before withdrawing to bite down on Kaeya’s lip. 

 

“Mh-ah!” Kaeya cried out, the thin cloth of the thong doing nothing to stop the feeling of Diluc’s clothed hardness

 

“I want you.” Diluc growled.

 

Kaeya flushed. “Diluc...that’s enough...I’m sorry, I took this joke too-”

 

“I want to make a mess of you.”

 

Blop.

 

“Ihk-...!?” Kaeya jumped, his hips jerking in surprise at the feeling of something hot, long and thick suddenly smacking against his lower stomach.

 

Diluc had enough. Even if he were to resist, he could not count on anyone else doing the same. This beautiful, scheming, ice-cold mess of a man...how could he have not realized that he could lose him to someone else.

 

This world...was full of such filthy evil hearts. What if...what if one of them were to get their hands on Kaeya one day? What if he would be too late?

 

This short visit had made diluc realize...there was no point in holding back. Not now, not when Kaeya had made it so obvious as to what he wanted.

 

“You want me to make a mess of you.”

 

Slap!

 

Kaeya yelped as the garter strap that lined his ass was pulled and snapped, whipping against his cheek. “Ah-! D-Diluc…! Wait--th-the bodies...the merchant is still-”

 

“Shut up.” Diluc commanded, grasping Kaeya’s shoulder and pushing him down onto the desk. 

 

Papers spilled onto the floor, a few of the white sheets becoming stained red with blood.

 

“I said I don’t have time for your games.” Diluc repeated, brows knitting together in a miserable expression.

 

Kaeya’s mouth fell open, bottom lip already swollen from Diluc’s bite. “Diluc…”

 

That shiver returned, hot, boiling...Diluc’s gaze had him nailed to the wood. Cornered. Trapped. There was only one other time he had been held down and threatened by anyone in his life and it was by the same, fiery red man--they had been younger then, the situation had been different.

“Diluc…” Kaeya whispered; a small, terrified sound.

 

The same, small terrified sound he had uttered that same night--that same terrible day that Diluc had become a man, so many years ago now.

 

It had been so long since--

 

Kaeya’s ass twitched at the friction against it, knowing very much just what the throbbing length was that thrust so eagerly against his privates. What Diluc wanted now...how could he have anticipated such a thing.

 

“You want me.” Diluc asserted.

 

Kaeya swallowed--never before had he ever dreamed that his obsession towards his dear former-brother could be reciprocated in such a way. They were moving so quickly now, both grasping at little fragments of conversations and the shaded words between them--spoken with under-handed meaning between the lines…

 

Kaeya pressed his lips together hard, shuddering, gaze dropping down to where his skirt had fallen down onto his stomach, revealing his own cock, now slowly rising with Diluc’s continued shallow grinds against his ass.

 

“H-here…?” Was all Kaeya could say at the sight, swallowing hard.

 

That deadly, ruthless hoarfrost...how mercilessly he had taken out the two men after his life...Diluc was harshly reminded just how cold Kaeya's flame was. Yet Diluc knew, there was another side to that coin--a side depper than the fake charm and false smiles...

 

“Don’t you want to sell the story?” Diluc smirked, throwing the other’s words back. “You came here to kill for me…”

 

Kaeya shuddered, a shudder that Diluc drank in. “I...I did…”

 

Ah, there he was. The pliant, shy young man that Diluc had called his little brother so long ago. Meek, wanting nothing more than to please him...

 

“Did you think I could ignore that?” Diluc’s gaze narrowed, his bright crimson suddenly dimming in a pained expression. “That I wouldn’t notice how you’ve been looking at me, all this time?”

 

Kaeya whimpered, completely vorned, both physically and emotionally. Had he been so obvious?  

 

Oh...Diluc, please...don’t look like that...don’t look so…

 

How could Kaeya resist when he gave him that look; when he wanted this just as terribly, just as desperately Diluc did? When he’d fought so long not to think about it…?

 

Kaeya squirmed, pushing against Diluc’s abdomen with both hands, hesitation. “Diluc…if we...do this…”

 

“So you have been thinking about it.” The fire returned to Diluc’s eyes, “Then you know where…”

 

Slip .

 

“Hiih-!” Kaeya gasped in surprise, the string of the thong that did almost nothing to cover his little hole suddenly tugged aside by a gloved hand.

 

Diluc swirled his finger, pressing the soft red velvet palm-side around the little bumps and ridges of Kaeya’s tight little ‘mouth’. “If you know...then…”

 

“Diluc-!” With a shrill cry, Kaeya shook, overwhelmed with anticipation and swirling emotions, wrought by Diluc’s unquenchable flame--pushing a little harder against Diluc’s abdomen. “No...n-not the gloves...p-please…”

That wasn’t a no. Diluc clenched his jaw, understanding  just a little more of how this was going to go if they kept this up.

 

Creak…

 

A small sound--barely noticeable amidst Kaeya’s breaths and his own growing heart rate. But it was there.

 

An assassin was here; no doubt to take Diluc out whilst the wretched fat pig had an alias, out in the winery fields with Elzer.

 

Diluc lifted the hand that had been teasing Kaeya, biting into one of the fingers of the glove and pulling the whole accessory off.

 

A pale hand, covered in cuts and welts, scars as old as his pain, wounds as fresh as yesterday. Kaeya stared at it, ear tickled--slightly distracted by yet another sound.

 

Creak…

 

A small glint from the crack in the door. A knife? Or something similar? Most likely.

 

“They’re not the same hands you used to hold, Kaeya.” Diluc said in a low voice, low enough for only Kaeya to hear his words.

 

With a small, wry smile, Kaeya grasped at Diluc’s hand, pressing the palm against his lips. “...they feel the same.”

Tap.

 

A tentative footstep behind Diluc.

 

Diluc sighed, gritting his teeth. “They aren’t-”

“Put your hands on me, Diluc…” Kaeya insisted softly, “Your real hands.”

 

Tap.

 

Another step, closer, finally making their way into the room proper.

 

“Khh-!” Diluc tore his hand away from Kaeya’s, showing it back down between the other’s asscheeks.

 

Slip !

 

His finger entered easily.

 

“Ah-!” Kaeya arched, stiletto flying across the room.

 

Clatter! Clink!

 

It fell, striking the icicle that Kaeya had so carelessly left inside the corpse of one of Maximm’s men.

 

“AAH--!”

 

FSSSST-!

 

What a completely unprofessional assassin, Kaeya thought.

Cold. Kaeya’s cold was so...comforting. Diluc felt the raging fire of conflicting flames in his die down. There was no doubt now.

 

Diluc turned away from the sight of Kaeya pinned under him only once: to glance at the man-sicle Kaeya had created, a large block of ice consuming the door, the doorframe and whatever space was in-between and around it. Now, they were trapped in this room, surrounded by the corpses of Kaeya's sins.

 

“Tsk…” He grunted, returning his attention down. “Seems you’re used to this if you can still attack whilst being attacked.”

 

Slip .

 

“Ngh-...” Kaeya’s hips jerked as Diluc’s finger pushed in further. “Haa-ah...not so...nhh…”

 

“It’s wet .” Diluc growled, leaning into kaeya further, forcing his legs open wider. 

 

Wet...Kaeya was already wet and hungry inside. Who?! Who was it that dared to claim what he had been yearning for this whole time?! Who had out their filthy hands on the cold comfort that had been with him since their childhood?! He had been gazing at Kaeya, all this time...all this time he had been with him the longest! How dare--...

 

“ Who- ”

“ Me- !” Kaeya quickly said, not wanting to hear such an accusation.

 

Please...nobody else...he couldn’t possibly think of anyone else, let alone allow it…

 

Diluc ate his own words, swallowing them back down with a gasp of surprise at Kaeya’s desperate reaction. “... you… ?”

 

“M-my fingers.” Kaeya admitted, hands rising to hide his face.

 

Oh...oh no. That was unfair, Diluc seethed. 

 

“I...you hold me...when I sleep.” Kaeya confessed; fumbling over his own words. The admission wasn’t something he had ever thought he’d need to explain. “I see you...I’ve seen you in my dreams, ever since you left...you hold me a-and…when I wake up, you’re not there-”

 

Kaeya’s expression, his soft alluring voice...the implications of his words... so unfair…

 

"Ghn-!" Diluc removed his finger and prodded with his hips, pressing forward.

 

Schlick-!

 

“U-ah...aah!” Kaeya arched, his leg straining against the other’s shoulder as the tip of Diluc’s cock forced his pucker open. 

 

Slick, slipp…!

 

Diluc thrust his thumb into Kaeya’s open mouth, drinking in the expression on the other’s face as he entered forcefully. “I told you...I warned you…”

 

Kaeya’s eye was wide, pupil so small that the color of his one visible orb was made of ice. It glittered with tears, shimmering in the moonlight that drifted in through the window. With each nudge of his hips, Kaeya gasped, choking on his own saliva, tongue stiff as his body jerked.

 

Sclhippp- schliip-POP!

 

“Ah-haa...ah!” Kaeya shuddered, unable to move as Diluc’s cockhead finally broke through the tight ring and pushed its way into him. “Huu-!”

 

Tha-dump ...

 

His eye rolled back, the round, hot head ground into the soft, tightness of his walls, rubbing and pressing hard into his prostate. 

 

"Huu-huu...uu…" Kaeya trembled, his insides feeling Diluc's shape, his mind perversely trying to memorize the form of Diluc's cockhead.

 

With one hard thrust, Diluc opened him up all the way inside.

 

Slap!

 

"UUGH-?!"

 

"Haa…" Diluc smirked, gleaming red eyes barreling down on Kaeya with a cruel fiery gaze. 

 

Slip...SLAP! Slip…

 

A gentle withdrawal, followed by a hard thrust, before a sloooow, agonizing pulling out…

 

"Ah-HUGH?! U-Uh…." Kaeya's eye widened, tears dampening his painstakingly put-together strands.

 

“How does that feel?” Diluc demanded, pulling at Kaeya’s jaw with his thumb still in the other’s mouth.

 

“Ngaa...ah...dhuu...luuukh…” Kaeya’s hips wriggled, rubbing, pushing, feeling the tip of Diluc’s cock rubbing against the sensitive spot in him.

 

Oh…

 

Was he dreaming ?

 

Had his pranks finally caught up to him?

 

Was this some sort of fantasy to be torn from him again?

 

Crunch- !

 

“Gh-!” Kaeya’s cry was stifled by Diluc’s thumb, teeth sinking into his neck, right above the frilly little maid collar, for all to see.

 

"Stop daydreaming…!" Diluc barked, thrusting in hard.

 

SLAPH- !

 

"Uah-!" Kaeya cried out, the sting of the rough cock and the bite melting into pleasure.

 

SLAPHH-! SMACKH-! SLAPP-!!

 

With every squish and slorp, the hot roundness that was Diluc stirred him inside, igniting the bundle of nerves, sending sparks up his spine and right up into his skull. 

 

SCHLAPH-! SLAPHH-! SCLHOPH-!

 

He saw the sunlight swim, turning almost glittery gold as his body gave into the forceful touches it had come to enjoy.

 

"Im right here-!" Diluc heaved, hips no longer under his control. "Stop-haa-! Daydreaming about...something else!"

 

SCHLAPHH-! SCHLOPHH-! SHMACKHH!

 

Harder, wetter...Diluc's heat pierced him, penetration no longer slickened by what was left by Kaeya's own playful fingers. Diluc's heat spilled into him, the tip of his cock weeping eagerly as he thrust into him.

 

SHMACKHH! SCHLAPHH-!

 

"Hugh-huu!" A painfully-pleasured smile twisted Kaeya's expression and he lifted his arms to wrap them around Diluc's neck. "Dhyii-..! Dhi-lucc! Uh! Y-uuh! Yes!"

 

“Did you really dress up just for me?” Diluc snarled, envy crackling in his gaze.

 

SLAP!

 

“Hu- AAH !” Kaeya bounced against the other’s hips.

 

Suddenly the flesh inside him pierced, striking, opening up his entire gut all the way up to his stomach. Kaeya’s hands flew to Diluc’s thighs, pushing desperately as he panted, breathless, his eye rolling back again.

 

“Did you?” Diluc demanded, rolling his hips away slowly, before plunging back into Kaeya deep.

 

Sh-schlick-SMACK!

 

As the last inch of Diluc’s cock roughly shoved inside Kaeya cried out again, being pierced completely, deeply, as deep as he thought was possible. His body convulsed, opened by the girth that was Diluc’s flesh, the most intimate part of him...it was inside of him, up in a place he knew must’ve existed but wasn’t quite certain of.

 

“Dhii-...!” Kaeya whined as the fingers finally left his mouth. “Haa-...”

 

Diluc lifted his own hand to his mouth, sucking on the saliva-coated digit; tasting Kaeya off his skin. 

 

“Ngh-...” The sight caused Kaeya’s cock to twitch. “Diluc…”

“That’s right…” Diluc breathed, jerking his hips in small, short bursts.

 

Slap-slaph-schlop-...

 

“Nnh...uh...uu….” The thrusts were gentle now, Diluc’s throbbing girth rubbing against his sensitive spot constantly. “Dhi..luc...inside...y-you’re...ah...inside…”

 

A single, large tear managed to break free from the little pool in Kaeya’s one, visible gorgeous eye, travelling down in a streak until it finally landed on the table soundlessly. He continued to move on the table, propelled by Diluc’s shallow thrusts.

 

Schlip-slap...

 

“Hhh…” Leaning forward, Diluc lapped at the streak it had left behind, sliding his tongue up to Kaeya’s lashes.

 

Kaeya shut his eye, muttering as Diluc licked and kissed his skin and little bristles. “Diluc...stay…”

 

“Mh?” Diluc paused, lips sucking lightly on Kaeya’s cheek.

 

“Nh...uh…” It felt so good, yet so painful to think that diluc was finally, finally holding him. “Don’t...leave again…”

 

Twitch.

 

Kaeya arched, the girth in him suddenly twitching in a sharp angle, pushing against his lower gut. “Ah-!”

 

Diluc grit his teeth. 

 

SLAPH-! SLAMM! 

 

“Ah-! Ah!” Kaeya clung onto Diluc’s tightly. “DI-IH!””

 

Oh...Kaeya was beautiful when he was honest.

 

SLAPP-! SCHLOPHH-! SCHLAPPH-!

 

Hot. Heavy. Wet. Dripping, Kaeya was overflowing with all the things they both had regretted since that day; almost exactly five years ago now. Spilling over in a hideous display of desperation and friction.

 

SCLHOPP-! SCHLOPHHH-! SMACKHH-!

 

Churning, piercing, prying him open deeper than he could ever imagine...Kaeya could only whimper and cry as Diluc’s thrusts became erratic. The sounds of slimy fluids between them, the feeling of thick strings of wetness hanging between his asscheeks and Diluc’s hard, chiselled hips.

 

SNAP-!

 

“AH-!” A sting caused Kaeya to throw his head back, slamming into the table, a piercing strike against his perineum sending him overboard.

 

Diluc’s hips came to a sudden stop, halfway in as Kaeya tightened unbelievably around him. “HA-?!”

 

Spit...splat…

 

The bluenett continued to shudder as he came, ass stinging from the sharp impact.

 

Looking down, Diluc clenched his jaw against the spasming insides around his dick to see what had happened. There, a flimsy piece of black lay, thin and strikingly soaked with precum, black against the white frills of Kaeya’s skirt.

 

Kaeya’s thong had broken.

 

“Uuh...uh…” Still shuddering, Kaeya’s head swam, the pain turning into a dull throb, emphasizing the waves of pleasure that throbbed through his body from his abused prostate.

 

SLAPPH-!

 

“HH-?!” Kaeya’s mouth fell open, breathless, the weighty cock inside him forcing his spasming walls wide.

 

SLAPHH- ! SLAPHH-! SLAPHHH-!

 

Diluc winced as Kaeya’s nails dug into his neck, the arms around him going rigid as Kaeya’s tightness convulsed, milking him. He surged forward, letting Kaeya’s walls coil and suck his cock with each thrust.

 

SLAPHH-! SMACKHH- ! SCLOPPH-!

Toes curling, Kaeya’s body gave out, thrashing one last shuddering fit as hot bliss bloomed in his gut, his cock limp and useless as pleasure assaulted him.

 

SMACKHH -splat...glup…

 

Diluc’s hips gave in next, cock throbbing and pumping, hot seed coating Kaeya’s tight insides.

 

“Mhh...uh…” Kaeya groaned, completely drained, his cute little attire ruined by all the bouncing against Diluc’s hips.

 

Diluc sighed, staring down at the dishevelled state of Kaeya’s meticulously put-together maid outfit. The apron wasn’t salvageable as far as he was concerned, coated in Kaeya’s thick white scent. Well, looking closer, the black skirt would never be clean again, what with all the clear and white sticky fluid about it.

 

Best to throw it away.

 

“Haa…” Diluc drew in a deep breath, trying to catch himself--trying to remember just what it was he had come here to do, before becoming caught up in the sight of Kaeya’s icey cold beauty.

 

“U-UWAAAH!”

 

Ah.

 

Yes.

 

The fat man.

 

Reluctantly, Diluc turned, scowling deep at the door way.

 

It seemed that in the heat of their love-making, Kaeya’s power had waned, causing the chunks of ice in the room to melt and leaving the bodies wherever the men had died. 

 

Maximm stood in the now open doorway, the blue-skinned corpse of one of his pets at his feet. His eyes darted around the room as he continued to cower in fear, spying the mess of organs Kaeya had forced out of yet another one of his playthings, next to the other body with a gaping hole in the middle. The last body lay right behind Diluc’s own feet as he scowled in the fat merchant’s direction.

 

“Shut up.” He growled, a hand going to Kaeya’s strands as he cupped the bluenette’s face.

 

Kaeya moaned softly, catching Maximm’s attention and he finally saw the whole scene.

 

“M-Murderer!” The accused. “MURDERER! YOU SICK-!”

 

CAAAAAW~!

 

“WAAH-!” Maximm screamed again, as one of the ornamental birds in the corner came to life, swooping in and attacking him.

 

The eagle, having seen enough, finally leapt into action, defending his master whilst Diluc took his time canoodling.

 

“Mhh…?” Kaeya groaned, eye fluttering sleepilly. “Diluc…?”

“Shh, shh…” Diluc reassured, leaning down to plant a kiss on Kaeya’s forehead. “It’s nothing…I’m here...I’m here.”

 

Scratching and pecking, the large bird of prey chased the oversized merchant out into the main room. Diluc continued to caress and nuzzle Kaeya’s face as he heard shouting and screaming from both familiar and unfamiliar voices.

 

“Dil...uc…” Kaeya muttered, voice growing soft. “He...getting away…”

 

“He won’t.” Diluc insisted.

 

Oh….Kaeya was adorable like this. He should’ve done this sooner. Now with that stupd fat rat on the run, he didn’t have time to really enjoy this soft, glowing moment. 

 

Tch.

 

Right.

Time to burn them at the root.

 

Reluctantly, Diluc slowly pulled his hips back, sliding out of Kaeya. 

 

In response, Kaeya whined. “Di...luc...don’t...go….”

 

After tucking himself back away--and making a note for a change of underwear--Diluc removed his coat. He wrapped it around Kaeya as he bent over the desk and wrapped his arms around Kaeya’s back, lifting him off of it with the bend of his knee.

 

Splat-...

 

Some of his essence came spilling out as he carried Kaeya in his arms, staining the redwood white.

 

Ah, his study was a mess.

 

Hurried footsteps and the sound of the front double-doors slamming open, still accompanied by panicked screams sounded distantly as he carried Kaeya out of the room. 

 

“Adeline.” He said, spotting their long-time babysitter as soon as he had cleared the doorway.

 

“Oh, oh!” She was frazzled as she turned, hands flying up in surprise. “M-Master Diluc! Meister Maximm just--oh my! What...what happened to Master Kaeya?!”

 

A slip of the tongue that Diluc no longer minded.

 

“Prepare my coat.” He instructed, turning and making his way up the stairs into his bedroom at the far end of the otherwise empty halls.

 

Empty halls he never bothered to furnish, waiting for Kaeya’s return.

 

“Master Diluc?!” Adeline called after him.

 

Oh dear.

 

What had happened? Was Master Kaeya alright? Could it be...did something happened between them and Meister Maximm? The maid’s jumbled thoughts plagued her as she hurried to prepare Diluc’s disguise. 

 

“Kaeya…” Diluc spoke softly as they reached his bed, tidy and neat; as he hardly ever used it.

 

Kaeya’s eye opened, but only a little as Diluc called for him. “Luc…?”

 

Ah, a nickname he had missed.

 

“I’ll be back soon, Kaeya.” He declared in a soft tone, laying Kaeya on the bed. 

 

“Dont-”

 

“I’m not leaving you.” Diluc quickly insisted, brushing Kaeya’s hair aside, taking the little sweet flowers and other blooms out of it.

 

Kaeya looked better when he was just Kaeya. 

 

“Mhh...promise…?” Kaeya mumbled in the same, pitiful, adorable tone he used to.

 

“Promise.” Diluc smiled.

 

---

 

Maximm was sweating, his expensive clothes utterly ruined, soaked through. His two remaining prizes sat with him in the carriage as it peeled away from the winery.

 

“M-Meister!” The youngest one piped up, terrified. “The others...they...are they dead?!”

 

“That crazy bastard!” Maximm shrieked in terror. “My trained pets...I spent so, so long breaking them in!”

 

The young man across from him turned and clung onto his assigned partner. “Are we-are we going to die?!”

 

The elder of the two held the young man. “No, we’ll get to the knights! We can report him and ruin him now!”

 

“Are you an IDIOT?!” Maximm screamed at them. “That bitch-! That bitch was the Cavalry Captain!”

 

“What-...”

 

“How didn’t I see it?! That same, slutty face!” Maximm screamed all the louder, going to the window and opening it. “HURRY UP!”

 

The driver jumped in his seat, turning to address his master.

 

“GET US TO DADAUPA GORGE! NOW!” The Meister commanded. “UH-?!”

 

A bright orange glow lay in the path ahead, where usually the soft blue glow of the Anemo Statue of Seven shined into the sky.

 

Step.

 

Diluc readied himself, bringing forward his Favonious Claymore and setting it ablaze.

 

For so much as looking at Kaeya. For so much as even thinking of putting his disgusting, sin-soiled hands on his precious childhood love. They all needed to disappear.

 

FWOOOOOOOSH-!

 

“You’re judgement is-!” Diluc declared--the judge, the jury and the executioner.

 

FWOOOOOOOOOOM!

 

Screams filled the air as the carriage collapsed from the sheer force of the flaming phoenix’s explosion. The horse was turned loose, ropes snapping at the crackling heat, fleeing the scene. The driver had leapt off his seat, trying to gather his bearings and dawn his mask--the same one Diluc had seen on many agents before--only for a claymore to be harshly wedged through his body.

 

“Death.” Diluc finished, watching the Fatui Agent struggle beneath him.

 

Slobbering, blubbering screams drew Diluc’s attention elsewhere and he let go of the Claymore, leaving it wedged in the dying man as he made his way over to the source of the sounds.

 

The scent of burning fat filled his nostrils and he couldn’t help but balk, turning his nose up at the sight of Maximm, cooking like the pig he was, buried in burning wood.

 

“You should have left what was mine alone.” Diluc declared, gaze as blunt as his oversized blade.

 

“P-Plea-” Maximm didn’t get to finish as a red-palmed glove grasped his face.

 

Ugh.

 

Diluc was sick of such an awful, grating voice.

 

FWOOSH-!

 

Flames erupted from his hand, stripping the man’s face away from him. He let go, allowing the overweight head to fall to the dirt and scoffing.

 

“Hmph.” Turning, Diluc turned and ventured home to the Winery--let the darkness reclaim one of its own slowly.

-- Day 3: Evening

 

Poor Adeline. Diluc couldn’t help but feel heavy-weighted guilt on his conscious, knowing just how big of a cleanup she would need to arrange for his study. It would be quite arduous, considering that only she, Elzer and a handful of their other staff--the oldest of them, too--knew about his underground activities. Moving the bodies over to the sight of the burning carriage before the knights arrived must have been quite the task.

 

Still, it went well...suspiciously so. Already, rumors about particularly dangerous hilichurls, led by a Pyro Abyss Mage being active in the area were swarming Mondstadt by evening. Even the Fatui Diplomats staying at old man Goth’s hotel couldn’t find any more evidence to attest to anything else happening.

 

It was a financial blow to the whole of Sneznhaya for sure. Maximm had been their wealthiest and most prolific tycoon. Without him, a vacuum in financial power would surely affect their political ties.

 

Of course, this didn’t mean that Diluc was free of suspicion--it was all too perfect; one of his rivals in the wine industry suddenly being killed in a freak Hilichurl attack on a road less travelled? What were the chances of that?

 

But of course; the knight’s sterling, noble repudiation ensured that there was enough doubt in any rumors that suggested he had anything to do with it.

 

Kaeya had made sure of that.

 

“I have one question.” Diluc spoke up, fingers still playing with silky blue strands. 

 

Kaeya hummed softly, “Hm?”

The sound of Kaeya’s humming was soothing, the rumble of the other man’s firm but plush chest felt good against his cheek.

 

“How did you manage to spread that rumor so quickly?” Diluc turned his head, nuzzling into the space between Kaeya’s pecs. “Mhh…”

 

Kaeya laughed.

 

Diluc shuddered at the alluring sound, the way it vibrated in his chest and through his muscles, right into his face. It felt good.

 

“Ah that…” Kaeya sighed. “It wasn’t hard at all.”

 

Diluc turned his head, pressing his ear flat against where Kaeya’s heart was. He heard it, steady, slow, but strong. “What did you do?”

“I told Amber.” Kaeya snickered.

 

Diluc’s eyes widened. He turned his head again, resting his chin on kaeya and glaring up at him in disbelief. 

 

“What? Don’t believe me?” Kaeya smirked. “‘Ahh, so I saw a beautiful new maid at Master Diluc’s place today…’ and I might have mentioned a love letter on your desk.”

“That letter was from you.” Diluc growled. “And it wasn’t on my desk . You liar.”

Kaeya smirked. “Didn’t I make just the loveliest little maid?”

“There’s nothing ‘little’ about--” Diluc pushed himself up and off of Kaeya, enough to lean on his own knees and push his hands into Kaeya’s chest. “--these.”

Strong fingers squeezed, pressing into a nipple and sinking into flesh.

 

“Ah-...” Kaeya pushed himself into the mattress, his nipples tingling, chest tingling pleasurably. “No-...Diluc..”

“They’re swollen…” Diluc sneered, leaning down to wrap his lips around Kaeya’s left nipple--the one he’d been teasing the most.

 

“No-ah...Dil-...nhh…” Kaeya squirmed.

 

Suck. Pop !

 

Diluc withdrew, licking his lips--the sound bouncing off the walls in the master bedroom. “Did you think that was enough for me?”

 

Kaeya swallowed.

 

It was going to be a long last night.

--- Day 4: Morning

“Ah-!” The captain’s slender waist suddenly jerked, inside...up in the deepest part of his gut, a wetness tickled him.

 

SMACK-!

 

Viscous and warm, it lubricated the tight walls that pressed into each other, causing a rubbing sensation. He grit his teeth, stopping all movements.

 

Together, greeting the dawn that spilled in through the windows. Gasping, taking in each other’s breaths as the other panted. Joined together, sweat slicking their bodies as both tried to force their bodies even further into each other.

 

“Ugh-!” Kaeya was the first to cave, crying out, ass sore and tingling from being pierced and forced to open up deep, again and again and again...

 

Splat-!

 

Diluc winced as Kaeya tightened around him, constricting, milking him for all he had. He held on just a little longer, ramming his hips into Kaeya as hard as he could.

 

With each thrust that impaled him, Kaeya yelped and squirmed, just a little more cum spitting from the tip of his cock. “Uh-...uah-...ah!”

 

SHMACKKH-!

 

One final, lewd sound echoed in the master bedroom of the manor as Diluc surged forward, slamming his hips flushed against Kaeya’s perfect ass. Kaeya shuddered violently, eye widening as he felt his ass spasm, prostate erupting pleasurably, even as his spent cock lay. 

 

Another dry orgasm.

 

“Hi-hhkk…!” The bluenett grit his teeth, riding the waves that came.

 

Glup...glup...glup…

 

Heat. Searing heat filled him and finally his body, shuddering and shaking, rigid...finally relaxed into the sheets. Kaeya groaned softly, his stomach pumped full, feeling like gelatin with all the seed that Diluc had forcibly pumped into him from each round.

 

“...ghaa…” Diluc finally collapsed, completely spent.

 

Kaeya groaned as his brother’s weight pressed against his body, sandwiching him into the mattress. “Mhh...ahh-Diluc…”

 

Diluc groaned softly, turning his face into Kaeya’s neck and closing his eyes. “...quiet.”

 

“I just-mh-changed these sheets…” Kaeya complained a little.

 

Yawning, Diluc half-ignored the complaint. “Then...hhh...get someone to change them...again later…”

 

Kaeya sighed, deep and slow. The morning sun was crawling towards the dark that still shaded the bed. He remained quiet, eyes fluttering closed. 

 

What a peaceful morning.

 

“...this is too much.” Diluc

 

“Hm?”

 

“You could have just left me flowers.”

 

“...ah, whatever fo-”

“Kaeya.”

 

Ah. So he was caught. This elaborate setup wasn’t exactly for Diluc’s sake. He’d just wanted to have a bit of fun...that was all... maybe…

 

“...so?”

 

“Mh.” Kaeya huffed, smiling and opening his single eye.

 

Slowly, he turned his head towards Diluc’s fluffy nest of red and pressed his lips into the other’s forehead. 

 

“...Happy Birthday, Diluc.”

 

“Hmph.” Was all Diluc said in return.

 

Silence. But unlike the silences that had passed on his birthday since the one terrible night he had turned eighteen--the night he had lost everyone and everything, Diluc enjoyed this silence.

 

He’d thought that Kaeya had left him as well.

 

Now, even though it was such a ridiculous, twisted way...Kaeya had shown him that he hadn’t. Through silly pranks, desperate kisses and sucks, fumbling hands...it was obvious, even if Kaeya couldn’t admit it. Even without words; Diluc understood: I’m sorry, please look at me, please remember, please believe me again ...and many, many more things.

 

“Last year…” Diluc spoke up, voice soft; sleepy.

 

Kaeya breathed into the red fluff. “Mm…?”

 

“...you disappeared.” Diluc accused. “Everyone else had said something...given me something...but you weren’t anywhere.”

 

“Mhm…” Kaeya agreed.

 

“Liar.” Diluc accused again, a little louder this time.

 

Kaeya grunted as Diluc’s head lifted, then jerked down--a sharp chin striking his collar a little painfully.

 

“Luc-...” Kaeya groaned. “You’re too old for tantrums…”

 

“I saw the flowers.”

 

Kaeya opened his eye.

 

Diluc continued, the hands that had been on Kaeya’s chest dragging their fingers across the skin as they curled, gripping tightly, digging into the flesh. “The wine...father’s favorite...at the tree.”

 

There was no gravestone. Not yet. Diluc hadn’t brought himself to make one. But there was that tree, the one that had been closest to Crepus’ body when he had vanished. By the roadside--looking just like the rest. Even if it were to disappear, Diluc could always feel in his gut exactly where it had happened.

 

“You knew I would go.”

Kaeya offered a cornered smile. “It doesn’t mean tha-”

 

“Stop lying.” Diluc grunted, pounding Kaeya’s plush chest with a fist. “There was no name on the letter, but nobody else knows that place.”

 

Happy Birthday ; the little lamp-grass-scented note had said. It was so blatantly taunting--Kaeya acting as if he hadn’t left it there. Lampgrass...choosing such an alias for his little scheme; Diluc knew exactly what that meant.

 

Kaeya winced. “D-Diluc...y-you’re still inside...don’t jerk like that.”

 

“Don’t tell me what to do with my birthday present.” Diluc growled.

 

....what?

 

“What?” Diluc growled, his sleepy gaze turning into an offended glare. 

 

Kaeya stared, wide-eyed, shocked. “...I’m not-”

 

Oh…

 

Oh no…

 

Kaeya realized--he’d always, always given Diluc something Lampgrass-blossom related during his birthdays. Whether it be the blossom itself, his favorite dish made with the flower, or that lampgrass-scented letter. 

 

Oh dear…

 

Perhaps he should have chosen a different nickname...

 

“You are now.” Diluc declared. “Don’t argue with me on my birthday.”

 

Sighing, Kaeya conceded. He shifted a little, adjusting so that Diluc’s head lay more towards the center of his chest. Though with a slight protest from the spoiled young master, Kaeya stopped trying to move him and settled down. As the sun slowly rose and the light cropped out a slice of their cuddle, heating up the already warm relaxing atmosphere, Kaeya felt Diluc’s breathing slowly lighten. The young master had fallen asleep, it seemed.

 

Well, at least he could Diluc his real present later...after the Birthday Feast he had arranged for with Aether and Adeline.

 

Stroking the red locks in a drowsy way, Kaeya watched as Diluc’s body rose and fell with each breath.

 

“I love you.” 

---Day 4: Noon

 

The rambunctious crowd were soon at full swing. Bennett had fallen off the Winery balcony somehow, Razor trying to pull him up. Lisa had already had too much to drink, now openly showering Jean with hugs and kisses whilst Rosaria watched in amusement; the nun was also on her sixth glass of Dandelion Wine. 

 

Aether was chasing Klee around as she looked for one of her lost bombs (huh, that might be a problem, Kaeya thought for a moment), whilst Paimon trailed after them both. Even the ever-busy Albedo had shown up, presenting an oversized version of the Lampgrass Flower, courtesy of Sucrose who was also there. Familiar faces, both of Vision holders and ordinary citizens filled the shade of the Winery’s tents, replacing the unsavoury visitors the day before.

 

It was like the Winery was a different place now.

 

It was all... too much.

 

Diluc sat there, watching it all unfold, a piece of unfinished Lampgrass-Cake in his lap on a plate; he too had been kicked out from his own seat at the head of the table as the party went on.

 

Adeline and the rest of the maids were currently struggling to keep up--some having been offered drinks, others having already drunk. The Butlers didn’t fare any better. It seemed that everyone was getting caught up in the mess.

 

“You’ll be helping clean this up.” Diluc mumbled, playing with the icing on his cake.

 

...just like he used to when they were young , Kaeya noted fondly.

 

“Well, if you require Lady Lampgrass’ services again, you’ll need to send her a love-letter in reply.” Kaeya joked, leaning back and using his arm as a support.

 

They were currently sitting atop one of the retaining walls that framed the courtyard. 

 

“Happy Birthday, Diluc.” Kaeya reiterated, this time laughing.

 

Diluc snorted, “You’ve said that already.”

 

“Oh? Have I?” Kaeya raised a hand and waved to Adeline.

 

It took a moment--considering that she was currently trying to keep Barbara from prying Lisa away from Jean--but Adeline saw him and smiled.

 

Kaeya let his hand drop back down to his side limply, laying his head on his propped shoulder. Diluc glanced at the blue waterfall of slightly-curled points. Kaeya could feel his gaze, smiling a little wider.

 

Oh, how he wanted to lay his head against Diluc instead…

 

A couple of the less party-wrapped butlers came forward, both heaving a rather large package that they seemed to struggle with. It was wrapped in nothing but cloth, held together by a bright red ribbon--a single Lampgrass blossom tied to the middle.

 

From the shape and the size, Diluc could already tell what it was. He got up, stepping forward to take it off the poor men’s hands.

 

As the package passed from them to him, Diluc managed to lift it easily--yes, he knew this weight…

 

“Oh look! Master Diluc is going to finally open his present!” Paimon announced.

 

Quickly, they all gathered, almost tripping over each other, leaving everything they were doing to go and see. Plates and glasses shattered and utensils fell to the ground. One of the round tables had been turned over--but soon, everyone was there, piled on top of each other, waiting eagerly.

 

“Go on, Diluc.” Jean encouraged.

 

Bennett’s eyes sparkled. “We all pitched in, we really hope you like it!”

 

Razor nodded, “...gather...material...all...for you.”

 

“Come now, let’s see.” Rosaria insisted.

 

One by one they all chimed in.

 

Kaeya for once, simply said nothing. He sat there, hanging back, admiring the scenery from the other side. Diluc, faced with all the people of Mondstadt he had come to know and go on adventures with--all looking at him expectantly to open the present they had gotten him on his birthday…

 

...this, this is how it should always be from now on, Kaeya declared to himself silently.

 

Kaeya was content with this. All he needed to do was hang back quietly and let Diluc move on with his life. No more rainy birthdays with blood on both their hands...his biting frost...one day, he would let Diluc melt it away forever, to disappear.

 

“Well what are you waiting for?” Diluc snapped at him, turning to shoot a hard glare at the captain.

 

Kaeya’s eye widened and it took him a moment to realize--Diluc was talking to him.

 

“Hurry up and help me open this.” The Winery Master; no, his brother demanded. “Don’t just sit there.”

 

Oh…

 

Kaeya was a fool .

 

It wasn’t that ‘one day’ his bitter cold would melt.

 

...he was already... melting…

 

“Yes, yes, of course, Master Diluc…~” Kaeya chuckled, masking his strange mix of discomfort and familiarity.

 

Hopping off the pony wall, he went over and took the Lampgrass blossom from the ribbon, undoing it in the process. As it fell away, a mighty red and black blade, as blood-colored as Diluc’s own fiery hair and as dark as the velvet black he would always wear, revealed itself. It’s make was similar to another, only it was harder, heavier...more suited to someone like Diluc.

 

“What is…” Diluc stared at the knife-shaped claymore.

 

“They call it the Black-Cliff Slasher.” Kaeya explained gingerly, “Doesn’t it look like red flames are flaring up from within? I think it suits you.”

 

Everyone cheered, clapping their hands eagerly. Jean said something else. Lisa remarked on how it really did suit him. Rosaria also said something. Bennett, Razor, Barbara, Mona, Sucrose, Albedo….and so on...

 

He heard all of it and yet none of it clearly at the same time. Overwhelmed with a feeling he couldn’t quite put together.

 

“You did this.” Diluc accused in a soft tone, staring at the blade.

 

Kaeya sighed a little, taking the chance to lean in close, as close as he dared in front of everyone; whispering right in Diluc’s ear. “Happy Birthday, Diluc.”

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” 

 

As if in queue, they all shouted it aloud.

 

Gathering himself, a tickle in his ear, Diluc smiled. “Thank you, all of you.”

 

Just like that, they were back to making a mess of his beautiful Winery. But Diluc didn’t mind. In fact...it was a good look for the usually tranquil, pristine scenery. 

 

Company like this...it wasn’t so bad.

 

“Hm, blue truly doesn’t suit you.” Kaeya teased.

 

Diluc frowned, “What?”

 

Then he realized it. Reaching up, he felt a small, soft bulb--the Lampgrass blossom. Kaeya had placed it in his hair.

 

“You-...” Diluc gritted his teeth.

 

“Happy Birthday, Diluc.” Kaeya said again.

 

“Tch, you’ve already--”

“Not for every birthday I’ve missed since then.” Kaeya said--for once, being honest.

 

Diluc’s hand twitched; his desire obvious with how his body reacted almost immediately. He grasped the other by the face, red-palmed gloves tangling into blue strands. 

 

Almost leaping into the other, he brought Kaeya forward with a bit of hurried force, kissing him.

--END--

Notes:

Ciel’s Notes:

Haa...this took a long, long time to cook properly. I really hope I did this trope justice with this one. Ah, I’m so sorry this took me 2 days late, Diluc! Please enjoy your birthday present for the rest of your life! You can dress up Kaeya ever year in whatever you want from now on!

Ahaha, I write Kaeya and Diluc a little too much into their official manga/manhwa/webtoon personalities. I love them! They’re so complex, they can be charming and playful, but also really deadly and murderous!

Some good things happened this week, but I’ve also been rather overwhelmed as of late. I think you’ve all noticed my lack of fic updates. To be honest, it’s because the game has been changed so much recently! We had windblume, then Childe banner (I got him at C1!) and then suddenly Zhongli Banner (I got him at C3, yeheyy!), and now there’s the Serenitea pot (that I’ve been working my ass off to turn into the perfect Kaeya Harem Beachhouse with private corners for all his 3 husbands!), and now there’s even the Geovishap events and the Spiral Abyss reset--waaaaah!

I want to do it all. I want to play but I also want to draw and I also want to write! Please forgive me for saying this, but I think I’ll be going on a hiatus after posting this fic. I’ll try my best to write in private and not expose too many wips. I think keeping people constantly updated on what I’m working on is an extra burden my busy schedule can’t handle.

Please don’t lose faith in me though! AllKaeya Bottom Bistro is the love of my life and I will definitely be continuing to serve dishes when they are ready! I just...don’t want to always be having to show wips and tabs on projects and stuff...

Love,
Ciel

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Luckae Lovelocks