Chapter Text
Rosaria let out a deep, velvety chuckle. “Why so nervous? We’re friends, are we not?” She said,
Tilting her head.
Diluc cast his gaze away, brows furrowing. Friends? She thought they were friends? Of course it didn’t bother him, but he hadn’t a clue that she considered them to be friends. Or was that just another tease? He couldn’t tell. He hoped it wasn’t– he wanted more than anything to be friends. If she considered him a friend, despite blowing her off repeatedly and just overall being rude at times, that gave him a little hope. Letting out a little noise, he shuffled where he stood and looked back up at Rosaria, feigning annoyance.
“Well? May I come in, Friend?” Rosaria asked, smiling ruefully.
Fuck, that smile of hers. It was beautiful.
“I suppose no isn’t an option?” Diluc responded, his tone hard to decipher.
It was a mix of annoyance, but also happiness. His mask was slipping farther and farther as the days went on– and just like before, it still terrified him.
“That would be right,” She laughed, pushing her way through the door.
Diluc’s room was a mess. He hadn’t been able to keep it clean for awhile, due to his deteriorating mental health. He didn’t want anyone to clean it for him– there were things there that had value to him that others couldn't see, like the ragged blanket that lay before the fireplace. It had been his mother’s– Crepus gifted it to him not long after she passed. But to any other, it just looked like a worn blue piece of cloth. Diluc was ashamed by the state of his room, especially now that someone else was there to witness it. He braced himself for a joke, a rude comment, anything– but it never came.
“It seems you stay here the most,” Rosaria mused, walking to his desk, gently brushing her fingers against the pages scattered everywhere.
“Yeah,” Diluc grunted, pulling off his jacket and tossing it on the ground.
He didn’t dare roll up his arm sleeves.
“You don’t just toss your coat onto the floor, Diluc. There’s coat hangers for that?” Rosaria quipped, picking up the jacket to put it in its proper place.
Diluc just huffed, pushing the chair to his desk back in its place. The room was spacious, and had another room that led to a mix of a kitchen and commons area, then a very, very small bathroom in what was almost a closet.
It was a comfort to Diluc. He didn’t like the empty feeling of his ‘true’ home. It was lonely. This tavern home? It was peaceful, and felt used; In the daytime, he could even hear the bustle of people downstairs when he was there.
“What do you really want?” Diluc accused, figuring she was there just for shallow reasons.
“I just wanted to see what the resting place of the Great Master Diluc looked like,” She responded, running her hand over the multiple covers on his bed.
“Well, you’ve seen it. Happy? Can you leave now?” He sighed, truly not wanting her to leave.
“Oh, Diluc. Always so rude. And you don’t even attend church,” She snickered.
Diluc’s jaw dropped, his face contorting in such wild ways Rosaria couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re worried about whether or not
I
go to church? Says the Sister that won’t attend either, and won’t even make appearances for choir practice. Not to mention how many times I’ve had to cover for you when Barbara comes looking for you– Do you know how hard it is lying to that child?” Diluc argued, getting all worked up.
Rosaria belted out laughing, shaking her head.
“You’re a riot, Ragnvindr. Maybe I should visit
you
more often.” Rosaria suggested, eyes lighting up with mischief.
“Please don’t.” Diluc said, but internally his words were the exact opposite.
“We’ll see. I’ll be back soon, but you already know this. Goodbye, Diluc.” Rosaria responded, walking out the door and back downstairs, leaving Diluc alone.
He covered his mouth, looking down to the ground. Did that seriously just happen? He was starting to form a bond with Rosaria that was different from the normal banter. She visited his room– The place he stayed the most. Stranger’s didn’t do that.
It warmed his heart to know that Rosaria perhaps wanted more than just being strangers. His heart high, Diluc sat down at his desk and began to write.