Chapter Text
How long has it been since I lost you..? Diluc thought as he looks outside of his room. Ever since Kaeya’s death, he never left his room. Always looking out the window of his room into the wine field. Remembering the golden time of their youth. Two naive boys playing knight with each other, filled with laughter and joy during those moments.
But he had to ruin it.
He was justified to be mad, yes, but never to the extent that he did. Throwing him aside and hating him ever since. When Lumine asked the two of them to be in a team, it was torture for him. He only did tolerated being in a team with Kaeya because of Lumine and her curiosity of the world of Teyvat. But now...
He wished that he cherished those moments more.
Lumine was standing outside of his room with a frown. Looking over at Paimon who had the same look.
”Maybe we should leave him be...He lost his brother a week ago...Paimon doesn’t think it’s a good idea just yet” Paimon said to Lumine as she takes a deep breath.
”Ill just check up on him...lets not force him into anything...” The blonde said as Lumine then knocks on the door.
”Diluc? It’s the traveler and Paimon coming to visit you” Paimon said in her usual cheery voice but they received no respond. Lumine looks over at her companion before she spoke up.
”We’re here to check up on you...is there anything-“
”Leave” A faint voice from inside the room could be heard. Lumine deeply frowns at this.
”Have...you eaten anything yet..? Or maybe talked to someone-“
“I said leave!” The red haired angrily screamed at the door and which both girls backed up a bit. Lumine softly sighs.
”Alright...we’ll be going. Take care” Lumine said as they look at each other with a frown and starts to leave.
Diluc lets out an annoyed sigh as he rubs his temples. Ever since then, everyone has tried to get him to come out of his room. Jean, Lisa, even Klee tried but to no avail.
Poor Klee...when she found out about Kaeya’s death she broke down, started to wail for 2 days straight. Unable to sleep, or go about her cheerful self. She slowly started to come into terms with it just recently, however Diluc couldn’t face the fact that he is alone in the world.
Lumine and Paimon tried to reason with him but as it just happened, he rejects help from them. Even Qiqi tried but of course she couldn’t do much because she was a zombie-
Wait...
Qiqi...Zombie...Diluc’s eyes slowly open up with realization. Of course, how can he be so stupid..? He can bring back Kaeya... He can make amends..!
Quickly getting out of his room as he ran downstairs to the library which surprised the maids to say the least.
”M-master Diluc..! Are you ok?” Diluc ignored the maids cries of concern as he went through books quickly. Throwing them aside if it didn’t have the information he needed.
”M-Master Diluc..! Stop! What are you doing?!”
He ignored the maid until he stopped at a certain book. His eyes widen as he quickly begins to read it. ‘Those who come back will be husk of their former selves. No human or creature that is not eternal cannot accomplish this. Only an Archon or a Yaksha with a big heart will be able to bring someone back from the dead.’
An archon...does that mean...
“M-Master Diluc..!” He finally snapped out of his trance like state as he looks over at the maid.
”Tell me...where is that drunken bard at?”
As usual, the disguise anemo archon was drunk out of his mind. When he heard of the death of Kaeya, it hit him hard. They bonded over drinks and the adventures they would do to accompany the traveler. Even though the bard was no stranger to death, it still hurt him. Though no one could tell because...well...his usually like this.
Letting out a satisfied sigh, having recently finished his 20th drink and slams it down the table. Yep, his gone.
”Charlessss give meiii another round! Haha!” He said in a cheerful voice as the bartender sighs at this.
”Nope, I’m cutting you off.”
”Awwwwww don’t be a parties pooper..! Come onn! One more pleasssseee!”
“You said that 5 drinks ago. No, now leave. It’s closing time”
Venti huffs at this with a groan. “Your no fun...” Diluc had a hunch that the drunk archon was in his tavern, drinking himself silly.
And he was right. His black out drunk.
Venti turns to see Diluc, letting out a drunken laugh with a hiccup. He wobbly stood up and walks over to him.
”Ahvhhjh ifs it isn’t Master dickluc! Are you here to...*hic* drink!” He said with a bright smile as Diluc sweatdrops at this with a sigh.
”Charles I’ll take him to the inn. Start closing the bar and head home once your done.”
”Roger that”
With that he start to lead Venti away but not to an inn, to an alleyway. The archon noticed as he groggily looks up at the red head.
”Heyyy....this isn’t the way to the inn..” Diluc then gently sat him down on a box laying in the alleyway as he sighs.
”I’ll take you there after you answer a single question of mine” He said as Venti simply lets out a hum.
”Then...givess me *hic* a singel drink!” He said with a laugh as Diluc groans at this. Deciding to ignore his silly request.
”I wanted to ask...is it possible to bring back someone from the dead?”
Venti stayed silent at this, looking at the ground as Diluc started at him. Examining his body language as the bard looks up at Diluc.
”Whyss...do you ask.?” He spit out as Diluc simply looks at him.
”Answer the question, can you or can you not bring someone back from the dead?”
Venti stayed silent as he looks up at Diluc. After a while he let out a sigh. He suddenly sobered up when he asked that question, knowing where this was going.
”Diluc-“
”Just...please..”
”...”
Venti closes his eyes at this and tightly grips the box.
”Yes...yes I can bring back people of the dead.” Diluc felt a burden lift from his shoulder as he lets out a small relieved sigh.
”Then...can you-“
”No” The bard said in a stern voice as he stood up a bit wobbly, guess his still a bit drunk.
”You didn’t know what I was going to ask”
”Your going to ask if I could bring back Kaeya. And the answer is no. I will not bring him back” Diluc’s eyes widen at this.
”I’m sorry, I know you have regrets but that’s something I am not willing to do” Diluc simply regains his composure and continues.
”What if you were in a situation where you wished you could say something to them...do something, anything just to see them again and to talk with them...”
Venti stayed silent, he knew very well what he was feeling. However he knew it was better to leave his dear friend dead than to bring him back and to suffer like Qiqi does.
”I do...trust me I do know what your going through but...please accept that sometimes some things are left to be alone..”
”That’s what I thought...that’s what I thought about Kaeya... Trust me I know and I fucking regret it. I regret treating him like trash, I regret getting angry and blaming him for our fathers death, I regret not telling him that...I love him...That I love being his brother..” As he spoke, tears started to form on the corner of his eye. Venti couldn’t do anything but simply frown and watch him be in pain.
”I...I just wished I could see him for a minute to tell him that...Just a minute...” Venti stayed silent as he then lets out a small sigh.
”It doesn’t work like that...I can’t bring someone back for a shirt amount of time, they’ll be here in the land of the living and be like Qiqi...”
Diluc lets out a soft sniff as he starts to wipe his tears away. Venti sighs. “I’ll...think about it.” Diluc’s eyes widen at this as he looks up in shock.
”T-Truly?!” Venti nods.
“However...I’ll have to talk to an old friend of mine to see if he agrees...”
”T-Thank you..!” Diluc said as he bows before the archon “I’ll give you an all you can drink privileges if you do bring him back!”
”Woah and now I’m more motivated..! I’ll see to it then!” Venti said with a soft laugh before he starts to walk to the inn.
Once our of their alleyway, Venti looks back at the alleyway before walking to the inn. Dropping his smile as he covers his face with his hand.
”Oh archons what the fuck did I agree to..?”