Work Text:
Since the run-in Kaeya and Diluc had at the tavern, where the knight let slip that he knew the red-haired man's secret identity, the two men had grown further apart.
No one would believe, from the way they looked at each other, that years ago, Kaeya and Diluc were inseparable.
But so it proved, where Diluc completely ignored him when he entered the tavern, where Charles had to be the one to take his order, where they would start an argument for the slightest nonsense and where Diluc's gaze towards the dark-haired man was identical to that rainy night.
And Kaeya was hurt. He had not yet forgotten that night, just as he had not yet healed those unrequited feelings.
He always hid that pain with a mocking, overbearing smile and a sharp laugh, and even though his friends tried to convince him to unburden himself to them, to open up, Kaeya always replied, with the same indifferent, lascivious smile, that nothing was wrong.
''Kaeya, if you continue with that behavior, you are going to be alone, don't you understand?" Lisa told him seriously one day, because everybody was fed up with that strange behavior of the gentleman.
In that silence, that indifference, that passivity... but Kaeya did what he felt.
And what he felt, every time Diluc looked at him, was that he didn't deserve anything. So, why bother them?
Months had passed since that encounter with Diluc; the traveler would be in Liyue according to what the drunken bard told him, and the Fatui were still beating around the bush.
Jean was burdened by a reconnaissance mission, but she had hardly any knights to carry it out.
''I can go by myself,'' Kaeya broadened his shoulders.
''It's against the Fatui. It's dangerous'' declared the blonde, with that tone of not wanting to argue.
''I can go by myself'' repeated Kaeya, smiling.
Jean looked up, but the man did not let himself be overwhelmed by those furious grayish eyes that seemed to emanate sparks.
Finally, with a long, weary sigh, Jean accepted the proposal and told his man where these new Fatui were hiding.
With a cheerful whistle, Kaeya bid her farewell, straight towards his new mission, for fighting was the only thing that could alleviate the pain he felt every time he remembered the disgusted look Diluc gave him.
He passed by the Angel's Gift, with his tall face and proud demeanor despite the fact that his heart was beating fast when he passed by that place, and that Diluc was not even there.
Fortunately he would be away from Mondstadt for a few days. Away from him. And that pain would ease, and perhaps, in time, he would finally leave.
It was not difficult to find the Fatui. And defeating them even less so.
Their Geo attacks were no match for the belt he created around him, which froze instantly.
Kaeya seemed to dance as he fought them.
''It's just these nerds?'' he wondered, not losing his smile ''I'm going back to Monsdtadt sooner than I expected''.
He managed to chain those criminals, ready for the justice directed by Jean to judge them, when he heard an explosion just meters away from him.
When he went to get closer to see what it was, he had to jump backwards to dodge an enemy that was almost ten feet tall.
He was carrying an axe and his element was electro.
Who was that person?
He grunted when he saw that he was wearing a mask; another Fatui.
Behind him appeared another one; his element was Pyro.
Kaeya cracked his knuckles, ready for battle ''I thought you were too few and too weak. Come on, let's go and get me! Help me kill this boredom!''
Kaeya's arrogance was silenced after almost an hour of battle, where the knight could take no more and fell to his knees.
He had managed to defeat a new giant Fatui that used the Anemo element, but the first two were very strong, and had the help of another Geo companion, more powerful than the first Fatui he faced.
He hissed in pain as one of them grabbed his hair and another one knelt in front of him, grabbing his jaw ''Those eyes'' he said, causing Kaeya to be repulsed ''I think we can do good business with this one''.
Kaeya tried his best to free himself from his bonds, but there was no way.
They were tightly bound to his wrists and his vision was distant from him. He could not defend himself. He could not free himself.
He didn't know where those wretches were taking him, but the corridor was damn long. He felt tightness in his chest, surely they were underground.
"You'll kill me if I'm still under here. I'm from Mondstadt, in case you don't remember, and a little bird needs fresh air'' he smiled at them, trying to hide his fear of what they would do to him.
One of his kidnappers laughed and made him stop, grabbing him by the jaw again. How he hated that ''You're not from Mondstadt'' he replied calmly and Kaeya shivered. That Fatui knew a lot. And he was afraid of what the Fatui would do with that information.
The eternal corridor finally stopped to give way to an empty, spacious white room covered by... glass?
One of the Fatui forced him to his knees, with a blow on his back and grabbed him again by the hair, lifting him up as if he were an animal.
''This specimen we have is someone quite unique. Though he may be a knight of Mondstadt, his place of origin is Khaen'riah, that place slaughtered centuries ago by the archons.''
Kaeya hissed at the information they gave about his origin. He hated talking about his past.
''How much does the bidding start at?'' the Fatui asked.
''Bidding? What bid? You're going to sell me like I'm a fucking commodity-'' Kaeya's indignation was silenced by a punch, falling to the ground.
Kaeya began to see numbers appear on said crystals, trembling with dread at the high figures they were offering on him.
''That money you could use on wine from my country and not waste it with me'' he joked, still on the ground, blood dripping from his lip.
But the Fatui ignored his mockery, raising his arm as a resounding figure of over 2 million mora came out for him.
They lifted him again, this time by the collar of his shirt and whispered in his ear ''Have a good time tonight, little diamond.''
A door opened and out of it appeared a man older than his captain, well-dressed and with a disgusted look.
Kaeya knew the reason for this exchange of money and glared at the Fatui ''If they dare touch me, I'll kill them.''
''Do as you please, as long as we get paid'', the Fatui said and dragged the knight to where his 'buyer' indicated.
As Kaeya promised, he did not allow the man to touch him. He did not kill him, but he did hurt him badly.
Hearing the indifference of the Fatui, he believed that nothing would happen if he managed to defend himself from his aggressors, but it was not so.
When he was 'sent back', he received a tremendous beating and was then locked in a tiny room in the dark.
Kaeya knew that he had been locked up for more than a day; even though so many years had passed, he had not forgotten his days on the run with his father. His real father.
When they took him out of that hole, they cleaned him up and made sure he looked beautiful again for new expectants. And Kaeya repeated. He defended himself again. And again he received a reprimand.
Kaeya was in that dark room again. He didn't know how long it had been. Days? Weeks? Months?
But the torture continued, and he was about to falter. Maybe, with enough imagination, he could avoid the beatings and tortures that the Fatui caused him for not offering the services that the Fatui sold to their clients.
He wasn't a shy virgin, he knew how it went.
And he was sick of that damn room.
But when the sale happened again, and Kaeya decided to show himself submissive, as much as I tried to imagine, that touch, that voice, that face... it was disgusting.
He struggle. He struggled a lot to imagine that the one he had on him was Diluc. But the hateful looks and the venom in his voice made it impossible for Kaeya to imagine that the redhead would feel something for him.
Tears fell from his face and he hit the man on top of him, fed up with his slobbering on his skin.
Back to the beginning. Back to torture.
''When are you going to get tired?'' asked the knight exhausted ''You can't keep me locked up here forever''.
''Who says we can't? You've been here for months and we haven't seen a knight in sight. It's obvious they're not looking for you'' The cruel Fatui knelt down to whisper in Kaeya's ear ''No one cares about you''.
Several of the members laughed as they watched that treacherous tear fall.
He hated it. He hated that they were right. Jean was sick of him, and surely she would have thought he ran away, as she always saw him as an irresponsible man.
Lisa had too many worries to add to her sickly body to look for an ungrateful friend.
Rosaria had the church, he was just her drinking buddy, and there were better company than him.
Klee would surely miss him, but he had Albedo. She would forget him easily.
And Diluc... Diluc would be relieved to see him go. Of his disappearance.
Surely, being in that horrible place was the best thing that ever happened to the person Kaeya loved.
And that thought made him cry even more bitterly, causing the Fatui to cease the beating they inflicted on him whenever he fought with his buyers and took him straight to the den.
''I don't have time to listening an adult whining. Release him in three days'' ordered the boss and his employees nodded.
But even though the Fatui laughed at him or demanded him to shut up, Kaeya did not suppress his crying. His anger. His sadness.
''Diluc...Diluc I'm sorry...I'm sorry please come...please save me...''
They bid again, Kaeya feeling the grip on his hair hardening. It was hurting him more than usual, and he knew why.
Their figures. They were offering far, far less than usual.
''You're not interesting anymore, you damn diamond.''
Kaeya would have responded with a joke, but she did not have the strength for it. The Fatui knelt down in front of him, forcing him to look ''Today we will not look back. Today, by our Tsareesa, I swear to you that our buyer will be satisfied.''
And the Fatui made good on his threat. Kaeya's buyer, the only one who had come close to a million moras, succeeded in satisfying himself.
Kaeya was not allowed to defend himself. To fight back. He was not even allowed to scream.
After that, he received medical attention but was immediately thrown into the dungeon. In that darkness, Kaeya cried again for Diluc. For his friends. For getting out of that nightmare.
It was the fourth bidding where the Fatui helped their buyers to do their bidding, and the numbers not only returned to normal, but increased.
Kaeya was no longer begging for ransom. He was thinking of a form of suicide.
As the numbers appeared on the screen, reaching four million mora, an explosion sounded from the ceiling, and screams of dread arose from behind the glass.
The Fatui released Kaeya but he did not have the strength to get up. To open his one eye.
He felt like he was underwater, but heard something he never thought he would hear again.
His name. His name... in that voice.
He tried to open his eye, pleading that it wasn't a delirium, and there it was. In front of him. Diluc.
''-luc''
Diluc didn't answer. He tensed his jaw, a fierce and angry look, angrier than that fateful day in the rain and turned his back to him.
''N...o, Di...luc no-'' He raised his arm to try to stop him. Not to let it leave him, but a friendly hand grabbed his wrist, cradling him to his body.
''Easy Kaeya, easy. We're here.''
''Je...an''
''I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Kaeya. I'm sorry for being so late. For Barbatos... I'm sorry''' the woman cried, as she hugged her friend.
Kaeya started to laugh. It wasn't a delusion. It wasn't a dream. He was being rescued by Jean. By... By Diluc.
He heard a battle to his left and managed to turn his head, unable to hold back the tears when he saw Lisa, along with Albedo, Rosaria and several other knights.
They fought angrily and fiercely for their captain.
But everything stopped when Diluc ordered them to leave ''Take Kaeya to Barbara. Don't waste your time, Jean.''
"But Dilu-
"Go away. All of you. Protect that camp until Kaeya recovers with your lives if it's necessary.'''
Diluc managed to speak with the fierceness of a wild animal and the firm tone of a true Dandelion, so no one dared to contradict him.
Jean managed to take Kaeya in his arms, carrying him away from there, but Kaeya didn't want that. He didn't want to leave Diluc alone against those madmen.
''Luc, no...please come with us.''
Diluc didn't move from the spot, but he turned to look at the knight's face and did something that impressed the younger man. He smiled.
Diluc smiled ''I'm going to avenge you, Kae''.
More Fatui emerged and Diluc raised his sword, immediately surrounding himself with fire.
Kaeya tried to struggle a little in Jean's arms, but she reassured him that Diluc would be fine. They were talking about Diluc, after all.
When they stepped outside, Kaeya took a deep breath.
He never thought he would miss the sky, the clouds, the breeze so much....
''I'm outside... I'm free...''
He could not hear what his companions and friends told him, as unconsciousness came to him.
When he awoke, he felt like he was in a comfortable bed, not on a cold floor.
He opened his eyes, emitting the happiest smile in years when he saw that next to him was not a degenerate or a Fatui, but Diluc.
There was Diluc there.
''-Iluc...''
Diluc, who was sitting, staring at nothing, came out of his trance, grabbing Kaeya's wrist ''Ssshh, you're still hurt and tired. Go back to sleep, come on''
''Diluc...you're here...you're...no...you haven't abandoned me'' Kaeya cursed his weakness, but he couldn't stop crying ''You rescued me, Diluc.''
Diluc looked tremendously confused, taking his hand from Kaeya's wrist to Kaeya's own ''Of course I haven't abandoned you. Kaeya... I've... I've been going crazy looking for you. All over the place. And not just me, all the knights'' He added with a dry laugh ''In the end they're not going to be as incompetent as I thought.''
Kaeya joined in the laughter and closed his eye, Diluc wiping away his tears ''We started looking for you three months ago. You were nowhere to be seen, Kaeya. And when I heard you disappeared on a mission against the Fatui, I went to Szenhaya.'' Diluc ducked his head, helpless ''But I alone was not enough, I needed them. And believe me, I had a hard time convincing them.''
''Wait, wait... we're in Szehnaya?'' he asked, weakly opening his eye again.
Diluc nodded, his hand going to his blue hair ''That's dangerous, Diluc. It could get us in trouble with the Tsareesa if we enter their territory.''
''I don't care if she destroys my vineyard. You were in danger, I couldn't tolerate leaving you there one more day'' he growled fiercely, but his anger quickly turned to sadness ''But I'm too late. Too late. I'm sorry Kae, I'm sorry-''
Diluc was cut off by a hug from Kaeya, feeling his neck damp ''You saved me. You've come. Diluc you've... you've taken on a horde of Fatui all by yourself for me.''
''Of course I have. How could I let them get away with what they've done to you? And I intend to hunt down every single one of those who bought you like a piece of meat. I swear to you Kaey-''
But Diluc was cut off by a denial from Kaeya ''Stay with me, please. Don't go. Even if it's for revenge, I don't want that. I don't want you to leave. I want you to be here. I want you to forgive me. I want you to love me, Diluc, please, I want you to love me again'' Not even when his father abandoned him or when Crepus died, Kaeya had cried so much in his life ''Please Luc, please...''
His crying intensified when Diluc hugged him back, feeling a kiss in his hair ''Forgive me. Forgive me for treating you like this. For actually making you believe that I hated you. That I would never...fuck Kaeya, that I would never rescue you from a place like this. Of course I still love you, Kae. I've never stopped loving you.''
''Really?'' he smiled, his voice choking.
Diluc pulled Kaeya's head away from his neck, holding him from under his jaw. His gaze conveyed many feelings; love, fierceness, fear, anger, tenderness....
''Do you want me to prove it to you?'' he asked, still fearful of the traumas those wretches might have caused in Kaeya.
The knight nodded, wiping his nose and eyes. Diluc smiled, pleased and pressed his lips together, offering Kaeya a long, passionate kiss. A kiss of forgiveness. Of apology. Of showing him the burning desire he felt for him.
Kaeya couldn't help but moan, having to pull them both apart to catch his breath.
They did not kiss again, but rested face to face, Diluc caressing the younger man's cheekbones ''Let's go home, Kae'' Kaeya nodded but Diluc denied, knowing he did not understand what she meant ''To our home.'' Kaeya opened his eye, stunned ''It's time...it's time for you to go back to the Vineyard.''
Kaeya's recovery after his time there was neither long nor hard, for apart from the tremendous support he had from his comrades and friends, he had Diluc's warm body by his side always, ready to cast those nightmares away.
The memories of those beatings, those touches, those screams, that darkness, quickly vanished from his mind before the embrace of his partner. Of the kisses in his hair of the redhead. Of the real touch that made him moan. Enjoyment.
No one knew the sudden change of the adoptive prince of Mondstadt to the favorite knight of the older women, but what was clear was that Kaeya's false happiness and Diluc's bitterness were no longer present on their faces.