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Kaeya liked to live on the edge of life. Foregoing safety and tossing caution to the wind, he found it amusing to play in the shadows.
He had associates everywhere, in many different groups throughout Tevyat. Wanted information on where Treasure Hoarders are situated? Ask Kaeya. Want to know where to find a Hilichurl camp? Kaeya will point out two or five places on your map. Planning to figure out where the Abyss Order is planning to move to? He’ll give you the coordinates, a pat on the back, and a few words of encouragement.
The only issue about meddling with the darkness is that it painted a target on his back, bringing many enemies that wanted to impale him with a weapon of some sort. Preferably between his third and fourth rib on his left side, though the neck works just fine.
---
“Master Diluc?”
“Captain Kaeya.”
“I didn’t know you started working afternoon shifts on Wednesdays!” Kaeya perched his elbows on the bar top of Angel’s Share. “Change of routine?”
“Charles is taking a day off, and there’s a new employee. Decided to show him the ropes myself.”
“Oh? And who might this new person be?”
“None of your concern. I advise ordering a drink now. Otherwise, you can kindly leave.” For someone who wielded a Pyro Vision, Diluc really was cold.
“I’ll have my usual then. You know what it is.”
“Fine.” Diluc turned around to prepare a Death After Noon as Kaeya wandered to the quiet corner he always sat at. Cyrus was sitting close to his spot. That corner was unofficially dubbed the ‘Kaeya’s Corner’ by the rest of the regulars in the tavern, and no one dared to sit on that table unless they wanted to get frostbite. Those were the rumours anyways.
Kaeya was amused, to say the least.
“Fine afternoon, Cyrus.” Kaeya dragged ‘his’ chair over to the adventurer.
“And to you too, Captain.”
Kaeya struck up a light conversation with Cyrus, adding to the soft chatter in the tavern. When their drinks arrived, delivered by a relatively skinny brown-haired kid that couldn’t be older than twenty-five.
“H-here’s your drinks,” he stuttered as he set down the beverages and nearly spilling them.
Must be the new guy Diluc was talking about.
“Thanks.” Kaeya gave him his signature smirk. “What’s your name? Never seen you around here before.”
“I’m Greg, s-sir. First day working h-here.”
Kaeya noted that he kept biting his bottom lip while clenching and unclenching his fist. He was nothing, if not analytical.
“You seem…” Kaeya took a sip of his Death After Noon. Bit bitter. Diluc was losing his touch. Clearly didn’t put enough Dandelion Wine to cancel out the original tang of Sparkling wine. “…Fidgety. Though considering this is your first day at the job, it is unavoidable.”
Greg’s mouth pulled into a deep frown. “I-”
“Greg! Stop slacking off!”
“Y-yes, Master Diluc!” With that, he scurried away.
Odd. Kaeya thought. His gaze was blank, yet he didn’t lack facial reaction. Perhaps-
“Oh! Captain, you have to listen to one of my adventures!” The Cavalry Captain was pulled out of his theorising by Cyrus who had already finished half the tankard of beer. “By far, the most hilarious expedition I’ve been on!”
“Do tell. I always enjoy a good story.”
Cyrus rambled on about how he and another adventurer, by the name of Bennet, had decided to explore the area around Wolvendom, Brightcrown Canyon, and what was Stormterror’s Lair. The pair kept getting attacked by hilichurls which should’ve been just plain unlucky, but apparently, Bennet kept luring hilichurls to the edge of a small but steep cliff and then dove out of the way as hilichurls ran off said cliff. Cyrus had praised Bennet with his amazing plan since the hilichurls couldn’t climb up the cliff to reach them.
Kaeya had a suspicion that wasn’t the unlucky adventurer’s intention but it worked out, so Kaeya didn’t bother about sharing his thoughts.
“And then-” Cyrus broke off. “Uh, I don’t mean no disrespect Captain, but you seem… How do I put this… Off? Shaky? You seem paler than usual.”
“Now that you’ve pointed it out, I do feel rather tired.” Kaeya was only halfway through his drink though. There was no way his alcohol tolerance vanished overnight, so why was he feeling like he could sleep for eight hours straight? “Perhaps I should head home.”
“Was it the drink? You can usually drink five glasses without showing any sign of intoxication!”
“I don’t feel drunk-”
“Kaeya! We knew you’d be here!” A high pitched voice squeaked not too far away, and Kaeya recognised it immediately. A floating – Kaeya didn’t even know what Paimon was – and the Honorary Knight of Favonius approached their table.
“Paimon. Aether. How are you? It’s been a while.”
“We’re good.”
“We’ve been flower-picking with Barbara! She said she needed some herbs for medicine, and we decided to tag along! We even found some Calla Lilies for you since Paimon noticed you seemed to like the smell a lot. Here!”
Paimon shoved a bouquet of Calla Lilies into Kaeya’s face. He took it from her hands and inhaled deeply. Instead of being greeted by the fresh, clean smell it usually had, Kaeya immediately felt light-headed. He had to actively fight down the urge to throw up.
“Freshly picked from Starfell Lake! Paimon personally picked the ones in your hands and chose only the best-”
“Kaeya? Are you alright?” Aether asked, one hand reaching out to grab his shoulder. “You look sick.”
“Gee, now that you mention it, Paimon also thinks Kaeya looks wrecked. He’s like, 10 shades paler than he usually is. Did you have one too many to drink?”
“I-” Kaeya could feel his throat closing up. The edge of his vision darkened, but he forced his eyes to stay open. “Get-”
“I-is everything all right?” That new guy came back again. Greg. “Is the Captain okay?”
“Who are you-”
“He’s a new worker here.”
“Could you go get some water for Kaeya?”
“O-of course!”
“W-wai-” Kaeya struggled to prop himself up. His arms felt like it was about to collapse like a house of cards. His jaw wasn’t working properly. A spike was being shoved through his forehead. He was vaguely aware of hands clasped on each shoulder. Panic was settling in his chest. “Ge-”
“Here!” A glass was quickly placed in front of him.
“Is Kaeya okay? Paimon’s scared. Kaeya isn’t normally like this!”
“Paimon, you being scared is making me scared.”
“Here, friend.” The glass was pressed to his lips. “Perhaps drinking some water can help.” Was that Cyrus? Yes, his accent was unmistakable.
Kaeya was about to take a sip of the water when we smelt something sour coming from the water. It was acrid and stung his nose when he took another breath.
There was no way in Celestia that he’s drinking that.
Weakly pushing the glass away, he tried to speak again. “G-get Lu-”
“Please, Captain! Water might help!”
“Wait wait wait! Paimon thinks he’s trying to say something.”
“Di,” Kaeya rasped out. “Di. Luc.” For all his effort, he might as well have been mouthing the words.
“Can anyone understand what he’s saying? Paimon can’t hear.”
“I-I think he’s gone delusional. It m-might be a better idea to g-get him home straight away.”
“Wouldn’t getting Barbara be better?”
“A great idea, Honorary Knight! Let us escort the Captain to the Cathedral.”
A ringing sound was starting to echo in Kaeya’s ears as his hyperventilating got worse. “No, get Di-”
“I-I-I can bring the Captain there!” Greg offered.
“All of you, get away from him right now.” Even though Kaeya was about to pass out, relief seeped into his slipping conscious.
Summoned like an angel of vengeance, the red-head stalked up to their corner. Kaeya has never been happier to see that look of murder on his face.
“M-Master Diluc!”
“Paimon swear we didn’t do anything! We just gave him the flowers and he-”
“Stop talking. I saw everything. Cyrus, go get Barbara.” The adventurer quickly nodded and left the tavern in quick haste.
Diluc picked up the glass that contained the leftovers of the Death After Noon. He gave it a quick sniff before setting it down and picked up the glass of water. Warming up his hand with his Vision, he quickly heated the water as a black substance gathered near the bottom of the glass. He placed down the glass with terrifying calmness. “Aether, arrest Greg and take him outside. There should be knights patrolling outside.”
“Got it!”
“W-what?”
“Does he even have the authority?”
“Aether’s title as the Honorary Knight and mine are good enough.”
“Paimon doesn’t think that’s how it works.”
“Then my evidence will. Just make sure he doesn’t escape.”
Aether and Paimon pushed a protesting Greg outside. Diluc placed a hand on Kaeya’s forehead. “I can’t believe you got drugged in my tavern.”
It’s your tavern. You’re taking the responsibility. Was what Kaeya wanted to say, but all that came out was a grunt as he gripped Diluc’s free hand.
“Just sleep before you break your nose face-planting into the table.”
There were a lot of things Kaeya wanted to say.
I didn’t think you would care.
I’m not sleeping at this table. I know there’s a spare room upstairs.
If you brush this under the carpet I swear to Barbatos.
…
Thank you.
Diluc clearly read his mind. “We’ll talk about this when you’re not about to pass out. Now stop struggling to stay awake and rest.” He roughly pushed Kaeya’s head onto the tabletop. “I’ll carry you up once I close the tavern.”
Kaeya didn’t resist and finally let his eyelids fall, sleep quickly taking hold of his consciousness.
He might be leaving himself vulnerable again, but Kaeya trusted Diluc. He always has.