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The bar is dimly lit, and faint wafts of whiskey remain in the air. Dull chatter floats around, and though there isn’t a single silent corner in the room, it is not noisy. The counters are marbled pitch black, and the glasses of customers sit comfortably on top, some full, some empty.
It was roughly closing time, so most of the patrons had already taken their leave. Nonetheless, as Diluc scans the room, he can’t help but feel that something is missing. Unable to spot the deep blue hair he was so familiar with, his mind involuntarily flickers to the previous day.
It was far from unusual that he and Kaeya were at odds with each other, but on this rare occasion, something in Diluc had driven him to raise his fists. It wasn’t hard to figure out what that something was, though. Once again, Kaeya was fawning over the guys at his office, about how “gorgeous” and “elegant” they were. It was an obvious thing that Kaeya was trying to lure him in, but Diluc had bit, and while he did not regret it one bit, he thought that maybe he should’ve held back. As Kaeya walked out with purple bruised just above his right cheek, Diluc was not able to meet his gaze.
His thoughts are interrupted as the door creaks open and the bells jingle a soft chime. He internally thanks this customer for giving him a much-needed distraction, but the pendulum of karma strikes, and he finds a tanned man with an icy-blue ponytail sitting in front of him.
“Good evening, sir,” Diluc says after a pause, not planning to stray from professionalism. He closes his eyes and wipes at a glass.
“Good evening to you too. The usual, please,” the customer spoke in low timbre, voice abnormally hoarse.
Diluc heaves out a low sigh, then turns to the counter to prepare his drink. One sits while the other stands, with only the delicate clinking of utensils between them. Shortly, a glass slides in front of Kaeya, and he watches as an amber drink splashes inside, swirling, before evening to level.
“Did you think I wouldn’t come?” Kaeya playfully asks while taking a sip, voice still sandy.
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean,” Diluc replies in monotone.
“Aww, I know you missed me,” Kaeya laughs with a tone laced with smugness. While Diluc does not give him a reply, one can easily feel the annoyance radiating off him due to his stiff expression and posture.
Kaeya continues to sip at his drink while Diluc continues to wipe the already sparkling glass, and the only thing saving them from total awkwardness is the chatter around them.
“So,” Diluc decides to start, “what happened.”
“Hm? And what may you be referring to?”
“Don’t try to play it off. Your voice is hoarse, and you’re acting different,” Diluc speaks, trying to ignore the guilt building up inside of him, since he was obviously a cause, if not the main one.
“Aha– well, I guess I wasn’t trying too hard to hide it. Though, don’t worry, it has nothing to do with that lovely fist-to-face you gave me,” he says as a matter of fact. Diluc twitches as if he’d been stabbed in the chest, but looks very relieved; Kaeya quietly snickers at his endearing reaction. “I woke up late today, and spent the full day making phone calls for the boss. Is that enough to quell your concern for me?” he asks with a hint of tease.
“Sorry, who’s concerned for you?” Diluc glares, and Kaeya lets out a gasp.
“You’re hurting my feelings!” he dramatically expresses with an excessive amount of fakeness. Though, he doesn’t miss the colour that flows to Diluc’s ears and cheeks.
The two continued to chatter, though it was awfully one-sided as Diluc only chimed in a few words every now and then. A bit later, the bar was practically empty as it was only a few minutes before closing time. Seeing this, an idea popped up in Kaeya's head.
“How about taking a few shots with me, Diluc?” he asks, pointing a glass at the said man.
“No thank you,” he curtly replies.
“C'mon, it’s one time, so I don’t see a reason not to,” Kaeya tries to persuade.
“I don’t drink, you know that,” he once again answers, blunt. Still, Kaeya isn’t backing down.
“You aren’t planning to die without ever drinking, are you? There aren’t many days when this place is as empty as now, so this would be the perfect time for you to try, wouldn’t you agree? Consider this re-paying me for that punch in the face; my treat,” he goes on, and Diluc’s resolve waivers. While he wants to argue that Kaeya said not to worry about the punch, it seems too shameless for his prideful self, and so he gives in.
“Fine.”
The next hour was an absolute blur as Diluc went from cautiously sipping his beverage to downing cup after cup. Kaeya may have played a part as to why Diluc was drinking so much, but even he didn’t expect that Diluc would be practically inhaling the alcohol. Now, as a consequence of his actions, a mumbling redhead lay face flat on the table beside him.
By now, it was already past closing times, so the bar owner had stepped out of the staff room to check up on the bar. His eyes met Kaeya’s and despite the scene in front of him, the owner shows a kind smile.
“Hello, are you a friend of Diluc’s?” he kindly voices.
“Ah, yes I am. If you wouldn’t mind, I will be taking Diluc back.”
“Of course, thank you for taking care of him. Do you know where he lives?” the bar owner asks.
“Yes, we actually live together,” Kaeya smiles in reply. After a few more pleasantries, he waves goodbye to the kind owner while carrying Diluc on his back.
The sun had long since set, and with each breath, he let out cloudy puffs of mist under the luminescent moonlight. Feeling quite chilly from the frosty air, Kaeya hurried to his car while using Diluc as a source of warmth.
Pulling open the icy door handle, he gently set the man on his back onto the seats. The man then slumped down across the seats.
“Hey, put your seatbelt on. It’s not safe to lay like that,” he quietly lectures. Diluc mummers in reply, and drags himself back upright. Content, Kaeya moves to the driver’s seat. Looking back to check up on his passenger, he sees that Diluc’s seatbelt is now on, though his eyes are closed and he is leaning against the window. Coziness blooms in his heart at this precious sight. Though he is tempted to snap a picture, he knows Diluc will definitely respond negatively, so he decides to get back home as quickly as he can so the sleepy boy can get some rest.
The drive is quiet, with only the soft buzzing of the engines and the wind howling by the car. It makes it all feel so much warmer, a stark contrast in temperature. Though it is a relatively short drive, Kaeya can’t stop himself from taking occasional glances at the sleeping redhead. His eyes are closed but they twitch and flutter from moment to moment, and though he wore his hair high at work, it was slowly becoming undone to adorn his frame. Only when Diluc frowns and mumbles in his sleep does Kaeya remember to keep his eyes on the road. The rest of the drive went smoothly.
- - -
Walking up to their doorstep with Diluc draped on his back, Kaeya struggled to unlock the door with fingers froze half numb. Expending an excessive amount of effort, he finally manages to open the door and steps inside, relishing in the sweet warmth of home. After taking off his shoes, he staggers inside and lays Diluc on the couch before taking off his shoes too.
“Come on, Diluc; the bed is far cozier than this couch over here. I’ll be getting ready in the washroom, so go ahead when you’re ready. Just make sure you don’t fall asleep,” he taps him on the face, making sure he isn’t already passed out. Receiving a mumble in reply, he smiles before striding to the washroom.
When Kaeya closes the door behind him, he lets out a heavy sigh. Screw his low tolerance, as he was just a second away from taking Diluc in his arms and squeezing like life and death depended on it. That face– he really didn’t know how he’d survived this long without giving it a good pinch… On second thought, he probably wouldn’t be here if he had. Diluc would kill him.
But that only prompts another thought. Diluc had never been drunk like this, and when he thinks about it, Kaeya doesn’t remember any cold glares or complaints for what he’d done so far, from carrying him to tapping him on the face. Then, does that mean…
His hands fly to the sink and he splashes a handful of water onto his face, cutting off his train of though. No, no no no– he was not about to exploit his drunk roommate, definitely not. When he brings his eyes to the mirror, he is met with a totally composureless form of himself. His hair sticks out in odd places, water drips down his neck and into his shirt, and a dark shade of red tints at his face. Once again, he sighs.
Kaeya takes a while to contemplate his life decisions, but eventually, he gets himself clean and leaves the bathroom. However, just as he steps out the door, he bumps face-first into a mattress. He is considering whether or not he should just lay there and sleep, but before the thought is complete, a pair of arms wrap tightly around him. Right, there is no way there’d be a mattress in front of the washroom, it was just Diluc’s plush body. He internally curses as the previous heat comes back to his face.
“Time to get ready Diluc, don’t just stand th– woah!” He lets out a startled yelp when his feet leave the ground. He doesn’t know what is happening but suddenly Diluc picks him up, as if he weighs absolutely nothing, then carries him to his room. Soon, he is dropped onto his bed, and it creaks as Diluc crawls on top of him. “Hey,” Kaeya stammers, “you’re drunk.” The only thing keeping his voice steady is his sheer will, and that itself is about to crack.
There is a low mutter from Diluc, but Kaeya can’t quite hear. “What?”
Diluc raises his head and uses his arms to guide Kaeya’s field of vision right to him. His expression is utterly unreadable, and in his eyes is a thick haze. One second they’re having a staring contest, and the next, Diluc is closing in on Kaeya. But just as their lips are about to touch, Kaeya’s heart is pounding out through his ears and his hands fly to form a blockade. “S-Seriously,” he stutters despite himself, “you’re too drunk!”
Diluc looks extremely disappointed, and he thinks he sees a slight pout on his face. “You won’t kiss me?” he asks with a tilt of his head.
Kaeya’s whole brain is being thrown into absolute turmoil, but he still manages to squeeze out a reply; though, it no longer holds the same solidity as it did minutes before. “You’ll regret it when you’re sober; now be a good boy and go get–”
His arms are abruptly pried open and the rest of his words instantly drop, pushed down by a tongue. Not his. His instinct to shy back is rendered useless as the mattress is behind him, and his unbelievably high heart rate is making him light-headed. Every little movement made him, stuck in a state of agitation, shudder and shift. While he feels that resisting is the right choice, a part of him is begging to stay, begging that Diluc doesn’t pull away. Hearing the obscene noises come from his voice does little in suppressing his internal conflict, or the sound of his thundering heartbeat.
The kiss is rather sloppy, and Kaeya wonders that perhaps, this might be the first time Diluc’s ever done this. The thought sends electrifying tingles through him, but then the last strings of his self control snap, and he makes up his mind.
Exploiting the drunk? Diluc was the one who initiated this, so he reaps what he sows. When they part from the kiss for air, Kaeya flips them over in one swift motion, and now sits on top of Diluc’s stomach. The man looks surprised for sure, crimson hair sprawled behind him, but Kaeya just laughs.
“You didn’t think I’d hand over the control this easily, did you?” he says huskily, face flaming and eyes burning with greed.