Chapter Text
It was almost lunchtime when they arrived at Wangshu Inn. They all decided to stop for a few hours before continuing on their way to the harbor because Paimon couldn’t shut up about wanting some almond tofu so she could stay enegized all the trip. (If the tycoon thought that the flying companion was being dramatic, he made no comments on it). Diluc was still a bit doubtful about all of this. While he understood why everybody was concerned, Barbara was a splendid healer. Surely going all the way to Bubu Pharmacy in Liyue Harbor was unnecessary. But Diluc was a caring person, and his heart couldn’t refuse after seeing the traveler so worried about the unlucky kid.
He was made aware of what exactly happened by Paimon at the beginning of the trip. Apparently, Bennett was sent by the adventurer’s guild to Dragonspine to check on one of the camps. When he made a stop to lit a bonfire, he unfreezed a boar behind some buses and said boar after being free from the ice cage headbutted the kid off the cliff where they were. Bennett rolled down the mountain only to finally fall on a hilichurl camp. Both traveler and Albedo saw the kid falling, and quickly ran to assist him. By the time they made it the kid had been attacked. Bennett was carried to Mondstadt by the alchemist, and apparently was an awful sight. A very concerning amount of blood everywhere, one arm bent in an unnatural way, tattered clothes, and symptoms of hypothermia, and the list goes on and on. Diluc understood why the nuns thought he was dead after seeing him.
The tycoon isn’t ignorant to the rumors going around Mondstadt about the kid cursed with bad luck, but no rumor could have prepared him for this. He couldn’t comprehend how this happened. His trail of thoughts were interrupted by the food being served in front of him.
“Woah” Paimon whispered.
He shifted his gaze to whatever was drawing Paimon's attention. It was Razor, who was devouring the food on his plate. It was quite the sight and whoever saw that would think that the kid didn’t have any food in two days. Once he finished, ( It was not long after, the kid really was fast ) he showed the now empty plate to the traveler.
“Razor finish eating. Now find medicine and see Bennett.” So that's why he was in such a hurry, now Diluc understood. After a few attempts to explain why eating so fast can be bad for your health and that they wouldn’t leave until everybody finishes eating, Razor seemed to understand.
“Worry not dear companion. For I, Fischl, Prinzessin der Veruteilung, assigned a loyal and strong Knight to stay vigilant. Thus, the safety of my dear familiar is assured.”
“What mein Fräulein is trying to say is that sir Kaeya is staying with Bennett and making sure everything is in order.”
Now, wait a minute. What does Kaeya have to do with all of this? Kaeya? His Kaeya? The cavalry captain Kaeya? Why is he taking care of the kid? That is not a knight's duty. Have they become so inefficient that now they send captains to take care of unlucky kids?
Due to the bad looks that two electro allogens were giving him, Diluc assumed that the last part was said out loud. He guessed that the traveler took pity on him because they let a long and tired sight before explaining.
“He is not working. Kaeya has requested a leave. Jean has not been able to argue anything against it because he never asks for a vacation. He never misses work and sticks to his schedule. And contrary to what people may think after seeig him so many times in Angel's share, Kaeya almost always works overtime. Apparently this has become a problem since no one could convince him to take a break. So having so many days off accumulated and Bennett being hurt that badly, I can guarantee you that Mond won't have his captain for a long time.”
That was definitely not what Diluc expected. Kaeya used to complain a lot to Crepus and him about not having enough breaks. He remembered it pretty well. What did it change?
“Kaeya great. Work hard.” Still that dirty look, it seems. Should he return it?
The conversation shifted a little bit and now all of them are singing praises towards Mondstadt’s beloved cavalry captain. Diluc would like to ignore the rest of the conversation, but he really can’t help it. How did Kaeya became the best suitor according to the old ladies? He made a mental note to ask Addie about the huge amount of proposals the captain had received. He was only away for three years, when did all of this happen?
The conversation was not interrupted at all. Not when the traveler paid for the food ( despite Diluc’s great insistence on paying for it himself ), nor when they gathered their things to continue on their way. By the time it seemed like they were running out of things to tell about Kaeya, they were already in Liyue Harbor.
A young ginger man was leaving the pharmacy when they arrived.
“Hey there traveler, it’s a little bit sooner to our weekly spar, don’t you think?
“Oh Childe, we're not here for the spar. We need a special medicine.” Paimon was the one who answered.
“A fatuus? Are you friends with the fatui?They’re criminals.” Judging by the travelers reaction, those were the wrong choice of words. Lucky for Paimon ( Who now seemed nervous about the fight that was probably going to happen ) Razor spoke before the fatuus had the chance to respond.
“Bennett medicine”
Both the traveler and their companion said a hasty goodbye to the ginger and entered the pharmacy quickly.
Retrieving the medicine was easy and fast thanks to the letter that was sent the night before. And with that done, they just needed to return.
“It's too late. Let’s eat something. Wangmin restaurant is near and Xiangling is an amazing chef. We can sleep a bit in my teapot and continue traveling tomorrow in the early morning.”
The food was indeed delicious and everyone seemed to enjoy it. And if that night Diluc was surprised about the teapot not being a slang word and being an actual place, nobody can prove it.