Chapter Text
he had already spent 3 years in Snezhnaya. 3 long years. he knew he'd have to go back home. that had been the plan all along. he wanted to go home. but would it really be home anymore?
he'd grown used to the harsh winds of Snezhnaya and the biting cold, but he also missed the gentle winds of Mondstadt that felt like they always joined in on every childhood game
but he knew things would be different. father was dead. gone for good. he no longer had a brother to go on adventures with and he no longer had any trust in the knights
the people wouldn't look at him the same he knew that. he also knew how much trouble his return would cause. gossip, theories, knights trying to recruit him again.
he'd have to avoid explaining what happened and avoid getting close to anyone again. after what happened he was just a stranger to everyone
he had hoped he'd grow up to make his father proud but now he knew that would never happen. the delusion in his hand...he wondered what would have happened had he found out about it sooner. had he not let his father use it
he had avoided thinking to much about Mondstadt not wanting to waste time reminiscing but now he had no choice but to think things through. it was time to go home.
he took what little possessions he had and journey back. at least he had made some good connections, might come in handy.
the trip to Mondstadt would be a few days long but strangely enough while he dreaded going back he didn't feel like taking any breaks along the way
if anything his time in Snezhnaya had taught him how important it was to plan these things, how you had to be mindful of your energy, food and water supply, be sure you had a place to rest, but all that was foolishly forgotten as he thought of Mondstadt once again
his homeland. why was he clinging to old memories like that? there was no point. he thought he had grown up, the day he became an adult sure proved he'd have to
for now he decides to focus on the road ahead.
...
after days of travel(and a few close calls) he reaches the boarder between the to nations. a strange emotion suddenly overwhelmed him
was he...afraid? he had long forgotten the feeling. he looked around but was unable to spot any danger so why did he feel like this?
perhaps this was a bad idea. maybe he should just turn ba-
he stumbles forward as the wind pushes him into Mondstadt. Rude. But it's not like the wind did that on purpose, its just wind. Still shouldn't have rushed him like that.
The deeper he walks into the nation the more at piece he feel. Maybe its do to the fact he's not a wanted criminal on the run here
It's even more beautiful then he had remembered. The air is more refreshing and the wind flows around him in a familiar way
He decides its best to go to the city first. Get a better grasp on how things have changed. And potentially avoid getting scolded by Adelinde and Elzer for a little while longer
He eventually makes it to the city, It doesn't look much different. As he makes his way in he notices that there are different knights guarding the gates, likely just as inefficient as the old ones
The gates strange looks as he walks through the city, he feels their gazes and hears their wispers. He heads to the heacourtes of the knights of favonious first wanting to see Varka
Knowing Varka he might be able to prevent the knights from bothering Diluc about coming back, he's sure to understand.
Diluc assumed kaeya must have taken over his position as the cavalry captain, any of the knights doing so would have been an insult. he also knew that Eroch had long been gone after being found traitor. that bastard. whatever punishment he received was definitely not harsh enough
he walks into the headquarters. the knights didn't bother hiding their suprised, infact some of them as diluc had assumed had thought he was going to join them again
he ignored their meaningless attempts to question him on the matter and didn't even bother answering or politely declining the invitations to go drinking with them
he pushed past them and walked straight to the grand masters office. he knocked on the door and waited patiently but to his suprise it wasn't varkas voice that answered but jeans
"come in"
he felt his heart skip a beat. just surprised to hear her is all. he pushed the door aside and closed it behind himself, jean had been sitting at the grand masters desk with piles of paperwork and what looks like much to much coffee
the clearly exhausted young woman still tried to look up at the visitor with a smile despite looking like she might pass out at any moment
"how may i-"
her smile quickly dropped, exhaustion quickly forgotten as she sprinted out of the chair and hugged diluc, although it felt more like she was trying to strangle him
"you idiot! where were you?! i can't believe you're back! don't you dare leave like that again! do you have any idea how worried me and kaeya-"
at the mention of kaeya diluc interrupts her
"jean. wheres varka?"
she breaks the hug standing more professionally now
"he went of on some expedition. took most of the knights and all of our cavalry with him, well except for kaeya. and now im the acting grand master of the knights of favonious and its my duty to-"
"he left? just like that? he didn’t even mention the reason? i wanted to see if he could keep the knights from pestering me about joining"
"i can take care of that"
"good"
"good"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"well em...you should go see kaeya"
"and why would i do that?"
"diluc. don't be like that."
"what do you expect us to do? hug it out? act like we're brothers and nothing ever happened? like he never told me what he did that night? like i didn't try to kill him?"
"..."
"im sorry. i went to far"
"its fine. i understand. but Varka plans to lock the two of you in a room until you talk it out when he gets back so you might want to sort things out till then"
"seriously? thats his grand plan? ugh. I'll see what i can do"
"good"
"and give some of that work to the other knights, they're not doing anything anyway. stop trying to do everyones work yourself. it'll make them even more incompetent then they already are"
and with that he leaves. what could have happened to have made Varka leave so suddenly? with most of the knights no less. a threat from another nation? must be a serious one then
he leaves the headquarters. as much as he hates to admit it he does want to check on kaeya, just to make sure he's not up to anything ofcorse. but where would he find him at this time?
maybe he should just head back home and kaeya will come eventually to unless he moved out but he wouldn't have right? Where would he have-
a kid bumps into him while running. she's dressed head to toe in red, has elf like pointy ears that remind him of kaeyas and she does resemble him in more ways then one actually
the little kid immediately gets up as if nothing happened and looks up at diluc. he doesn't have time for this but obviously won't be mean to a kid
"watch where you're going kid"
"sorry mister. im klee! whats your name?"
"that doesn't matter. i have no interest in idle chit-chat. go play somewhere else"
"mh? your wierd"
wierd? did this kid just call him wierd? what?...doesn't matter. he's about to turn around when he hears that voice. kaeya...
"klee! what did i tell you about running off like that? and don't call people wierd. that's mean. sorry about that sir-"
when Kaeya looks up from klee and sees diluc he freezes. diluc does the same. kaeya looks so...different now.
what the hell happened?! why is he wearing a shirt that leaves basically half his chest exposed? oh its definitely the influence of that weird nun friend kaeya had! his hair is so messy. and again what is that outfit?! it's horrendous! that's basically not even a shirt! and what is that supposed to be? half a cape?! and that vision-
...
right. why does he care?
"its quite alright. No harm done"
"right..."
"kaeya! you promised you'd take me to see albedo! and that you'd go on a picnic with us!"
"right ofcorse. lets go klee"
"yey!!!"
what? wait is that a wedding ring? diluc had thought it was just an odd necklace at first but no that's definitely a wedding ring. and a kid to?! what the hell did he miss?!
he doesn't even have time to process everything as kaeya and the little girl walk off...what the hell just happened?