— 「MENDING BROKEN PROMISES 」
placing the ring back in your finger and getting to hold you close once more, diluc couldn't have asked for anything more
— after an eternity i finally finished this
— a late whites day special
— art credits : @.hatoba_000 on twt
Sitting down in the bed of his giant bedroom, Diluc sat down thinking about how empty it was. Despite all the furnishings in the room, it still felt hollow. It felt as if the room was the personification of how his heart felt as he gazed at the golden ring that he held gently in his hands.
It has been a few weeks since your past argument with one another, yet there has been no improvement. You still refuse to talk to him, always eating later than him, going the opposite direction when you cross paths, hell you even slept in another room just to stay away from him.
“Your actions these past few months truly make me wonder. Maybe loving you was a mistake.”
Your words echoed in his mind constantly, did you really regret loving him? Much less marry him?
Diluc sighed and rested his head in his free hand, the other still holding the golden ring with so much delicacy that it felt out of place. His mind flickered back to that time when he and Kaeya had a talk.
– A couple days ago, Dawn Winery
Diluc watched as the patrons of his tavern started to get up and exit, making him sigh. He just continued to store away the bottles of wine while thinking of how to approach you again. Dreading the feeling of coming home without your warm greeting, your warm smile, your embrace. He dreaded the feeling of disappointment and sadness when he comes home and sees that you still refuse to talk to him.
“A cup of dandelion wine if you will, Master Diluc.”
He sighed one more time, out of irritation than sadness, he gave a side eye to the Cavalry Captain of the knights.
Kaeya only raised up his hands in mock defeat but he stayed glued to his seat. Diluc just shook his head and continued to store away the wine while the cavalry captain kept his eye on him. He felt it. The way his adoptive brother had looked so miserable these past few weeks but he made no comment afraid of making things worse, but also because he thought he had no right to comfort him. He betrayed him after all.
Kaeya looked at his folded hands that sat on the counter, a contemplating look on his face. “It's best if you leave now, Captain. It's late and I’ll be closing up the tavern.” He smiled, despite the argument he assumed that the both of you had, Diluc still wanted to come home earlier than normal.
“Why not stay a little longer? I mean, it is rare for us to have a moment together, no?”
Diluc sighed one more time, Kaeya half expected him to just kick him out but instead the red head just slid a glass to his direction and popped open a bottle of wine. Kaeya’s visible eye widened a bit but he eagerly took the glass and poured himself a glass. All the while watching Diluc lean against the counter, half full wine glass in his hand and a dazed look on his face.
“How’s it going with you and Y/N?”
That made Diluc pause from drinking from his cup. He let out a heavy sigh and pushed some of his hair back as he sat down and buried his head in his folded arms.
Kaeya began to wonder, was it that bad? To have the Uncrowned King of Mondsdadt in this position? Was he really looking at the Dark Knight Hero that purged evil every night to keep his home safe?
“Wanna talk about it?” Kaeya looked at Diluc from the side as he sipped his wine. “There’s nothing to talk about.” Diluc quickly replied, gently spinning the wine glass, careful not to spill the drink and accidentally drop it. His voice felt tiny. And he didn’t like it. Yet he continued to entertain Kaeya’s questions until it was half past midnight.
“Y’know,” Kaeya started as he exited Dawn Winery as Diluc locked the door. The red head looked at him with a crooked brow, waiting for him to finish. “Y/N just wants a little more assurance.”
The two of them walked together side by side as Kaeya put his hand on his nape, struggling to put his thoughts into words. Diluc just looked at him with a half amused smile and a breathy chuckle.
“Come on, don't do this to me. It's a lot harder to put into words y’know?”
Kaeya looked mildly offended at his expression but he just sighed. Looking up at the sky where thousands of stars were over their heads.
“Assurance that their husband is doing fine. Out of harm's way y’know. I mean,” Kaeya stopped in his tracks when they reached the city gates. “Assurance is important, even more so if your lover is always facing danger no?”
He was snapped out of his flashbacks when the room to the master bedroom opened, just ever so slightly as your figure peeked through the cracks. The lighting outside framed your figure just perfectly, giving you an ethereal glow to you. Diluc could never really take his eyes off of you.
He took a shaky breath in and stood up from his position. Taking slow yet hurried steps to your directions. Mind racing on what to say and how to say them. The way you said those two simple words, ‘my ring’, it gave him the assurance that even though you fought you still acknowledged the ring he had given you on your wedding day.
It felt like the weight he didn’t know that was on his shoulders was suddenly lifted. The assurance he felt now – that he was still yours and you his – this was the assurance that you had so desperately craved for from him. The assurance that the other was alive and well, away from harm's way and death’s door.
When he comes face to face with you, lifting your hand – holding it ever so gently just like he did everytime he held your hand – and slowly slips back the golden band on your ring finger. Putting it back where it belonged. Lifting up your hand to his lips to give it a kiss, gently rubbing his thumb over your knuckles, gaze locked onto the ring on your hand that glistened under the chandelier.
You still refused to look at him but that’s alright. Just being able to hold you again was fine.
“I’m sorry, you were right. I didn’t understand you, I promise it won’t happen again. I’ll do better from now on.”
The way his head falls onto your shoulder, arms slowly creeping their way to your waist.
“It’s late now, let’s go to bed sweetheart.”
You let him pull you to the bed. Arms snaking around your figure in a comforting embrace. His heart hammered in his chest when you hugged him back, face buried in his chest.
You still had not uttered a single word, but with you in his arms and the ring back on your finger – back where it belongs – Diluc in his long years of being alive, through all the years of hardships he felt safe; at peace. Enough to make his eyes close and let his being surrender to sleep.