they're still looking for each other, they're still caring for each other, despite all the paperwork, separating them from calling each other brothers.
Kaeya knows who's behind the mask of Darknight Hero. Kaeya knows they're on the same page, so one night he doesn't ask Diluc the question of to be or not to be, he just slides the map with the camps to Diluc and watched red eyes squint in suspicion.
Kaeya talks — who's there, where's to interfere, what actions can be taken, where the knights' hands are tied by the laws so someone's help would be greatly appreciated, what's the priority, all that.
he keeps part of the intel to himself. it's the places he plans on visiting himself, or where the enemies are unsuitable for Diluc (aka Pyro mages), or if he knows that Diluc sports an injury and doesn't want Diluc end up being more hurt than he already is.
every week, without a fault.
intel, camps, individuals. dos and don'ts. getting headaches so severe because of all the planning and organising, but not regretting it even the slightest bit. adjusting schedules, his own and other knights', aligning Rosaria and Diluc's night work so they would have to work together.
Diluc always checks his intel, so he knows that he's not being told everything, but when he digs into it, he knows Kaeya does it with no ill intent, quite the opposite. he also knows that Kaeya takes a little bit too much on himself.
he learns, first, of forging signatures, of late night's, of lists and names and enemies, of schedules, of wine and quite bizarre methods of requiring intel and documents and evidence. of lonely quarters, of keeping a distance.
Diluc knows they're on the same page — they're protecting Mondstadt by all means possible, but the ways they do it... Diluc briefly wonders if Kaeya will ever allow himself to collapse with how much he carries and having no one to back him up. Diluc collapses sometimes, after the night job, and he knows he'll be taken care of. Kaeya doesn't have such luxury anymore.
Diluc watches over Kaeya. in the tavern, he observes every little thing he had been ignoring before. he watches his drinks and his acquaintances, the patrons and the bandits he's milking out of the details on some shady business. he makes sure to not let anyone to spike Kaeya's drinks. he had seen it, once. scared him to death.
he gives Kaeya a key to the door on the third floor if he needs to crash for the night or patch himself up; the first aid kit is always stocked up and ready to be used.
he always, always looks out for Kaeya when he sees him uncomfortable with some patrons. tensing up, clenching the glass, nervously laughing. he doesn't really want to think what could be the reason behind, but he gives in to his curiosity after a while. he asks Charles, and instead of a reply or brushing it off, Charles' face turns dark.
he never questions it since.
Diluc also dilutes Kaeya's drinks, so at the end of the night, Kaeya's still more tipsy than completely wasted, and can fend off for himself with no trouble.
he gets Adelinde to back him up when Kaeya pops up on the Winery's premises with some official business. it's still quite awkward, but Diluc is glad to see Kaeya eating some homemade food.
so, in the end, they might never be able to call each other brothers or change the paperwork they have messed up in their teens and young adulthood, but... looking out for each other becomes more like an air we're all breathing.
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