Before You Go
https://archiveofourown.org/works/35077087
Summary: Diluc is not having a good day and it only gets worse.
Word Count: 1,575
Diluc was fuming while cleaning the bar. When he thought Kaeya could no longer get under his skin, when he thought he was finally over him, he did something to piss him off. Currently Kaeya was drunk and flirting with anything that could walk until one of his fellow knights took interest. Now they were making out in the corner.
It reminded Diluc of stolen kisses as they hid from the world before their bubble popped and Dilucs world went to shit. He remembered the whispered promises of forever in the dead of night when Diluc couldn’t tell where he ended and Kaeya started.
With that Diluc handed the rag off and left he wasn’t going to let Kaeya do that to him. He wasn’t going to let Kaeya win.
…
Unfortunately the next day the image couldn’t leave Dilucs mind. And to make it all worse it was the anniversary of his dad's death. He had overheard a couple adventures talking about a bad infestation of hillichurls. He decided to go take care of it to get Kaeya and the knights off his mind.
He ignored all his employees at the winery as he set out for the day taking care of any other monsters as he went.
After getting to the hilichural camp he took care of them pretty swiftly saving an adventure who was dumb enough to try and take them on alone.
“Oh my archons, I thought for sure I was a goner. Thank you.”
Diluc ignored him instead, thinking about the next fight for the day.
“It wouldn’t have been as much of a problem if not for the abyss mage that was hanging around. Is it normal for hilichurls and abyss mages to help each other out?”
“What abyss mage? Where did it go?” Diluc asked, only now giving the man his full attention.
“I think it went that way,” the man pointed. “Then it disappeared in the rocks or something.”
“Okay, go back to town and I will find the abyss mage.”
With that Diluc walked away in the direction the man pointed. He didn't walk far before finding a gap in the rocks. Another cave full of monsters as usual. Diluc was pretty confident he would get through this with time to spare. What he was actually going to get was another group of hilichurls.
The cave was much larger than he expected. Diluc opened another door leading into a large circular room with several gates in the walls all around the room and another door straight across. There was also a ruin guard sitting in the middle of the room. Finally a harder fight to spice up the monotony of hilichurls. He walked forward activating the ruin guard and quickly took care of it. That's when all of the gates dropped and four more ruin guards came walking out. That's when Diluc knew he was fucked. He was able to hold his own, killing two of them before they threw him across the room and he landed on a chunk of ruble wrong. A large sharp part stabbed up into him and his back bent and the impact knocked the air out of his lungs.
Now that he was incapacitated the ruin guards walked back to their cages and out of his line of sight. Diluc now regretted not telling anyone where he was going and what he was doing. It was unlikely that anyone would find him before he died. And even if they did find him, who knew what kind of damage had been done to his back, he might not be able to walk, it would probably be better to just die then live relying on others. Once upon a time Diluc had someone he could trust with his life. He had loved Kaeya so much when he was younger he thought they would be together forever, there was no one else he could imagine trusting like that. And sure enough he has never trusted someone like that since.
As Diluc layed there Kaeya. was all he could think about. He thought about their relationship and how much he still loved him. He wished that he could have been with him one more time before he died. That they could have talked and maybe just maybe been happy together again, if only for a moment.
…
Kaeya had woken up around noon with a hangover. Maybe he shouldn't have drank so much the night before. At least he still had the sound mind to not take that knight to bed last night. He wasn't really that kind of guy.
After cleaning up and getting ready, Kaeya ate and decided to go to Dawn Winery. Although he and Diluc didn’t get along well, he was hoping that they could set their differences aside to mourn the loss of Dilucs father, a person Kaeya loved as if he was his own dad. They had both lost someone they loved and he knew that Diluc would not ever forgive him for being a traitor but he still missed how close they used to be.
Once he made it to the winery he couldn't find Diluc. He had asked some of the staff, but all he learned was that Diluc had gone out this morning and had yet to come back. Kaeya suspected he had gone out hunting.
As he was trying to figure out what to do a man came walking by. “Hello sir, can I have some water? I have been out a lot longer today than I thought I would be. I guess that's what I get for wandering the forest when I'm not even from around here.” the man called out to Kaeya.
“Sure,” Kaeya said, going inside and getting some water before bringing it back out for the man. “ What are you doing out in the woods anyway?” he asked.
“Well I was out studying the nature and the animals, but all I accomplished was getting myself captured by some hilicurls but at least that red head came by and rescued me, hopefully he found that abyss mage just fine.”
“Wait what red head? Did he carry a claymore?”
“Yeah. why?”
“Can you lead me to where you parted ways? He is my friend and I want to make sure he is okay.” Kaeya said hoping Diluc didn’t get himself into too much trouble.
The man agreed and lead Kaeya to a now destroyed hilichurl camp. It didn't take long for Kaeya to find the cave that Diluc must have gone into. He left the man at the entrance as he went in to find Diluc. It didn't take long to find Diluc's path of distraction. As Kaeya walked he was expecting to hear the sounds of fighting, but it was just eerie silence which made him very uncomfortable.
Kaeya rounded a corner and walked through a doorway only to find Diluc, laying on a chunk of rock with blood running down it. Diluc was paler than he should be.
Kaeya called his name without even meaning to, running for him. Dilucs head turned towards him slightly. Then two ruin guards came out of open cages going for Kaeya. Kaeya quickly took care of them, only thinking about Diluc who was bleeding to death just a few feet away.
Once the last ruin guard feel kaeya ran for diluc. He wasn't sure what to do once he got there though. A piece of jagged rock had gone straight through him and Kaeya was no healer. He couldn't do anything to help. He was going to end up watching Diluc die.
“Is that really you Kaeya?” Diluc asked.
“Yes Diluc, I’m here.” he replied, taking a hold of Diluc hand.
“I wasn't sure. I know that you can start to see things when you're dying, and all I wanted was to see you.”
Kaeya was shocked to hear that. Diluc spent most of his time avoiding him. “Diluc…”
“Let me talk please. There is so much I want to say and so little time. I have been thinking about us and everything that has happened and I wish we could have gotten over it all. That we could have gone back to how things were. I still love you and it hurts not being with you. I just want to be with you like that again. I wanted to make sure that before I died I could tell you that. That I didn't hate you. I loved you, I never stopped loving you.”
Kaeya started to cry. “That 's all I wanted too. I never stopped loving you. But, I knew you needed your space and time after what I did. I'm sorry for everything Diluc.”
“You're forgiven Kaeya, just promise me you will protect Mondstadt after I'm gone. Mondstadt needs a hero, someone to protect the people.”
“I promise Diluc, I will try to be that hero for you.” Kaeya leaned down, putting his forehead against Diluc’s. Diluc then moved his head, tilting up and pressing his lips to Kaeya’s. Kaeya leaned into the kiss. He remembered this feeling, he almost forgot how good he felt with Diluc.
When they parted Diluc smiled up at Kaeya “That's all I-”
“You what? Diluc you what? No Diluc please? I just got you back, please don't leave me, I need you Diluc, I need you.” Kaeya cried, pulling Diluc’s now lifeless body close to his chest.
