Say no.
Day 4 (late): Reward
happy tickletober <3
ship: kaeluc
words: 2.5k
summary: Diluc deserves a reward after a long day of being the Dark Knight Hero.
READ ON AO3
[A/N: kaeya and diluc are childhood friends in this fic, not brothers. not sfw themes are mentioned, but this fic is sfw]
“Late again, are we?”
Diluc enters the manor, soaked to the bone and wringing out his hair onto the floor, only to hear the all too familiar sly tone coming from his dining area. “And here I thought you were the one who wanted this whole nightly dinner thing?”
“Enough, Sir Kaeya.” Diluc says, attempting to dry off his hands on his pant leg, only to realize that the fabric is also soaked. He feels a shiver wrack through him. “I’m here now.”
“And you’re soaked.” Kaeya says, suddenly much closer than he was.
Diluc looks up to see him lifting a dry towel up in his hands. Before he can take it from him, Kaeya raises it to Diluc’s head and begins to gently dry his hair. Diluc hums, dipping his head for better access and closing his eyes. “You usually don’t get caught out in the rain like this. Don’t you know better to be more prepared, Master Diluc?” There's a teasing edge to his tone, but Diluc can still hear the tiny bit of concern bleeding through his words.
“Desperate times.” Diluc says, reaching to take the towel from him and pull it around his shoulders. “The fatui were mobilizing towards the city.”
Kaeya’s eyes darken. “And you reported it?”
“And I stopped it. Once and for all.”
It seems as if Kaeya would like to be mad, but he simply can’t. That particular band of Fatui had been terrorizing the Knights, and the Dark Knight Hero, for weeks. They’d even severely hurt a Knight, and Diluc knew that Kaeya took that quite to heart.
“You know,” Kaeya starts, walking around the other to begin taking his coat off for him, “I’d rather scold you.”
“I’m sure you would.” Diluc says with a small smile.
“But those bastards had it coming.”
Diluc laughs, turning around to take Kaeya’s hand gently and pull him in. “That they did.” He places a kiss on the other’s forehead, before heading into the dining area. “I assume dinner has gone cold?”
“Almost.” Kaeya says from behind him. “Nothing a little Pyro won’t fix, I’m sure.”
Diluc chuckles. “You only love me for my Vision.”
Across the table from him, Kaeya smirks. “You assume I love you at all. Quite conceited, Master Diluc.”
“Well,” Diluc starts, picking up his own food and walking around the table to take the other’s as well, “you aren’t hard to win over, Master Kaeya.”
Diluc hears a glass clink against another, probably a byproduct of Kaeya placing it down a little too forcefully, and smiles. Ever since that first night during Weinlesefest, Diluc has been inviting Kaeya over every night for dinner. Dinner turned into conversation, which turned into it getting much too late to send Kaeya home. Not sending Kaeya home turned into…a whole nother type of conversation.
Adelinde was initially happy to see the two childhood friends finally interacting again, but now everytime they come home late in the evening, giggling and falling over each other like little kids sneaking in after a night out, they get quite the stern glare from the head maid. She can’t hide her smile once she thinks they aren’t looking though.
“Don’t think flattery will get you anywhere.” Kaeya calls, following Diluc to the kitchen.
“That wasn’t flattery.” Diluc rolls his eyes. “It was, in fact, mockery.”
“Well,” Kaeya says, falling in step next to the redhead, “I suppose I should be able to recognise mockery after all these years, huh?” Diluc feels a small pang of guilt, which Kaeya must pick up on because he reaches up to ruffle Diluc’s still wet hair. “I jest, we both know I was the worst out of the two of us. I rarely let you get a word in edgewise.”
“That’s true.” Diluc says, placing the food down on the counter next to the stove and turning around. “Even in your letters you were exceedingly chatty.”
“Oh, you loved those letters.” Kaeya scoffs, walks over and wraps his arms around the other’s shoulders. “Otherwise, you wouldn't have kept them so long.” He smiles leaning in to press a chaste kiss against his lips. “Would Master Diluc like it if a certain Cavalry Captain wrote him more letters? How about love letters? I’ll even seal them with a kiss.”
Diluc, having had enough of the teasing, grabs the man by the back of his neck to force them into a much more heated kiss. Kaeya laughs into it, burning his own hands into Diluc’s hair to scratch lightly at his scalp. This pulls a groan out of the older when he pulls away. “Too much.” Diluc breaths, tilting his head to touch their foreheads together. “We should eat.”
“Whatever Master Diluc wants.” Kaeya whispers, leaving one more kiss on his lips before pulling away.
Hours later finds both men well fed, draped over the couch in front of a recently lit warm fire. They are sat on opposite ends of the couch, which proves not to be to Kaeya’s liking, as is apparent with the way he slides himself onto Diluc’s lap when the redhead isn't looking.
“Well, hello there.” Diluc chuckles, placing his hands on either side of Kaeya’s waist. Kaeya smiles, running his hands up Diluc’s arms before stopping at his shoulders to knead into the muscle. “Oh.” Diluc sighs. “That’s good.”
Kaeya tsks. “You’re so tense. When was the last time you relaxed?”
“We had sex last night?”
Kaeya gasps, slapping lightly at Diluc's shoulder. “Indecent!” Diluc laughs, but Kaeya shakes his head. “That’s hardly relaxing, that’s just as much a physical excursion as training is.”
Diluc smirks. “Well maybe if you but in some of the work-”
“Absolutely not.”
That rips a laugh from the redhead, throwing his head back slightly with it. When he opens his eyes, something has changed in Kaeya’s expression. “What?” He asks him, tilting his head. “Something wrong?”
“Nothings wrong.” Kaeya says, a bit of a sly lilt to his voice. “Just had a thought.”
“That’s dangerous.”
“Hush now.” Kaeya rolls his eyes, moving his hands from Dilucs shoulders down to his sides. “You know, I’ve always loved your laugh.”
Diluc can feel his cheeks heat up, shifting his eyes to look at the flame of the fire instead of back at his lover. “Kaeya, that’s-”
“Did I tell you just how proud I am of you for taking care of those Fatui?” Kaeya asks, moving his face so it's directly in front of the other’s. “I think you deserve some sort of reward, hm?”
“Kaeya, what are you getting at?” Diluc asks, his hands loosening at Kaeya’s sides.
Kaeya smirks. “Master Diluc, always so on edge. I just want to see you smile.”
Kaeya’s demeanor suddenly makes sense the moment his hands come in contact with Diluc’s sides, squeezing rhythmically. “Kae- '' Diluc chokes, folding forward and gripping Kaeya’s hips hard.
“Come on, Master Diluc.” Kaeya smiles, tilting his face down to speak directly in the other’s ear. “I’m just giving you a reward. For your hard work today, of course.”
“That’s-” Diluc cuts himself off, releasing Kaeya’s hips in favor of gripping at his wrists instead. “This ihisn’t-”
“Was that a laugh, Master Diluc?” When Diluc shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut and refusing to look at him, he feels Kaeya let out a puff of air against his ear. “Making this difficult, huh?” Suddenly, Diluc feels Kaeya swing himself off of his lap, and when he opens his eyes, the captain is standing in front of him with his hands on his hips.
“Stand.”
Diluc scoffs. “What? No.”
Kaeya laughs, presumptively at his defensiveness. “What are you, scared?”
Diluc rolls his hands, pushing himself up from the couch with a groan. “Alright, I’m up. Now what-” Strong hands suddenly grip the front of his shirt hard and jerk him around until his back is falling down against the seat of the couch. He lifts his legs up to the couch to give himself some leverage to sit up, but Kaeya is already beginning to straddle him. “Much better.” He says, holding himself upright with hands on Diluc’s chest.
Diluc takes a deep breath, watching Kaeya rise and fall slightly with it. “Kaeya, should we go upstairs-?”
“No, I’m quite sure we can do this here.” Kaeya smirks, before quickly moving his hands down to his stomach. “Surely you can take a little-”
“Shut-” Diluc chokes, cutting the other off. He reaches down and pries the hands away from his stomach. “Is this necessary?” He asks, already feeling a touch out of breath.
“What, the ti-”
“Yes.” Diluc says, sternly. He realizes his mistake when the sly grin grows on Kaeya’s face. “Kaeya, dont.”
“Fine.” Kaeya says. “I won’t do it, if you can say it.”
“What?”
“Say the word. Ask nicely, and I won’t.”
Diluc sighs. “Kaeya, please.”
“Please what?” That damn grin.
“Please. Don’t.”
Kaeya laughs. “Diluc, if I didn't know any better, I’d think you wanted me to.”
Diluc’s face must be bright red now, his nerves feel like they are on fire. Everything in him is telling him to throw kaeya off, he is stronger after all. But he doesn't. He doesn't throw him off. “You know that’s not true.” He says, focusing hard to make sure his voice does not tremble.
“As red as your hair…” Kaeya comments idly. “And I think you’re lying.”
Diluc wants to claim Kaeya doesn’t know him, he can’t possibly know what his feelings are. But he does, he does know him, and Diluc is reluctant to admit that he most likely does know what his feelings are. “You can’t- you don’t… Listen, you- “
“I’m listening.”
Diluc’s eyes widen as Kaeya’s hands run up his sides and to his shoulders, only to make their way down his arms and to his wrists. “Kaeya, you-”
“Say no.” Kaeya says lowly, as he grips Dilucs wrists and slowly raises his arms above his head. “Say no, Master Diluc.”
Diluc stays deathly quiet, and Kaeya laughs fondly. “Cute.” Suddenly, Diluc feels a strong grip around both his wrists above him, while another hand moves down to lift his flimsy white shirt up above his stomach. He squeezes his eyes shut, tilting his head up and away to brace for the feeling that never comes. When he peeks one eye open, Kaeya has his free hand covering his own mouth. “I’m sorry.” He chuckles. “You’re just so…” He trails off, shaking his head before bringing his hand down to start wiggling his fingers over Diluc’s exposed skin.
Diluc jolts, sucking in a quick breath to stop any noise from coming out. The sensation is like lightning, sending tingling sensations all through his middle as he squirms, trying to get away from the feeling. “Kaey- ah!” His hips jump when Kaeya wiggles his fingers a little closer to them.
“That’s my name.” Kaeya teases. His fingers move to one of Diluc’s sides, and then to the other, switching back and forth every time Diluc manages to squirm away. He still hasn't quite laughed, but his throat is starting to hurt from the effort not to. Kaeya’s hand comes to a stop over his stomach and Diluc looks up at him. “Diluc. Truely, are you alright?”
Dilucs heart swells and he feels another rush of heat to his face. Of course Kaeya would want to be absolutely sure of his comfort level. “Y-yes, Kaeya I’m-”
“Good.” Both hands shoot up to his ribs, wiggling fingers shocking Diluc into pulling his arms down and arching his back. “Kaeya!” Diluc yelps, before dissolving into bright giggles, unable to stop himself.
“There you go.” Kaeya smiles, leaning closer. “Isn’t it nicer to just let go.”
Diluc can't answer, too busy trying to calm his own laughter down even a touch. Whenever he’s put in this position, Diluc tends to lose most of his strength quite quickly, and he's finding it difficult to even locate Kaeya’s wrists, let alone to grab them. “Kae, please-” He manages to whine out, before Kaeya switches his attack back onto his stomach and he's thrown into another fit of laughter.
Diluc attempts to grab at Kaeya’s wrists again, but Kaeya grabs one of Dilucs own and pins it above his head. His free hand makes its way to Dilucs exposed armpit and Diluc can’t find enough strength to do anything but laugh. He can hear Kaeya laugh along with him, which makes it so much worse. He throws his free arm over his eyes to try and hide his flushed face, resigning to the fact that he can’t really fight back with his limited strength.
Kaeya coos above him, letting go of his wrist and using both hands to wiggle under his arms. Diluc pulls both his arms down, but it does nothing to stop the feeling. “How does it feel, Master Diluc?”
“Shut up-'' Diluc yelps when Kaeya’s hands move down to knead near his ribs, and attempts to curl his body forward with limited success.
“My, does it perhaps ti-”
“Dohon’t!” Diluc whines, falling back and throwing his head back against the couch. He cannot stand that word, cannot stand hearing Kaeya say it, not right now.
“Diluc.” Kaeya says, a little bit more seriously. He slows his hands to allow the other to breathe. “Tell me how it feels, and I’ll stop.”
“N-no…” Diluc manages, knowing full well he’s signed his death wish. Kaeya smiles, shrugs, and leans down to begin nibbling at Diluc’s ear. “Hey!” Diluc squeaks before falling into giggles once more. The sensation is silly but maddening. He tries to turn his head away from the feeling, only to feel Kaeya chuckle into his ear and bring a hand up to hold his head in place.
“How does it feel?” Kaeya whispers, causing Diluc to whine into his laughter. “I think I know.”
“You-” more giggles, “you don’t-!”
“I do.” Kaeya purrs. “But I want to hear you say it.”
Diluc brings both hands up to place on Kaeya’s shoulders, weakly pushing against them. Kaeya’s free hand leaves his ribs and takes hold of one of Diluc’s, lifting it to wrap around his own neck. Diluc gives in, wrapping both arms around Kaeya and attempting to bury his face in the other’s neck.
“Adorable.” Kaeya whispers, his breath against Diluc’s ear making him shiver. “Since you’re so cute, I’ll give up a cop-out.” He pulls away slightly, turning Diluc’s face so their foreheads are touching. “Diluc.”
“Kaeya.”
Kaeya laughs, shaking his head a bit. “It tickles, doesn’t it?”
Diluc feels his whole body shiver a bit, squirming. “No-” Before he can even fully voice his denial, fingers and wiggling maddeningly over his sides once more. “Okahay! Okay!”
The fingers stop. “Okay, what?”
“...it does.”
“It does what?” Kaeya smirks, and Diluc scoffs. He’s had enough being flustered and red for the night. He wraps his arm around Kaeya and uses his strength to flip them both completely over, causing the other to yelp. “Oh.” Kaeya says, eyes wide.
Diluc clears his throat. “Yeah, ‘oh’.” He can’t keep the residual smile off his face, especially after seeing Kaeya look up at him with such adoration.
“I like it when you show off like that.” Kaeya flirts, and Diluc chuckles. “What? You’re hot, Diluc.”
“And you’re a menace.” Diluc smiles, leaning down to kiss that smirk off his face. “And I’ll get you back for all that teasing.”
Kaeya giggles as he pulls away. “I look forward to it.”
