Thread by @mectroliz

obsessed with the idea of kaeya having never actually wanted to fight, actually

and diluc making it his mission to turn him into a spoiled wife when he finds this out #luckae

It was several months ago, before they’d begun truly mending their relationship, that Kaeya had let something slip in a heated argument.

“I never even wanted to join the Knights, Diluc,” he’d raged as they argued over the bar. “But I did for you, and you left me there.”

That argument had snowballed and left them both seething and going their separate ways. Of course, they had each cooled off and after a few weeks were back to their usual selves. Diluc hadn’t thought about it much in the moment…but in the coming months, as they grew close,

he couldn’t get it out of his mind. What did Kaeya mean? That he hadn’t wanted to be a knight?

When they finally reach that point where they share a kiss, just a bit of wine reddening Kaeya’s cheeks one late night, Diluc is so dazzled by his radiance,

how shy he gets before making an excuse to go home- he’s distracted for a while. But eventually, as a few months pass, he wants to ask.

“What did you mean?” he phrased it awkwardly, as Kaeya is sitting in the library. Diluc has gotten him to visit the winery more and more.

Kaeya cocks an eyebrow at him.

“A while back…you said…you hadn’t wanted to join the knights,” Diluc says, full of unfamiliar hesitation. “That you only did so for me. What did you mean?”

He can tell by the way Kaeya tenses he doesn’t want to talk about it.

“Diluc…it didn’t mean anything,” he sighs. “I just said something out of anger. Forget it, okay?”

He gets up to put away a book. Diluc grabs him by the elbow, a crease forming in his brow. “Please?” he asks, one tiny word making Kaeya pause.

He looks indecisive, vulnerable. After a moment, his expression twists. “It meant..just what it sounded like. I didn’t…want to join the Knights back then, but I didn’t want to let you do it alone. Does that clear it up?”

Diluc’s heart seemed to beat painfully. Back then, before Kaeya had his Vision, he was always too vulnerable at Diluc’s side for his liking. To find out he hadn’t even wanted to be there- that he’d put himself at risk solely to make Diluc feel better?

“But…why?”

Kaeya bites his lip.

“Back in…Khaenri’ah,” he says, sounding so small Diluc’s chest clenches tight. “It was so…chaotic. My mother died early, in a scrap over food. My father, the rest of the clan…they were always fighting for resources, influence, power. I was just so…

“Weary,” he settles on. “I didn’t like…fighting. When I came to Mondstadt, I thought…maybe I could have a peaceful life, one free of any conflict.” When he notices the guilt on Diluc’s face, he tries to laugh. “But it’s a silly, childish dream. No one can escape conflict.”

“But-“

“It doesn’t much matter now anyway, Diluc. I’m the Cavalry Captain.” Kaeya smiles while Diluc’s gut feeling tells him that he /shouldn’t be/. “I have a Vision, as well. I can’t just waste it. It’s my responsibility, you know? Now I’m sure I have things to do…”

He leans down to give him a kiss and closes the conversation there. It’s a clear signal he wants to go no further, but Diluc can’t stop thinking about it. About the ruffled, rain-damp child his father had brought back, who only wanted a peaceful life free of fighting.

Who’d been forced into it - even if Kaeya would never admit to being forced to do anything. About the way some have mocked Kaeya’s apparent habit of ‘lazing’ about, his appreciation for fine things like a good wine or snacks, some time spent reading or sitting in the sun…

Wasn’t that what he’d always wanted? A life of peace, and ironically, Diluc was the one who had it now. He /chose/ to become the Darknight Hero and go out at night. He chose to entertain conflict. Kaeya…had his choice taken from him.

Diluc can’t stand it.

He sees the way Kaeya looks tired after work. How he sighs to himself, when the Knights get him to do something; how wearied he is after paperwork, how he puts himself into situations he’s uncomfortable with for the benefit of others.

One day, he sees him on the river bank, after Adelinde has convinced him to stay for dinner in the evening; their joint efforts to ensnare Kaeya into staying for longer and longer visits do not go unnoticed by the man himself, but he entertains them anyway.

Diluc stands on an outcropping, having been hunting fowl for Adelinde’s recipe. Down below, he sees Kaeya cradling something in his hands. The light, easy chuckles coming from his mouth are so different from his usual teasing voice. When he squints, Diluc makes out what he has.

Little crystalline flowers, continually breaking and evaporating until Kaeya makes more, experimenting with the shapes. It’s such a lighthearted, childish use of his Vision, so different to the giant walls and attacks made of ice Diluc has seen him make.

Standing there, he wonders how often Kaeya even gets to indulge in this childish wonder- rather than using his ice for violence.

So he makes a decision.

Kaeya deserves an easy, peaceful life. He’s gone through more pain than even Diluc himself; he more than deserves it.

He’s going to fix this situation one way or another.

“Wh, what?” Kaeya stammers, when he brings it up, blue eye wide and taken off guard. “You want me to- to quit? But- why?”

“You aren’t happy with the Knights,” Diluc insists. “The job wears on you.

I should’ve never left it to you. You aren’t built for this life; you deserve the life you wanted, softness, peacefulness.”

“I- can’t just quit, Diluc,” Kaeya says, with a pinched expression. “How could I live?”

“You said it yourself. This is your home- just come back.”

Kaeya bites his lip and looks away, always so skittish when that topic comes up. Diluc prepares to ensnare him just in case. “I can’t just freeload off of…of the estate and Addie, you know.”

Off of /you/, goes unspoken.

“This is your home; you belong as much as I do,” he says.

“Everything here is yours. You belong here, and you belong…at my side. If you can’t accept coming back on your own terms, why not live as my wife, one who definitely deserves the privileges of such?”

Kaeya’s face colors. They’d briefly- discussed maybe getting married, someday. Diluc had explained to him what a wife meant, in the terms of the nobility. He doesn’t answer, staring at the far wall, but Diluc can see his resolve wavering. He is like a dog going in for the kill.

He will not give up once he’s caught the scent of what he wants. And what he wants- is his most solid determination yet; he is going to bring Kaeya home, away from the Knights he has such contempt for, and he’s going to make him as spoiled as he deserves.

“Come home. My father made a place for you here; let me take care of you. Let us take care of you. I should have never left you with them alone. Let me correct my mistake, and bring you back where you belong. Let me spoil you proper. Let me make you my wife. Come back with me.”