Chapter 1: By Dawn
Notes:
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Spice Level: 0 / 5
Song Rec: Alive by The Rose
----✦/✧\✦----This was supposed to be a warm up fic and practice for writing my horror/folklore style for Ghost Writer, as well as a nice treat for Ubekeki... it turned out being too fun. Woops!
Hemlock active. Human eyes can skip blue text and pay it no mind.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
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"By the light of Dawn, may you find salvation and the grace of the winds."
To many, these words were a prayer and sign of hope. A coming storm that brought forth salvation in the form of working hands, healing, and protection.
Everyone of any amount of awareness knew the prayer of Barbatos, and with it, the names of notable families that carried it.
Gunnhildr. The ladies of the veil. Champion holy knights with command of wind. Her song was as deadly as her sword, and her prayers could rend man and monster to pieces.
Lawrence. The bite of winter. A dancer and a demon with a blade of a glacier's kiss. Little could stop a paladin of her order, and those who fell to her blade were deemed unworthy of the waltz in which it came.
But no name was as feared and respected as Ragnvindr. The Dawn itself graced the features and the name, and to see one of that order was to see the horizon as a wildfire, blazing bright and captivating. As beautiful as they were destructive, no fiend dared to trifle with the Ragnvindr clan above any other, for no other could bring light to the darkness so completely.
To many, these names were a holy prayer. A call to them was a call for salvation itself, and when heard, it was fury in human form.
If it wasn't, however, these names became scorn. From saviors, they became horrors. For the failure of these clans resulted in the spread and sin that swept the land as monsters and maneaters — a famine of holy light. The prayers became final rites for the very people they once swore to protect, and failed. Hunters of the very people they once shepherded.
Like lambs to a slaughter, some that fell dared not run far. Perhaps, in the mercy of Dawn, their humanity could be saved. None survived in this foolish dream, but that did not stop them from trying and hoping. A fight to exist came in many forms — some as lies, and some as truths. Some existences were just as quiet as their concealment.
This was how Kaeya Alberich chose to live out his days.
Abandoned on the step of a farmer's door, he was not one to covet or beg for much in life. His hands were calloused by the time he was a teen, working with the horses and vineyards of the northern Ragnvindr estate. It was perhaps a vain hope that the holy grace of the name would never waver, and in that weak lapse of judgement, he was taken as he returned home from a day's work.
Returned to his home in the dead of night, Kaeya had little concept of what had happened to him, only a raging thirst that no amount of water could quench. Wine helped, and only then, through the haze of the liquor, could he think. The pounding sound of a heartbeat was driving him insane, and only as it ended did he realize it was between his fingers, slowing beneath his lips, a taste coating his tongue he didn't recognize but which was finer than wine.
The wild rat in his hands stilled, going limp after a moment. Kaeya jerked back, dropping it and fleeing to the other side of the room with a strength that rattled the walls. Darting to his bed, he hunted for anything with which to see himself, finding nothing in the surfaces no matter the material. A pool of water revealed no more than the small hand mirror he'd once done his hair with, yet the red color dripping off his lips blended just as easily with his tears as he recognized what had befallen him.
He was turning.
Voices called to him in the night, whispers he didn't recognize. Orders and commands that he felt he must follow, yet which remained weak enough that he could resist. His first meal was not intended to be a rodent, but the young girl who lived next door or her drunken father. Kaeya managed to resist only by his folly and mistake. The urge to feel full was as harrowing as the command of where to find it, and in his small amount of clarity, he resisted.
In the morning, the sun slipped through the cracks of a window and burned his skin, though it did not destroy him as he once heard. Not instantly, perhaps. What should have been a mercy felt like a curse. The Dawn itself had officially rejected him, and all while he stood on the land of Ragnvindr.
He knew then that he had options, and a choice had to be made. None would come in salvation, and few had even a glimmer of hope.
Kaeya could succumb, listening to the voice of what was likely his master and sire, and feed upon the blood of another and simply exist as a thrall. It was of no question why he had been targeted, having lived on the Ragnvindr lands since he was a lad. It would be easy for him to infiltrate the homes of those around him. He was recognizable and had once been safe. On this path, he would lose himself, likely forced to attack the heir of Dawn themselves, and he would perish as a monster.
Another option was to continue to resist, possibly starving as the maddening sounds of life around him beat louder than his quiet, stilling heart. Wine helped, he found again; perhaps the concentration of the fruit or the properties from its source aided him like a panacea. In the dead of night, he could continue his work — fending off the wolves and storms. It was a race against time. Perhaps, if he waited, and if he prayed enough, the heir of Dawn would find his would-be master and free him from the curse of their existence. Then, and only then, he might return to his former life in the sun.
The option remained to reject it all, ending himself in the name of Ragnvindr, but he found himself too much a coward to lose hope and die as a human.
Another was to leave, escaping the grounds and seeking a means to free himself. Perhaps he could contract the Hunters himself, while he still had his mind, and merely wait.
Kaeya didn't know what to do, only that he needed to do something. He needed to feed, to his dismay, before the clawing sensation of nails against his soul rid him of the ability to choose what it was upon. From every corner around him, he could hear the scratches and scurry of rodents, the claws of wolves and cats, the peck and rustle of birds. The loudest sounds were the humans, wet lips and gasps, a fluttering heartbeat and churning stomach almost nauseatingly loud. He understood in an instant why they were chosen; if not for their caliber, it was simply to quiet the noise.
Another loud existence called to him, however, and it was with that Kaeya carefully disappeared into the stables. The black mare, Merlot, was a skittish thing to strangers, and Kaeya was not surprised to see her react with tension to his newfound state. It had taken him almost a year to approach her without risking her ire, and he was one of few that could do so.
It was his voice and familiar handling that calmed her, allowing him closer to the ringing sound of a strong vein. She whinnied and stomped, but eventually listened to the same gentle consoling words she'd heard so many times before. The hands that patted her and tugged her lead were the same, unchanging despite it all.
A horse... The very horse that belonged to the Ragnvindr clan's heir. As he stroked the white line that divided her eyes, he prayed for forgiveness as her gaze sparkled at him. He could almost see himself then, or perhaps just wished it badly enough, and the valuable trust held there he was betraying.
No one would think to check her, and few even could. He could take just enough to keep himself on his feet, and she would likely not even know the difference.
With that, Kaeya made his choice.
The blood of a horse was richer than the rodent he'd taken from before, but he dared not wonder what the differences would be between species. Some he could tell without asking, the barn cat smelling far less appetizing, while the pigs smelled oddly better. It was strange what he knew now, how the swine and mortal men were so similar. Curious... Even. A gentle brushing would be repayment, hiding the evidence of his sins and any mess that would give him away. All he needed was a few swallows to quiet the horrific noise in his ears and another to feel satisfied. To her, this was nothing.
After his first week of feeding, the mare did not protest, knowing she'd be brushed and given a treat for her brief moment of discomfort. He tended her stable as he would have in the daylight, leaving it fresh and clean for the morning. His fellow neighbors caught on to his new schedule, and he simply responded to their inquiries that a Hunter that only operates in the day was hardly of use; he was serving his master's needs by tending to them at nightfall. It was not a lie, and he could hear it now. The woods were hardly a quiet thing, and whatever had stolen him away was waiting to do it again to someone even less fortunate.
The blood in his belly made it easier to think and function again, he found, learning what he could or needed but pleading ignorance to what he did not. In this state, he was faster and stronger than before, able to lift entire barrels of wine while maintaining a svelte figure and outpace a fox that dared enter the chicken coop. His presence itself seemed unsettling to most, something that he agreed with, and simply roaming the grounds kept the more skittish of predators at bay.
His biggest loss, in his opinion, was mirrors. Unable to tend to his hair as he could before, he took to keeping where he could see it, braiding it over his shoulder and arranging it over his eyes. It made it easier to hide his pale complexion, though his tanned skin did a better job of that. Looking at his hands, he noted why he'd been selected to turn in the first place. He really was an easy choice.
It had truly been luck that the hold of his sire wasn't very strong, and he was too afraid to ask why or how.
And for months, he dared believe perhaps this could become normal for him. He slept during the day, closed up in his little cottage, safe and sound on the very grounds of the largest danger to his new life. Kaeya wasn't a fool. If anyone found out about his condition, they would kill him. A Ragnvindr would be as much his protector as his prosecutor.
Yet for whatever reason, Kaeya was still shocked to meet one.
"S-Sir?" he queried, looking at the impossibly red hair tied tight and falling between strong, proud shoulders. The black garb suggested they were out for a hunt, a sash carrying tools of demise and promise in equal parts. "I fear I didn't know of a midnight ride. Shall I have her saddled for you?"
"Apparently I'm prepared for it," a stern but amused voice responded. "I take it you're Kaeya Alberich? The cavalryman behind my alleged decision to be ready at all hours?"
He swallowed. "Yes, that would be me, Master Ragnvindr."
A low, almost half-laughing breath came from the other, turning to look over their shoulder at him, a hand still stroking the neck of the horse, the same spot that Kaeya often fed from. A thumb brushed over the small knick- barely more than a scrape if one didn't know better. Did they know? How?
Their eyes were a color that made him feel like he was burning, smoldering as if he'd looked at the sun. Beautifully bright and scalding.
"And what was the plan, exactly? Weaken my horse so that I would have less mobility? Prevent me from engaging on horseback? Perhaps dissuade me from fleeing?"
"Sir? What do you... What are you suggesting? I fear I do not understand."
"You will have to try harder to impair me, vampire. I can pace you on foot."
The world turned colder than Kaeya knew was physically possible, a sinking stone in his guts ringing alarms in his mind all at once.
Kaeya didn't hesitate, turning and bolting from the spot, letting the treat for Merlot fall from his hands and hit the ground. Logically he knew that this reaction only painted guilt, but there was little reason to believe there was negotiation to be had in the matter of his life.
A blade rushed past his shoulder, a narrow miss that struck his bicep before landing in a post. The sudden response of fight and flight took hold, grabbing the closest item — a small worktable covered in tools — into the fray between them with a loud clatter.
The redhead was unrelenting, dipping past the distraction with practiced ease that made a trained knight look like an amateur. Without much effort, a blow was landed to his midsection, sending Kaeya skittering a few steps off course before he tried again to run. His arm throbbed in protest, dripping a bit of what little blood he had left as he tried to cover it with his hand to stay the bleeding and find cover.
But where to go?
Kaeya realized he'd never considered an exit strategy, only instantaneous death. The fact he was giving chase was something he wasn't sure what to do with. There was likely only a few hours remaining before dawn and he wouldn't be able to ensure a dark place away from the sun's light. Maybe that was a mercy, he thought, as he tore through the street and stumbled into his cottage, barricading the door as if he had any capacity to stop a Ragnvindr.
Money. He'd need money.
He had a little saved, but no time to look for anything of value. Only what he could grab, and pray that was enough to get him to the borders. He'd need to feed before dawn as well, unless he wanted to wake blinded by hunger and unable to remember himself.
It was as he was almost ripping a shelf off the wall looking for his satchel that the door behind him opened, barely even a whisper of sound noting a change in position despite the many objects used to hold it shifting aside like simple things. The Ragnvindr looked equally amused by his floundering, tipping their head as he scrambled to put his back to a wall, his few things falling to the stone floor and scattering about with rings and chimes. "Sir— Master Ragnvindr, I can— I can explain—"
"Oh, I would love to hear you explain," they said darkly. "How exactly you crept into my estate unnoticed and are known to all but I."
Kaeya shrank back, realizing in all his attempts to secure his safety, his only error was simply being too much of a friend to all but one. As the Dawn's executioner came closer, he retreated to the floor in a pathetic scramble, staring up at the crimson eyes and stern expression with the same awe he would sunrise, had he the ability to ever do so again. If this was the last wonderful thing he would see, he was glad that at least the colors of the sun hadn't left his gaze.
Instead, they came lower, unresponsive to the way he flinched. A hand reached out and Kaeya braced himself, squeezing his eyes shut and waiting for the end of it all.
A clawed finger brushed his jaw instead, the cool touch of metal shocking him out of whatever state of fear had a grip on him. Opening his eyes, he found himself face to face with the younger lord of Dawn, long red lashes and smoldering eyes parted only by more red that fell in crimson waves over porcelain skin.
"Tell me your name, monster."
For a moment, he sat there dazed and stunned by the sheer beauty of someone that was soon to be his killer.
"I'll permit you the honor of dying a man."
Kaeya could feel his eyes welling with tears. This was it. This was the day he died. He would perish here, on the floor of his home, with his name intact under the gaze of a man that once swore to protect him from the very thing he'd become.
"Kaeya Alberich," he said, sucking in a breath and swallowing it.
"Alberich," they repeated. "How would you like to die?"
"Old age," he said firmly.
To that, his executioner chuckled. "I don't believe that possible any longer."
"Is..." He swallowed. "Permit me a question, my lord?"
"As you wish," they said, surprisingly gentle for a man that had cornered him against a wall and thrown a knife at him less than a moment ago.
"Was there no hope for me?"
The Ragnvindr blinked, either not understanding his question, or simply shocked he asked it.
"I once learned that the defeat of a sire and prayer could restore a man to humanity."
"It is said to be true," they said, voice carefully level as they came back to a stand, looking around his small and humble home with curiosity. To a Hunter, it was likely strange for a vampire to live so simply and obviously clinging to their human nature. "But it has not been done."
Kaeya shifted to a more proper position, on his knees before the man that was said to be the light of the heavens in the flesh, and while he didn't see himself as a believer of such things, the color which shone in their eyes seemed evidence enough to back the claim. "I implore you, Sir. Kill my sire. Save me."
"And why should I risk the safety of my entire lands for the salvation of one? Have you no shame in your place?"
"Had I any desire to harm anyone, I would not be here," he said with full truth, even as his throat began to dry and his tongue felt sore in his mouth from lack of feeding.
"And what do I obtain from this?" they responded. "I am no Saint. I am not a man of the church."
Kaeya swallowed. "I have nothing to give but my hands, which are tied, and my life, which is surrendered willingly."
"Interesting," they said, "You would trade your master for another. What assurance do I have of your loyalty?"
"I was loyal to Ragnvindr before this fate fell upon me," he argued gently. "I have served this land since I was a boy. And in my misfortune, it is here I stayed in the hope that my Lord would continue to protect me."
The redhead visibly stiffened, frowning gently. "You served my father, not me."
"While the hand that signs Ragnvindr changes with the passing season, the deed of my loyalty does not."
"The man at the gallows will speak the prettiest words," they mused. "What else will you proclaim while you grow stronger in my shadows?"
Kaeya knew he was losing this argument, looking up at the body that blocked the moonlight from his doorway. "My lord, Sir, if you do not believe my words to be true, why is it you are trying to hear others?"
At that, they went quiet, lips parting. A silence fell between the two figures, but he didn't dare rise to his feet even now. Though, he did consider, that would be a faster and less shameful way to die.
A sound landed beneath him and it took a moment for him to register that a fruit sat at his knee — a bruised and battered apple that had busted on one side. Another second passed as he reached towards it, half expecting his hand to be cleaved from his person. Once he held it, he somehow recognized the shining crimson of the peel and perfect scent as the one he has intended to reward Merlot with, but had abandoned in his attempt to flee.
"The most dangerous monsters are the ones who pretend to be human," the other said, turning away from him.
Kaeya watched as their shadow crossed the ground in front of him, darkening his door again for only a second. He stared at the apple before daring to lift his gaze, the Dawn leaving him on heavy black boots and yet with barely a sound.
"Yet I regrettably find a human in the form of a monster."
If it were not for the way his stomach churned, he had no concept of time or how long he sat there, stunned. A logical part of his brain said to pack up at once and flee for the closest inn, but it would likely be futile. If the Ragnvindr Hunter wanted him dead, he would be. It was only after the sound of their heart was beyond his hearing that he felt any amount of stability again, looking at the mess of his home, his arm, and his thigh.
Tending to them all quickly, he had no choice but to return to the stables. This time he was unsurprised to see the Hunter waiting there, the calm sound of breathing and pulse of blood ringing in his ears as he grew hungry.
"My... Lord Ragnvindr—?" He asked, stepping closer.
"Diluc," they corrected. "My name is Diluc."
"Master Diluc," he corrected. "What...would you have me do?"
"You need to feed, don't you?"
He looked to the horse and her rider, trying to puzzle out what scene was unfolding. "Am I to be starved to death?"
"Feed."
"Pardon?"
"She has given you her trust, despite your countenance, and you have shown her care," Diluc said, stroking the mane of his beloved mare. "And now I give you mine, in turn."
Kaeya hesitated, staring at the scene in front of him. "I..." Swallowing, he looked to the vein of her neck, thrumming with life and becoming ever louder.
"Feed, Kaeya. I will not tell you again."
While he did not wish it, the pull of his senses was becoming harder to ignore. The Dawn waited for no one, be it in the skies or in the form of a mortal man, and his hunger only grew with each passing second. "Forgive me," he begged softly, barely above a whisper as his own personal prayer, and gave a gentle pet before letting his fangs take to the song of blood and breath.
He dared not look at Diluc, nor think of the embarrassing way he must be postured. Simply taking his adequate fill, he would be sated for a two or three days, provided he didn't expend any unnecessary energy. Her blood was rich and healthy, offering everything he needed to survive, even if only for the whims of a bored Hunter. By the second swallow, the pull and noise quieted, leaving him clear headed again and comfortable. Another, and he could feel the strength in his limbs returning, more tired than he realized from his fright. Sighing with relief as he finished, Kaeya rested his forehead against the proud neck, not even surprised as she nudged his hand for her routine treat.
"Yes, yes," he agreed with a smile, letting his nails sink into the abused apple to tear off a clean chunk that was suitable for her to take. "I will bring you a better one tomorrow."
"Do you feed daily?"
Kaeya almost jumped at the reminder he wasn't alone. "No... But she needs tending."
They seemed confused by this, but watched the exchange of a vampire feeding a prized war horse bites of apple that were cleaved with strong fingers. Had he any idea where his knife had fallen, he would have sliced the remaining amount properly.
Without a word, Diluc slipped away into the dark just as quietly. It was only as he watched them leave again that he noted the color of the sky was beginning to turn and the day was beginning. It was the most he could take — those beginning glimmers that changed stars and blackness into purples and royals. He made sure to appreciate them, finishing up with Merlot quickly. He saw himself home, and just before the rays cut over the hills and between the shutters, he took a moment to simply exist.
For another dawn, Kaeya Alberich lived.
When night fell, he was almost glad to be back in the shadows. The rustle of trees and call of an owl had become something of his working noise, shuffles of hay and the slow whinny of the horses as they rested. As he moved through his tasks, he noted the subtle sound of a heartbeat behind him, and with a bit of concentration, the softness of an inhale and creak of soft leather.
"I'm of the belief whoever said the night was quiet was hard of hearing," he thought aloud. "Wouldn't you agree, Master Diluc?"
Diluc was eerily quiet for a human, he noticed. Every step they took into his view was measured, perfectly balanced in weight and stride. Had he not seen the footfalls himself, Kaeya would have imagined them to be a cat or the wings of a bird. Their voice, however, was cutting and clear, much like the sword they often carried. "I could be inclined to agree, but would you enlighten me?"
"There's three foxes to the south," he began a report as he cleaned out a stall, shifting the straw and making sure it was clean. While it was likely rude to work as he spoke, he had tasks to do and less time to do them than the average person. If his Lord could forgive his affliction, surely they could forgive him for some rudeness as a result of it. He tended to his toil carefully as he spoke, but included as much detail as he understood of the area. "An owl has recently started roosting just northeast of the barn. There's some rats I need to take care of, but I think the cat is onto it. A branch is tapping on the second story window of the estate. I should probably tell the gardener, but the mourning doves have started nesting there."
"You pay a lot of attention to the animals."
"They do not fear me as humans do," he expressed. "When I turned, they were the first to offer trust."
"Most animals do not like vampires."
"Most don’t like humans at first, either, and most vampires do not offer a scratch behind the ears," he said pleasantly.
"No," Diluc agreed. "No, they do not."
Kaeya managed a smile and returned to his work, allowing the master of the grounds to merely observe him as he finished the emptier, larger stalls and moved to Merlot. As he had claimed, he did not feed from her tonight, but he gave her the treat promised anyway. He tried not to wonder what it was the nobleman was looking for in his tedium. As the dawn drew close again, he half wondered if they would follow him inside or if they'd kill him while he slept as a mercy. Yet upon waking, he moved to greet the moonlight, and he did not question why in fear of the answer.
It was only as the days bled to weeks he began to wonder what exactly they wanted from him. Sometimes it was easy to spot the Hunter, making themselves known through a small error or simply lack of care. Other times, it was if they were practicing, hiding in the trees or along the edges of a rooftop. He found he didn't mind these little games, merely calling out to the strange Hunter that dared let him live. On occasion, he even found himself beginning to miss the company when he could not find them, no matter how quiet.
"Do you ever hear it?"
He turned to the question, brushing Merlot's coat without thinking.
"The call of your sire. Do you hear it?"
Kaeya wasn't sure what the wise way to answer would be. "What would it sound like?"
"A command," Diluc said. "A pull to listen. You need not understand the words, only the instructions."
The description made little sense, but he found it familiar. "Yes, on occasion, I believe. It was...loud when I first rose like this."
"From where?"
Another strange question, Kaeya paused, vacantly looking at the dense black coat of the beautiful animal he cared for. "I... It's difficult to direct. I pray you understand that I do not omit this knowledge willfully. I merely do not know."
Diluc made a sound.
"And it is most clear when I am weak," he added. "I do not like the sensation."
The hunter seemed curious. "So when you are hungry."
"Most often, yes," he confirmed.
In the days they'd encountered each other, no matter what, it was rare the Hunter physically approached him. Something in him said to run the second they moved his direction — a fear response to being within reach of a predator, perhaps. While he was stronger, faster, and able, Diluc was seasoned. One wrong move would destroy far more than the delicate word of trust between them.
Still, he did not flinch when Diluc touched him this time, tipping his head to face theirs. It was still hard to believe he had height on the nobleman, looking down the small measure of difference between them and willingly moving to their silent command. A thumb traced his lip, and with a pet-like obedience, he allowed them to see his fangs.
"How much do you know of vampiric biology?" they asked him, pressing the pad of the digit to his canine before pulling back.
Kaeya licked his lips habitually, scrunching his nose to rid himself the taste and smell of the leather gloves. "Not much, I'm afraid. Really only what I know of myself, and I cannot see my reflection."
"A pity, that," Diluc hummed, rubbing their thumb and finger together.
"Why so?"
"Something so pretty deserves to be seen."
Kaeya blinked, unsure he heard that right.
"There is something I must tend to. I trust you will be alright tonight?"
"Unless I'm to be abducted again and turned into far worse, I should be fine."
Diluc scoffed, leaving him. "Beware the paths south, then."
He didn't have time to ask, much less question their strange interaction. The redhead had already put some distance between them by then, back turned and hair fluttering in the wind as they walked south. Finishing up in silence, he dwelled on the subject of the call. Could he hear it? Had he blocked it out somehow? Could that change?
Still, he couldn't forget the strange way they'd looked at him. The way they touched him was unusual, but it wasn't forceful in any way — barely any amount of strength, only a gentle guidance. He could still vaguely smell the leather, and it was only then he wondered, what did Diluc even smell like? Was it a Hunter's precaution to be so devoid of perfume? He assumed it made sense, though it was likely difficult to maintain.
He would find out the next night, Diluc appearing with a book in hand, waiting by Merlot's stall with the light of a single candle. It almost caught Kaeya off guard. Thinking back, he could not remember seeing Diluc use candles before. It had been so natural for them both to move in the dark, he hadn't questioned it. "Master Diluc? This is hardly a suitable place to do some reading."
The book was rotated in their hands and set down on the edge of the stall, allowing him to see it. "Your fangs are too short."
"Pardon?" Kaeya blurted out, stepping closer to observe the image offered to him.
Following the guidance of Diluc's fingers, he studied an image of a skull with fangs, some tightly written numbers and texts beside them. "Forgive me, Sir, I cannot read such complicated things."
Diluc seemed unbothered by it, "That's quite alright. These are measurements, within margin of error and variable for physical form."
Despite the grim topic, Kaeya found he quite liked the way Diluc was speaking to him now. The low, careful timbre of their voice was almost a hum or purr while they traced the letters and read off things he barely understood. Perhaps it was his enhanced hearing that made it so melodic, but it enraptured him all the same.
His fangs were about half the length of an average vampire's, he learned. With the turn of a page, he realized how unusual his condition was overall. His ears were shorter, his nails not as sharp. It was as if he had rejected the change or been underdeveloped. Diluc continued with potential theory, stating it could be the weak connection to his sire, proximity to hallowed grounds, or perhaps even natural immunity. Whatever the reason, the Hunter was clearly fascinated.
Perhaps in another life, Diluc would have been the perfect big brother. Every page they turned was explained and showcased, making Kaeya feel as if he missed nothing on the subjects as they ventured into different methods of turning, how much blood was required, and the typical attributes associated with each method. It was no wonder that Hunters were so polished and reactive, given what they knew. It was when they reached the section on variations and types that something shifted, and their explanations became more sparse.
Then they stopped, finger poised to turn the page yet unmoving.
"Something wrong, Sir?"
"No," they said, retracting that hand. "I merely realized I am wasting your precious time with my musings. I should let you work."
The book closed with a defined sound before he could react, and Kaeya was suddenly alone as a candle dimmed slowly, left wondering if he did something wrong. He wasn't sure why he felt so cheated, but he mumbled an apology before getting back to his tasks, tending to Merlot and the other horses that needed a little love from the hustle and bustle of a day working. The mule was especially glad for a little attention, older and ailing in the colder nights.
He didn't see Diluc for days after, the redhead appearing the night he needed to feed and being quiet so as to not interrupt him as he went through his routine ritual of trading treats for sustenance. It was a day earlier than usual, but he was oddly more thirsty than normal.
"Do you ever change what you feed from?"
Kaeya wiped his lip. "Would that matter? I know this is safe. I can partake in wine if I have a craving."
"Have you ever tasted the blood of a human?"
"No, m'lord, and I have no plans to."
"A wise answer, but I doubt the sincerity of it," they said, tugging at their collar of the Hunters' garb and revealing the thick cord of their neck.
Kaeya's eyes fixed on the line of their pulse, unable to look away from it. "I speak the truth. If it is my lack of imbibing that stunted my turning, then it is best I do not test it."
"That won't change," Diluc said comfortably. "Your turning was months ago. If it was stunted, it will remain stunted."
"Still," he said, looking away. "It would not be wise to covet what I should not have. A delicacy is better a dream than a craving."
A scoff, "Are you truly so pious? Do you not wish to know?"
It was difficult to feign innocence. Of course he wished to know. The smell of a human was so decadent it was nauseating. Even now, just thinking of it, his tongue wet with saliva, and it pooled behind his teeth like a starving dog's before a slab of meat. "There are things best left unknown."
Diluc stepped closer to him, moving with that same fluid grace that confused him. Without even a moment of hesitation, they reached out and took his arm gently, preventing him from fleeing. "Are you afraid?"
"I would be foolish not to be," he responded easily, looking between the gloved hand on his skin and the red eyes that rivaled a sun, burning him as he stood. "You know likely better than I what a vampire is capable of."
"You speak of yourself like a beast on a chain," Diluc said in a darker tenor than he was used to, almost an annoyed growl.
"I am. There is little argument of that. The chain is my desire to remain human and one I do not intend to release."
Diluc let go of him then, letting him retreat back to regain that single step of distance between them. "What if that was not a concern?"
"Master Diluc, do not tempt my sanity."
They huffed, "The ability to control your hunger and desires requires you to know them."
"A skill I do not wish to hone," he said, again. "Forgive me for my insubordination, Master Diluc, but this is a matter of great importance to me. I dare not."
The Hunter looked frustrated by this declaration. "You need not fear yourself, Kaeya. You can learn."
Shaking his head, he attempted to turn away and return to his tasks, and out of some graciousness, they allowed it. After a moment of observation, the redhead simply exited and left him to his thoughts and daily habits.
Kaeya would be lying to claim he couldn't hear Diluc's heartbeat ringing in his ears hours later. It was a hunger he was not used to, taking deep gulps of air to try and dissuade the strange urge that overcame him. When that failed, he turned to wine, drowning the noise and desire for flavor in the rich liquid. Even as the haze settled across his vision and clouded his thoughts, the hunger did not dissolve, leaving him worried for the morning.
For a moment, he was afraid. He had already fed, and if this was not enough, what would be? If the mere thought of a man's throat was enough to bring him to insanity, what would a taste do? Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to focus and calm himself. Did he have enough time to visit the stables again before dawn? Perhaps he could capture a bird or small creature before the sun rose, if a horse was not working to satisfy him. How long did he have before the insanity took hold of him and he couldn't choose?
"As I thought, cowardice doesn't suit you," a voice said, one he knew but couldn't place in his roaming thoughts. His mind swam as he tried to focus on it, on the firm hands that touched him.
Something strong and solid held him, but came from what seemed like a dream. Fingers carded through his hair and pulled him closer, petting and steadying. In a way, Kaeya felt cradled and protected as a warm and comforting scent like spiced apples tickled his senses and brushed velvety soft against his lips.
"Feed."
The heat that flowed within him was brand new. It trickled down his throat and pooled in his chest, only to drip through him slowly and steadily with the intensity of lightning yet thick and churning. It was unlike anything he'd ever known, his fingers curling against the presence in his arms that granted him such pleasures. Kaeya dared not open his eyes to know the source of the warm breath against his skin.
"Beautiful," that honey-sweet voice praised him. "You will be alright... Don't be afraid."
He could feel something in him burning, as if sunlight had been liquified and poured into his very soul. Every inhale felt perfect and horribly wrong, each swallow taking in the softest and sweetest of needles that threatened to destroy him. The fibers and tendons of his body seemed unique and notable, recovering from a strain that he didn't realize was possible and made stronger. Each string of sinew sang with the energy provided, a note of power that had gone unknown prior.
Kaeya knew what this was instinctually. The power he was granted was obvious. The curse of blood refined within him like grapes to wine, becoming intoxicatingly delightful as it imbued him. His senses returned to him one by one, stronger than before and more honed. He could smell the slight fear now, the sweat and adrenaline, but he could not hear it, only the soft breath and calm pace of a heartbeat as it passed beneath his tongue.
"Kaeya," they called to him. "Try to stop now."
It was difficult, but too easy, like a bubble breaching the surface of water, the idea of it ending seemed as if he'd break. He knew he must, he knew he needed to listen, but perhaps a second more—
"Kaeya."
His lungs filled with cool air again, lips parting as his fangs slipped behind them. In a bath of ice and rush that followed, the torrent of sensations ended and left him startlingly cold.
He finally found the strength to open his eyes and found himself where he feared. Red blocked his vision for a moment as crimson waves, his peripheral vision entirely blinded in a wildfire of unruly locks. His eyes welled with tears in fear of what he'd done, barely able to fathom the consequence. Yet even as he tried to ignore it, even as he tried to block out the sheer bliss and drunken stupor he felt in the moment, he could not help but lick from his lips the taste of a sunrise as it held him close.
"Why?" he begged, betrayed and yet elated.
"A cut flower without nutrients will wither and die," Diluc explained gently, cupping his cheek and drying his lashes with the pad of a thumb. "You were running out of time."
"How did you...?" He stopped himself, fearing that answer more.
"It matters little," they told him. "You are alright now."
"Am I—" human? He wanted to ask. Was his fate sealed? Would he forever be a monster for what he'd done?
"Shhh," the Hunter cooed, trying to soothe the fears of his unasked question. "You are you. That has not changed."
He felt strange, he noted. More awake to realize how tired he'd felt until now. It was only after a real meal that he'd truly felt full enough to recognize he'd been starving. "Master Diluc—"
"It's alright," they half whispered.
"Am I still—?" he asked, voice shaking as he forced out the words. "Can I ever be human?"
When no answer came, he could do nothing but mourn in the arms of the man who had both saved and condemed him. A cheek rested against his hair in an affectionate notion he didn't understand.
"Kaeya Alberich." A voice called to him again, vibrating against his delicate senses, almost an echo. "By all the Dawn's light and the winds graces, I would declare you the most human being I have ever known."
"Am I to die now, hearing my eulogy?"
"It's alright, Kaeya," they said again, arms tightening around him just slightly. "Don't be afraid."
He wasn't sure what else to do but listen, taking in the calm and steady way Diluc breathed near his ear. The slow, methodical pattern of their heartbeat. The hand in his hair continued its path, brushing through the dense locks and easing out the tangles. They fell in a silken waterfall over his shoulder like so many times before, tended only by a gentle hand.
"You can rest now."
Kaeya closed his eyes and clung to the man who had singlehandedly welcomed him to an existence of torment and damnation. Perhaps it was a blind trust, but it was the only one he had as he chose to relax. All at once, the tension of his body snapped and unfurled, finally free of itself. He could see the glimmer of light beginning to peek beneath his door, refracting on empty bottles and broken glass at his floor as a wave of fatigue followed the relief.
Pulled under the tide, Kaeya slipped into a dreamless sleep in the arms of a man who was supposed to kill him.
Notes:
This work is inspired by the artist embedded into the first chapter so I will be dedicating this entire work to her as a gift of sorts. Once upon a time, when I first wandered into the KLK fandom, I found this piece and was instantly enamored with it. I had the fortune to work with Ube somewhat during the zine Mint Condition and I found the courage to ask if I can do a piece based on that piece as I never forgot it. To my delight, she agreed and allowed me to include it as part of the work, so all of you get to see it again too.
This fic is 19.7k at the time of ch 1 being posted, so this will be regular updates. Was supposed to be a oneshot but I'm a pox and a plague upon my own sanity, had good music, lovely company of the artist, and vibes- which meant it's gone from the 6k projected to three times that amount and ongoing.
To quote Ube's reaction- "Holy shit Ket"
----✦/✧\✦----✧ My Bluesky
- Blocked? You probably followed someone I am no longer comfortable sharing spaces with for my own safety and sanity. You can read my works, I won't stop you, and you can engage with it- but I will not interact with you on social media unless the previous condition is no longer met.✦ All Dynamic Kaeya and Diluc server
- We like Kaeya and Diluc in every orientation- Kaeluc, Luckae, Kaeluckae, Side-ways, Diagonal, Vertical, On the Floor, On the Ceiling.✧ My Fanfic Discord (Stovetop)
----✦/✧\✦----
By the Dawn's grace- see you next week. May your odds be fortune favored and your stars aligned~!!
I read all comments and they're deeply appreciated.
Chapter 2: By Day
Notes:
----✦\✧/✦----
Spice Level: 1 / 5
Song Rec: Strangers by Kenya Grace
Extra CW: Kaeya and Diluc are EXCEEDINGLY gay in this.
----✦/✧\✦----Can this get gayer? probably not but we live to find out.
I actually wanted to post this once I got it back from beta but two people told me no- wait until Saturday... so like a petulant brat I waited until Midnight. And I quote, "DO NOT PRESS THE BUTTON" while I wailed like a cat that it was SATURDAY. Because we are intelligent writers in this house. Then I pouted in bed, woke up, got distracted by HSR Ratio theories, and posted before going back to sleep.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
As night fell again, his morning began, tending to the mess he'd apparently made. While he didn't remember the shuffle, in his desperation, he had apparently caused quite the commotion, to the point it wasn't even surprising anymore that Diluc came to assist. An entire keg's worth of wine was scattered on the floor as empty bottles, arranged in a haphazard way, and some had broken as they were tossed aside in the desperate urge to find anything to quench his thirst.
Part of him wondered and hoped it had all been just a dream, a soft nightmare that came in the form of a Vampire Hunter. Pausing his ministrations, Kaeya couldn't help but question that as well. While Diluc and he were hardly strangers at this point, the affection towards him that night was beyond friendly. He could still remember the calm and protective way he was held, the fingers slipping through his hair that had remained smooth and neat even after he woke.
He was only half surprised to feel a shadow pass him as he tidied, looking up to find the Dawn dressed in black, collar still tilted and imperfect. "How are you feeling?"
Kaeya didn't know how to answer that.
"You must be displeased," they added, thinking aloud before a hand was offered to him. "Let me show you something. Perhaps it will improve your mood."
Almost too obediently, he put his palm in theirs and rose to a stand. He followed quietly, mirroring the Hunter’s steps with his own, and was not allowed more than a single step of difference between them. It was a marvel of science how Diluc carried themselves through the dark. He could actually hear them more clearly now. Every stone overturned and crack made in the dirt from their weight was audible as he walked behind them, guided though the vineyards and trees.
He wanted to ask questions, but none seemed appropriate. It seemed nonsensical to ask a Hunter how they knew so much about a vampire. It seemed risky to ask why they’d done what they did, in fear of clarity that it had been a mistake. Kaeya resolved to not have answers to these, not yet, and instead focused on the exact moment in time in which he blindly followed a Hunter across the grounds and into the woods.
"Master Diluc, where are we going?"
"You will see," was the only response he received.
He knew it when he saw it, a small structure nestled in a garden of swaying lilies. Mixed among them was a small flower he recognized as lamp grass, and as they passed, it seemed to glow, made brighter by the adjacent white petals and shaping the entire garden into something akin to a fairy tale. The scent of flowers was dissipated by a gentle breeze, allowing him to appreciate it without it being too much.
Diluc took a space on a small bench at the center of the little gazebo, but they did not let go of his hand until he settled as well.
"What is this place?" he asked softly, looking around at and endless field of white and blue.
"A secret," Diluc responded, fussing with their gloves, barely looking up. "Many aspects of a Hunter's toolkit rely on the natural; this is one such place it can be procured. This is the Ragnvindr cecilia garden."
"It's beautiful," he breathed, listening to the gentle sound of grasses in the wind like a symphony as Diluc explained. "I would have never guessed such a place existed on the grounds."
"To most, it doesn't," they continued. "This area is off limits to all but those who tend it or have need of it."
"Then why am I here? Am I being assigned new duties? I'm afraid I know very little of caring for flowers."
Diluc scoffed. "No." They smiled through the word. "I merely thought you would like it."
The implications were not lost on him, only confusing. The Ragnvindr Lord went quiet then, simply allowing him to exist as he slowly relaxed. While he did not want to admit it, he did feel better than he had the previous weeks after feeding. If not for his increased senses, he could have argued he felt more himself and more normal than ever before. Leaning onto one of the banisters, Kaeya watched the gentle push and pull of the wind over the flower garden that seemed too beautiful to be real. Each perfect stalk was lifted by the breeze, facing the moon instead of the sun.
"If you keep showing me things that no other should know of, I'm going to be inclined to believe my death is coming."
Diluc chuckled at that. "Perhaps you need a new perspective."
He turned his head at the airy way they spoke.
"Beautiful things deserve to be seen," Diluc said without taking their eyes off him. "And I can think of no one more lovely to appreciate them than you."
Kaeya stiffened, more from shock than anything. "Master Diluc... I fear I don't understand what you mean."
They actually laughed at that, and Kaeya wasn't sure whether to be embarrassed or annoyed. "Do you not?"
"I would not dare suggest that the one bearing the name Ragnvindr showed mercy, much less affection, to a lowly person such as myself. A vampire, no less."
"Then don't suggest it," the redhead replied casually. "Instead, claim it as fact and truth."
"Mast—"
"Diluc," they cut him off. "Just Diluc. You need no titles when it is just us two."
Kaeya could feel his face starting to burn. He couldn't think of a time when someone had wanted him so brazenly outside of a drunken proclamation. He was an outsider of these lands, a mere orphan put to use despite questionable origins. Yet despite his imperfections and unworthiness, the name was sweet on his tongue as he spoke it. "Diluc."
"Enjoy the flowers, Kaeya," they said, with a smile framed in silken fire.
He could feel the heat in his cheeks and wondered if it were possible to feel more embarrassed. "Has the night addled your mind? I am a man. There is no benefit to courting me."
"That matters very little."
"You have a legacy to ensure," Kaeya huffed. "Pardon my saying so, but I do not wish to be the plaything of a nobleman as he tends to his wife."
Diluc sputtered for a second before erupting into laughter.
He wasn't sure what about the reaction was so annoying to him. The laughter angered him, his genuine concern being made into a joke that he wasn't able to understand. To make matters worse, the redhead looked absolutely delighted, with no intention of stopping. The calm exterior the Hunter usually maintained was all but lost, reduced to a fit of giggles and an occasional soft snort. "I fail to see what is so funny."
"I have no intention of taking a woman," they said between inhales. "Preposterous. What wife would I even take?"
"You're of the name of Ragnvindr, are you not? There must be many ladies that seek your favor."
"No noble lady wishes to be wed to a man who exists as a omen of nightmares, for a Hunter never lingers where there is no prey."
Kaeya supposed that to be true but also refutable. "Then why are you here now?"
A catty smirk met him. "There's a vampire about; surely you've heard."
"A singular vampire is hardly a threat, much less worthy of a hunt."
"I disagree," Diluc responded, coming to a stand and moving closer to him. Kaeya leaned back but didn't flinch away as a lock of his hair was tucked behind his ear. "I find this one to be a prize like no other."
"You have a duty to your name," Kaeya insisted, voice shaking slightly. "It must be carried on."
"The first Ragnvindr was not a nobleman, but a man with a sword. The second was the son of Ragnvindr. At what point does that lineage run dry? At what point does the name need to be earned with merit and value behind the weight of their sword? I am a Hunter first and a nobleman second, Kaeya," they explained, hand still ghosting near his cheek as if afraid to pull away. "I need not take a wife to bear me an heir for my title. I only need one that would hold the sword to learn my arts someday."
"Why do you protest so?" he asked, trying not to tremble in the shadow of someone promised to the sun. "I matter very little. A flawed monster born of a common man with nothing."
"That is what you claim, but look around, Kaeya," Diluc said softly, eyes drifting to the lily garden they were in. "Every flower here was once buried in the dirt — dark and cold. It was with warmth and time that they blossomed and rose above their stations. Would you deny their beauty or value?"
"I'm not a flower, Diluc," he tried again.
"No," they acknowledged just as tenderly, turning back to him. "I would never see you as something so fragile. You are much more than that."
What was happening? As Kaeya listened to Diluc refute him yet again, it only confused him further. It seemed illogical to even consider the possibility of what was actually occurring in real time. "Mas— Diluc... Must you be so unreasonable? Nothing will come of a relationship between us but tragedy and misfortune."
"The only misfortune I have endured is your repeated attempts to convince me of thus. There is only one way to see an end to my insistence."
Kaeya stared up at the man who slowly dipped down to come within a range that was far too familiar, waiting for the magical words that would wake him from a romantic scene that better suited a dream.
"Tell me you don't want me. Refuse me for no other reason."
"I..." He tried to lie. But try as he might to deny it even to himself, it would be difficult to say aloud that he didn’t find the other’s company enjoyable. Had they different fates and met in a different time, perhaps it could have amounted to something. As it was, in the world in which they lived, their positions couldn’t be further apart. "I don't wish to live a tragic fairytale. I'm a vampire, Diluc. You are a Hunter. This is ill-fated, and even in the best scenario, foolish."
"Why are you so certain it would be a tragedy?" Diluc asked him.
It was difficult to say the words, but he needed to strike some sense into the young lord. "You're a mortal man, Master Diluc. You are human, and I am a monster."
"Is that so?"
"Do I need to bite you to prove a point?" he almost hissed, showing the tips of his fangs, even if defective.
Diluc only smirked. "You may, if it would please you."
"Since when were you so insufferable?"
"There are poets that could write of the exact moment," they said, still smiling at him. "But many have told me I am quite stubborn when I want something."
"Quite?" he almost barked. "You are stubbornness made flesh."
Diluc only shrugged, finally leaning away from him. "If my presence is so bothersome, you may leave at any time. You need only ask it of me."
If the previous command to turn them down outright felt like a shove, this one felt as if he'd been pinned to a wall. The man clad in a familiar black was a Hunter in all affairs, it seemed, and while Kaeya didn't see himself as a fragile blossom to be broken in a strong wind, he didn't know how to weather a force of nature quite as raw as Diluc Ragnvindr's feelings.
"I will grant you a bit of mercy tonight," they said, expression painfully soft as they seemed to withdraw from the conversation physically. "You may come and go to this place as you please; you need not ask. If you wish to pick any of the flowers, wash your hands immediately after."
Kaeya did take a pair of blossoms with him — a blue lampgrass and a single lily, placed in a little vase by his bedside. When he retired for the night, it was a thing to ponder over that wasn't the amount of supplies needed to ensure another season.
Wasn't Diluc the last Ragnvindr? Kaeya could only vaguely remember the details, but there had been some news about the last head of the household meeting an unfortunate end. Diluc, the only son, had taken over as the Master of the house their first day as a man. If that was even a fraction of the truth, the idea of taking a male lover and child outside of the house was absurd. Even if not for combat prowess and duty to the Hunt, they were a name that deserved to carry on.
That hair was like the sun itself woven into silken strands, each one perfectly placed and yet as wild as the flames they carried. Diluc's style was often a fluffed arrangement more fitting of a bird's nest, but yet it perfectly suited them as it was tied and held high. How a single ribbon restrained such a thing was a magic that would perplex the greatest of witches. It was a signature of the Ragnvindr family, that much he knew, and the late head had been equally as easy to pick out in a crowd. The very thought of it ending with Diluc was sad.
Their eyes, their demeanor, everything about Diluc was a perfect example of a god's graces. Whatever deity oversaw that family's creation was a cruel and loving mistress. This one specimen alone looked as if they had been carved from the finest marble and made real with the kiss of an angel. When not constantly scowling or brooding, their smile was enough to survive winter on—
Kaeya paused.
What was he doing right now? This was ridiculous.
No matter how lovely the Ragnvindr nobleman was, they were not his to covet. Even admiring was above him, and it was dangerous to even consider. Those honey-sweet words and the hand on the back of his neck were a fleeting fancy. They'd see reason soon enough and leave him for a more interesting target.
Turning his eyes from the pretty flowers, he noted he could see a trace of the colors changing outside. The sun would be rising soon, and with it, Diluc would likely return to their daily life and the typical duties befitting a man of such honor. A winery needed tending, after all. And a Hunter needed to train, prepare, and study.
With that, Kaeya closed his eyes and tried not to dream.
It had been two weeks since Kaeya fed from Diluc, and he noted that, while he felt a tad more tired, it was still nowhere near the debilitating exhaustion he'd felt near his feeding days before. Part of him worried that drinking from anything else would break the spell or muddy its effects, but even then, he considered that a better fate than the alternative of going feral for the blood of a human. Merlot was passively compliant as always, ready for her bit of whatever treat Kaeya could scrounge up as the seasons began to shift colder.
His days seemed almost too empty without Diluc, he noted. The winds slid from a warm breeze into an icy chill, and the birds began to fly south as the leaves turned. The sun struggled to warm the day through the cloud cover, and all he could think of was that head of impossibly red hair on the path ahead, fluttering in the wind and setting it ablaze. His cheeks warmed as he realized he was thinking of them yet again, unprompted, but they were just as quickly chilled by the leaving of summer.
Perhaps it was that strange whim that led him back to the lily garden, just to see it again before the flowers died for the year, if nothing else. They hadn't changed much, unbothered by the passage of time, and he couldn't help but wonder if that was magic in some way. What he truly found surprising, yet somehow not at all, was the presence of a certain redhead in the gazebo, eyes closed and half slumped into a post.
Kaeya approached slowly, not really wanting to be stabbed because he'd accidentally startled a Hunter, but too curious to stay away. He'd never seen Diluc rest, much less sleep, and he certainly hadn't imagined it to look so delicate. Long lashes lay over perfect cheekbones, scattering the ever faint freckles he had barely noticed until closer observation. Had they always been so fair?
All his musings about how lovely Diluc Ragnvindr was came rushing back to him with a vengeance.
Why would someone so perfect and beautiful even be interested in him? A face like that could start wars and end them with a smile. Now sitting still, Kaeya could even see the curve of muscle beneath the awkwardly fitting Hunters' garb that was made more for mobility than aesthetic. Every gentle breath lifted it, pressing against the seams, before it fell again.
Or was it?
Kaeya's brows furrowed as he watched, noting the pattern of their lungs was far slower than it should be. Reaching out, he held a finger in front of their nose just to check if they were even breathing. It was practically nonexistent, and the vampire began to worry for his Hunter.
Slipping even closer and onto one knee, Kaeya tried to remember how to check a pulse, his eyes following the line of Diluc's neck and remembering he could hear it just as easily. "Master Diluc?"
No answer came, and their heart rate was just as slow… Worrisome in speed, but strong despite it.
"Diluc? Are you sick?" he heard himself asking, but try as he might, he couldn't smell anything wrong with them, only that low undertone of sweat and apples.
It was a risk, but the entire scenario was a greater one. Gently, he took Diluc's shoulder and gave it a delicate shake, trying to rouse the sleeping figure.
"Wake up, Diluc," he tried, voice clear but not startling. "I think something is wrong."
No response came, so Kaeya shook a bit harder, trying again.
A sharp inhale flared their nostrils as they came to, crimson eyes opening with a hazy expression. It was so strange to see them so vulnerable, dressed to kill and slaughter him at a moment's notice, yet completely passive to the point it was practically a costume. "Kaeya?"
"Diluc," he said with relief. "Forgive me, Sir. Something seemed wrong."
There was a grumble, and they ran over their eyes with a gloved hand. "I was asleep?"
"Yes?" he replied, concerned and confused about that even being a question.
A grunt of acknowledgement came from the man, followed by a yawn that showcased a row of perfect, straight teeth. "Apologies. I must have dozed off."
Diluc's canines were sharp.
Kaeya paused, staring at them. "M-Master Diluc?" he stammered, shocked. "Do you feel alright? Did something happen these past few nights?"
"No," Diluc said slowly. "I'm fine, Kaeya."
"Are you sure?" he asked, taking their elbow and leaning closer, trying to remember the things in that book some time ago. Slowed breathing was a sign, wasn't it? Fatigue from lack of feeding was also notable… "You don't feel anything strange?"
Diluc scanned his face, tipping their head just slightly. A crimson lock fell perfectly into their blank expression, observing him almost owlishly, yet calmly. "Only a mild concern for this sudden outburst; it is unlike you to be so forward."
Kaeya realized how close he'd come as the words settled in, jerking back almost too abruptly. Diluc chuckled at this, finding it amusing as they moved away from him easily and came to a stand. There were few moments when he truly felt larger than the other, the slight difference in their heights made more obvious as he stood up straight. "Are you sure nothing happened?"
There was a dramatic pause, then a laugh. "Yes, Kaeya. I'm fine. You should concern yourself more with your own condition. When was the last time you fed? You must be getting hungry again."
He swallowed back the fact of the matter, unsure. While he knew he was buying time, it was still time bought. "My own health does not diminish the concern for yours."
"Pray tell," Diluc said, leaning back into the gazebo with an amused smirk. "What of me concerns you so?"
While it was oddly embarrassing to admit, he couldn't help but feel he was being toyed with. "You were not breathing," he explained. "Your heart rate was far too slow."
Diluc hummed, as if this was not news to them, merely feedback.
"And your teeth— Your canines are sharp."
"Is that all?"
The question caught him off guard. Was it? "What do you mean? What else is there?"
The Hunter was strikingly handsome when they smiled, yet their smirk filled him with an urge to punch them. "Think on it."
His eyes roamed their face, taking in the pallid skin and lack of sun. True as that may be, Diluc often worked at night, and complexion was easily attributed to it. They stared at him back, barely moving beyond a blink or two.
"If you stare at me so intensely, I'm going to assume you enjoy doing so. Am I alone in my affections after all?"
Kaeya looked away quickly, causing them to chuckle again before taking a deep breath and relaxing again. "It is difficult to concentrate through your mockery."
"I was not mocking you," they said, clicking their tongue but with mirth still evident in the tone. "I am already quite pleased with your fretting over me."
"I was not fretting," he countered. "I was expressing valid concern."
"Why? Consider that I am a Hunter, and you are a vampire, Kaeya. Should I fall ill or become impaired, that would only be beneficial to you."
"While that may be true, I would not like to test my luck with others of your order."
"A fair answer," they conceded. "Or do you just consider me too smitten to be a threat?"
"You are not smitten," Kaeya growled.
Their lip pulled to the side in that irksome smirk again. "No matter how hard you wish it, or deny it, you know the truth."
"A man smitten with me would be far kinder," Kaeya argued, trying not to pout too obviously, especially as they laughed again.
"And what would that entail, exactly? My complete attention? You have that already. My time? It's yours. My wealth and my generosity? Well." A hand waved vaguely to the gardens, and there was the fact that he was still breathing. "I fear I have little left to offer but my body."
Kaeya almost sputtered but managed to catch himself. "You are attempting to distract me, Master Diluc."
"I am trying to do far more than distract you," they said in a tone that carried a level of dignified incredulousness. "It appalls me how impervious you are to my affections. Am I truly that detestable?"
"I worry for you, and you toy with my concern," he said, standing back up with a huff.
"What else am I supposed to do with it? I am fine and well. Nothing has happened to cause such upset, though I admit I am flattered by it."
"Why must you be so tiresome?"
"You wound me, truly."
Kaeya wasn't sure what came over him, but he took Diluc's shirt into his hands and pulled them closer, almost looming over the man with grit teeth that did nothing to dissuade them from smiling. "You are not wounded by me yet, Master Diluc."
They rose a brow, dusting off his hold as if it were nothing and righting themselves perfectly again. "Is that a threat?"
"If you keep refuting my care, I will simply give reason for you to need it."
A bark of laughter came from the man beneath him, and he wasn't sure if that aggravated him even more, or if there was just a limit to his patience.
"I would welcome such treatment," they continued. "By all means, Kaeya. You have my explicit permission to continue as you see fit."
He took a deep breath and could make out the faintest hint of apples — the sun and grass on their person. Their heart was beating faster now, a rosy bloom on the perfect cheeks that paired with their smile like a wine to a decadent meal. Kaeya, suddenly with every option in the world, didn't know what to do with this man. He remained in paralysis, confused and bewildered by how someone so beautiful was allowed to exist and be capable of equal amounts of violence.
And the way they looked at him was surely criminal, he believed. As they began to finally calm and settle into place, their smile never faded, the sharpened points of their teeth driving him insane, but only from lack of understanding. The question he was asked earlier stood out to him: Was this all? Had he been overreacting? Perhaps Diluc had some sort of training or ailment that allowed them to sleep so quietly they passed as dead.
Slowly relaxing his grip, he came to terms with the fact he was being teased, and his own concern was brought to center stage. Diluc was right; it did him no favors for a Hunter to live well. His concern was unneeded, and coldness would be more apt and fitting.
Lowering his gaze, he tried to piece himself back together before their eyes. "I apologize if I acted out of turn."
"Kaeya—" they said, lifting a hand to tip his chin back up. "I would like nothing more than for you to worry for me."
Maybe it was the glow of the lily flowers that surrounded him or the cool breeze that nipped at his shoulders, but for a moment Kaeya wanted nothing more than to climb into this man's arms and be small again. He could vividly recall the way Diluc had pet his hair and shielded him from the world, and that safety was equally reassuring. "It is not my place."
"If not yours, it belongs to no one," they refuted yet again. "Will you not spare me even a moment of your thoughts now?"
Taking a deep breath, he found the words difficult to comprehend, much less speak. "I was worried," he admitted. "When I approached, you were barely breathing. It concerned me that perhaps you had succumbed to a similar fate as I."
Diluc listened, expression so soft it made him even weaker.
"I would not wish that upon you, Master Diluc. You should remain in the day like the sun in the sky."
The hand that was at his chin moved smoothly, delicately brushing his hair behind his ear before lingering at his cheek, afraid to break the little contact it was granted. "Why must you curse me so, Kaeya?"
"M'lord?"
"I have been stabbed, burned, and bitten. I have had my bones crushed and my blood spilled. My body is scarred from many attempts to wound me. All these things, and yet none have hurt me quite so terribly as your words of affection, knowing you will not allow me to reciprocate such care. I wonder if you actually hate me."
Kaeya wanted to refute it. He only managed to stop himself with a careful apprehension, catching the trap before he triggered it. "Hate is not the correct word."
"Indifference then," they corrected. "And yet, of all the things that have ever tried, I fear you are the only thing to harm me in a way that I feel pain."
"That is not my wish," he said easily. "I am just ill-suited for your attentions."
"There is a simple way to dissuade it. Tell me, Kaeya," they pleaded gently. "Tell me you do not want it."
When he didn't answer, looking away with worry evident on his features, Diluc looked more visibly hurt than he'd thought possible for their face.
"Do you worry I'll harm you if you decline?"
"No, Sir," he said honestly — the thought had crossed his mind but had been instantly dissuaded. Even if their affection was a ploy or attempt to toy with him, that would have never excused a Hunter to allow a vampire to feed from them. Such a thing was blasphemy incarnate, and he wasn't blind to the weight of it. "I do not doubt your sincerity."
They visibly relaxed, red eyes sparkling with a strange emotion. Perhaps it was hope, or desperation, but they looked so strange, standing here before him. A Hunter, in traditional attire, likely armed, confessing like a young boy to a person they liked. The figure they cut was hardly imposing. He had no doubt that Diluc wouldn't harm him, and the slight redness beneath their collar was proof of that.
All he had to do to end this strange scene was say he didn't want it.
That too would be a lie, he realized as soon as it crossed his mind. Every attempt to escape this conversation had failed, and every attempt to reason with the Ragnvindr had fallen on closed ears. Diluc did not care about any reason to end their pursuit but his word, he noted. They had stated as much, and that would be all it took to break the spell.
Yet Kaeya could not find the strength in him to tell such a horrible, disgusting lie.
"I can't say I don't want this," he finally admitted. "But a bird isn't meant to harbor affection for the sun. It's far beyond their reach, and they'll go blind or burn in the attempt just to gaze upon it."
"Kaeya." Their voice was softer this time, reminding him of ballads and lullabies. "If I am the sun, you are the moon, or the skies in which I travel. If you are a bird, I wish to be the wind beneath your wings that carries you."
"You would be a storm, Master Diluc." He attempted, in vain, to convince himself again.
"Perhaps," they said, surprising him a bit. "But what bird fears the rain so terribly it refuses to fly?"
Kaeya had no immediate answer to that. He had walked right into it. Part of him realized he wanted to lose this battle of reasoning, the gentle touch to his cheek making him hungry for what little warmth their palm could provide on the cool night. Yet still, desperate for logic and sanity, he tried once more. "A safe one."
"Then I beg of you to be brave, if not reckless," they whispered.
Lifting his eyes, he met theirs and burned alive in his place.
"You don't need to be scared," came more as a plea. "Send me away or pull me closer. The choice is yours."
Kaeya, instead, took a single step forward, caving in to the strange sensation that gripped his sanity as he let their bodies collide. His hands found their face, framing the Hunter before they could regret or flee and pushing back the insanely red hair, trying not to be surprised it didn't scald him. Throwing his caution to the winds and hoping he knew how to fly…he let his lips meet theirs.
The first thing he noted was warmth. The second was enthusiasm. As soon as any amount of shock wore off, Diluc melted into the kiss and pulled him closer like a man starved. Strong arms curled around his spine, preventing any quick escape as he let himself fall into the welcome oblivion of a bad choice that reminded him of summer.
Diluc enveloped all that he was, lips gently coaxing his into motion, leading but not forceful as he remained stunned by his own decisions. Every sign of hesitation was met with patience, letting him calm again.
"If I stop, will you never kiss me again?" Their breathing was heavier, almost labored, grip on him tight.
"I worry I don't have the sense," he confessed gently.
"Good." Another kiss. "And if you should find your senses, I will find a way to rid you of them again."
Kaeya made no attempt to stop the fairytale he'd unfolded. The kiss of a noble Hunter, chosen by the Dawn, in a place that radiated with a magic he didn't understand. He was inclined to believe there were few things more beautiful than Diluc, only to have that faith questioned rapidly as each kiss peaked and improved upon the last, every touch more gentle and perfect.
"I wish to hold you come sunrise," they confessed. "May I?"
"Yes," he let his forehead rest against theirs, fanning his eyelashes as he forgot how to see with the dazzling radiance of a moment.
It was strange to feel another against him so perfectly, the transition to his bed a blur that seemed negligible to the result. Diluc's cheek rested against his shoulder, and he had to remind himself he'd woken them up not long ago. Fingers entwined in a motion that felt practiced, as if they were almost meant to be, as a glorious Hunter blessed by Dawn's light curled up with a vampire with eyes like crushed lilacs. It was surely blasphemy, he thought, but as a man who had very little in life, he wondered if perhaps this was his reward in death. He allowed himself to be a little greedy, craving Diluc Ragnvindr like the moon craved the sun, shining in its light no matter the darkness.
When he woke, the dream did not end.
Diluc's breathing was still too shallow for his liking, but their heartbeat was strong and steady as they nestled against him, an arm draped lazily across his chest and keeping him still while silently pleading to stay. Kaeya assumed the other must be exhausted to need so much rest, wondering if perhaps they had worked extra to exist in both the realms of day and night.
For a moment, he just observed again, quietly taking in the small features that were usually missed in motion. Each eyelash laid perfectly beside the next, and every lock of hair looked placed more than fallen.
Kaeya felt as if he'd see the sunrise again, a bubble of joy within him that was foolish and difficult to articulate.
They woke slowly, the crimson of their eyes darker than he thought possible as the scene unfolded. A little grunt followed, then holding him tighter in a pitiful attempt to preserve what was.
"Did you rest well?" he asked, keeping his voice low and careful.
"I fear I need more," they obviously lied, squeezing him.
An airy sound of amusement came from the vampire at the declaration. "Perhaps later, but I need to tend to the horses."
A sad, childish groan came from the man who executed monsters.
"You may stay here if you wish," he soothed. "But I do need to work."
"You're fired," Diluc mumbled.
"I fear Merlot does not understand the concept," he chuckled. "She will be most upset if you terminate me so suddenly."
It took some effort to peel himself from beneath the Hunter, receiving a pathetic whine in response. Diluc then took full occupancy of his bed, nestling into his pillows. Kaeya succumbed to the urge and gave them a gentle pat on the head, pulling up a blanket to let them continue resting. It was a strange thing — almost jarring — how perfect Diluc felt beside him, yet how out of place they looked in the humble and worn landscape of his home. The bed appeared too small for them, despite Kaeya being taller, and the linens more off-color in comparison to the fair and perfect skin.
There was a deep sigh from the man in his sheets, red eyes blinking slowly as their owner resigned to the concept of waking with a blatant pout. "I am serious. You are fired."
Kaeya's guts twisted with anxiety but he feigned ignorance. "There is water nearby should you become thirsty. I will be back soon."
"Smelling of horses and not lilies... Not of a shared bed."
Forcing a smile, he turned and finished his morning preparations, shucking on his boots. "Then I am sure you will not protest to me taking a little longer to clean up?"
Diluc gave an annoyed hum.
It was a strangely domestic exchange given they had only just confessed, he admitted as he found an escape in the silence. Something about Diluc made them simply natural for him to navigate, no matter how confusing the interactions were. In many ways, or perhaps some kind of fate, they felt as normal and accustomed to him as someone he'd known far longer. It was a thought that made him pause as he shuffled the stall straw, freshening and doing away with the messier parts.
He was turned in the early spring and encountered this Hunter in the late summer. Not quite a year, but still a fair passage of time as more leaves began to change. Kaeya wasn't sure if this was too long or too short, given he wasn't privy to the ways of noble courting. Didn't some marry without even meeting?
He pondered this as he continued his work, Merlot and the other animals taking very little pity on his distracted state of mind. As he dwelled on hypotheticals and the social etiquette of a class above him, the horses took their chance to steal the bucket of oats and empty it, while a pair of ravens collected the extra spoils of fruits and vegetables left unattended. It was an entirely messy and disorderly ordeal that ended at the low sound of a whistle.
All the animals settled in an eerie silence. The birds left their places, gliding over the scene in a silent curtain call, only to land on the forearm and shoulder of man in almost as much black. Diluc offered a fond scratch, and feathers raised in delight around the touch.
"I should have known they were too clever to be wild," Kaeya lamented.
There was that damned smile that made him weak at the knees and feel faint. A low hum of curiosity followed.
It was a sight he'd become used to within a capacity of sanity, he realized. It was a wonder if Diluc was a Hunter at all as the first frost nipped their heels and the blanket over a horse was thicker than the one he had at home. Trading an occasional kiss as he worked had turned into somewhat of a normal occurrence, and he felt warmed by it every time.
"You will need to feed soon," Diluc warned while tracing his jaw from above, leaning over his seat from behind. "And more frequently."
"Why so?"
"This will be your first winter as a vampire, no?"
He hesitated. "Yes. Is that significant?"
A kiss was pressed to the top of his head. "Vampires are more cold-blooded than humans. You will need more energy to feel warm and healthy. Your current diet will cause you to go feral possibly even with daily or constant feeding."
Feral. The word was something he deeply feared and often thought about since he'd heard the term. A word used for a vampire consumed by bloodlust, a beast that had lost its humanity completely for the madness of starvation. As a human, he would have questioned how a thing was possible. His view was different now, having experienced the start of it firsthand. The sound of everything and nothing all at once, salivating at the sound of blood rushing through veins and the intense urge to claw and scratch until it was had. Twice, he'd evaded the clutches of his own body to spare his mind. Once at the expense of a defenseless creature, and the second at the mercy of a Hunter.
"What do most vampires do through this time?" he asked, trying to hide the quake in his voice.
"Depends if they are smart or have someone to teach them. The more cunning sleep through the season, gorging before and after waking. The more risky will roam in search of constant prey, but most inevitably go feral, not knowing of this side effect to their condition."
While not stated, Kaeya understood the slight implication. "Then you must hunt often during this time then."
"I am afraid so," they mourned. "If I asked, would you join me?"
"That seems a silly idea," he answered. "A Hunter has no need of a vampire companion, only a target."
"Companion is a silly word for the object of my complete attention," Diluc fussed.
"Another reason I should not go. You will likely perish on the claws of a monster because of your silly distractions."
"And having you here, at risk, will somehow lessen that?"
"It will hasten your return," he concluded.
"Or," Diluc countered, finally coming to face him. "You come as the attendant for Merlot and I. You eat and rest well in lodgings between hunts, near me and comfortable."
"You drag poor Merlot into your nonsense," he huffed.
"She is my horse," Diluc said. "And she is likely eager to see the hills and countryside again."
"Diluc. I have duties here."
"You do not. You were fired some time ago."
He sighed. "You jest, but my role has not ended."
"Answer me this—" Diluc began, looking all too attractive as they folded their arms. "If you must stay here, will you at least allow me the service of feeding you before I go?"
Kaeya stiffened, but took a deep breath. Something in him churned, a magnetic pull to the sound of their heartbeat, one he now recognized as a warning for hunger as he went too long without a proper meal. Diluc had explained it to him in brief detail, but to dine on nothing but inhuman meals was essentially eating hay and little else — filling, but lacking nutrition. If he was to be as hungry as Diluc was suggesting, he would need far more, and Diluc was the only one he currently had to ask such a favor from.
"I do not like it," he exhaled,"but I would be grateful for your assistance."
"Then I will acquiesce to your will," they sighed. "Will you truly be alright without me here?"
When he nodded, he expected to reassure the redhead, but instead they just looked disappointed.
"You wound me so," Diluc mumbled, admiring him. "Will you not even miss me a little?"
Realizing what they meant, he couldn't help but play into the silly game. "Ah, I see. I'm afraid I will miss you terribly. I will waste away without a moment of your affection until I am but a husk of a man with nothing."
Diluc seemed amused until he continued.
"Whatever shall I do without a Hunter tracing my steps? Surely I will perish, unable to hear the constant badgering for my attention and touch when there is work to be done. Truly, I shall learn to be forced to mend the weary ache in my heart left by a nobleman's lascivious whims. It will be in the peaceful tranquility of silence left by your wake that I go mad with longing for you."
Diluc looked practically annoyed by the time he finished. Kaeya couldn't help but chuckle, failing to resist his own whims to press a kiss to their bottom lip, erasing the scowl intended to dissuade him.
"Of course I shall miss you, my dearest Hunter," he said with a smile.
As fabricated as his taunts were, he found the final declaration to be true. Diluc prepared for leave shortly after their conversation that night, often letting him alone as he continued his duties. His stance swayed in his thoughts, unable to decide if it was truly best for him to stay behind. With every convincing argument, another appeared to counter it that would prove him to be more a burden than anything. In the worst of his conjured scenarios, Diluc's reputation would be put to question for allowing him to live at all. Yet the void where they once had presence was notable, even before they left.
"I will leave in the afternoon, while you are sleep." It sounded like a curse the moment he heard it. "Let me hold you before I go. You need to feed, as well."
"Will you be able to ride in that state?" he asked, following the gentle guidance of a hand to his home. While the option existed to rest in the nobleman's chambers, Kaeya had yet to step foot in the lavish estate, feeling too small and too out of place for such things. "I would not wish you to fall off your horse from lack of blood."
"I will recover while you are resting. Though if you wish to fret over me for a night, I can delay my departure."
"If given the option, you would delay inevitably," he responded, knowing this time he would be equally to blame.
"You are too clever," Diluc chuckled, leading the way to settle on his bed, freshly cleaned and laundered. The sheets still smelled of the sun, courtesy of the daytime staff he never saw. "Can you not feign ignorance?"
"I am a vampire," he reminded. "I cannot stay foolish if I wish to survive, and outsmarting a Hunter seems a perfect place to start."
"Should I worry that your acceptance is merely self preservation, then?"
"An odd topic of discussion from a man that wishes to be in my bed," Kaeya deflected. "Is something troubling you? Are you worried I will hurt you this time?"
"I beg you do," they sighed. "No. I am merely...concerned."
Settling beside them, Kaeya waited for any explanation to come.
"Should I become prey instead of Hunter, what will become of you? What if I am delayed in my return? Will you starve yourself again and slip into a feral state where I, nor anyone else, can reach you?"
Before he could answer, they turned to face him more properly, crimson eyes molten with worry and blinding with a beautiful emotion he didn't know the name of. The concern and the threat was a real one — and one he thought of often.
"Promise me, Kaeya, if I cannot return in time, you will feed. Should such a thing happen, you must seek Adelinde at my estate."
"Adelinde?" He knew the name of the lady butler to the Ragnvindrs, though they had never met. In her position, she oversaw the house and all affairs at the behest of the head, and Kaeya's former meals and supplies were no different. It seemed that hadn't changed. For preparations to be already made, this must have been something Diluc had worried over a great deal.
"Promise me."
"Does she know of me?"
"Not in detail, but she knows to answer your needs, no matter how obscene or blasphemous they may be. She is a quick-witted woman and will know what to do. Promise me, Kaeya. I shall not be dissuaded."
He nodded, taking a deep breath. He could almost taste the adrenaline of worry on his tongue. "I promise you."
Kaeya often felt small when Diluc held him, but this time felt more equal. The strong biceps and firm chest were concealing a beating heart that raced with worry and called to him in a song of blood. While he wanted to bask in the comfort of being cared for, he could feel his stomach churning. It was as if the subtle fear smelled like a warmed oven of fresh breads. Wrapping his arms around their waist, he returned the hold with his own while nuzzling into the crook of their neck.
"Diluc?" he pleaded, his breath dusting their pulse. It was increasingly difficult to resist the temptation, his lips refusing to close. Saliva pooled on his tongue as it felt thicker and more difficult to form words.
"Please."
He tried to be gentle, if that were possible, letting his fangs slide into their flesh with the clean precision of biting an apple. A tremble rocked the man beneath him, fingers curling against his shoulders and yet encouraging him closer. Diluc's cheek brushed his ear and he could hear them swallow as their lashes fluttered. It had to hurt — logically, he knew the sensation couldn't be pleasant for a creature to sink its teeth into such a tender area and relish in it. Yet, he wasn't worried.
The scent of the man changed beneath him. The flavor was poisoned with fear at first, a slightly sour thing that lingered on his palate, but within a moment, it became sweeter and more decadent, rich and silky. Diluc didn't hate this, he concluded. He didn't know the name of the flavor, but he could guess the emotion like an instinct.
Diluc Ragnvindr's pleasure tasted delicious.
"You're okay," a sultry-sweet whisper told him. "Keep going."
He wondered what prompted the comment until he heard his own voice, a little whimper of some sort that almost sounded like whine. Maybe it was a moan…but it was hard to even recognize his own thoughts through the sheer bliss of what this Hunter became. Diluc was a wine and he was rapidly getting drunk on the taste, the world swimming behind his eyelids as he let them close.
Diluc's hand on his shoulders felt like the only thing tethering him to the world as he let that gentle, soothing comfort wash over him again. This time he gave little resistance, comfortable as the source of his troubles nuzzled him with a shaky breath. He was all but curled up into their lap, drinking in the sweet nectar laced with affectionate pets and soft syllables of praise.
"That's enough," came as he ebbed and flowed, able to make sense of the words after a lapse in euphoria. "Stop, Kaeya."
He let go with a wet, crisp sound. Cold rushed over him immediately after, chased away by warm hands and assurances. Kaeya felt moderately helpless as his tongue traced the bite, lapping up that last taste of heaven. His lips pressed gently on the bite, apologizing silently but begging for more with deep, labored breaths to preserve the feeling as long as he could.
It took a gentle coaxing to pull away, Diluc examining his face and stroking his hair as he tried to navigate the creeping sensation of a chill that permeated into his bones between the touches. Crimson eyes tracked him, then slipped shut in the blinding fervor of a kiss. Kaeya wasn't sure what came over him, Diluc's air suddenly more precious than life itself and stolen away with every motion between them. Each kiss bled into another, their blood still warm on his tongue and the taste readily shared.
With gentle coercion, he was laid on his back in the bed as gravity sank into him. Pinned down by nothing but sheer exhaustion, Kaeya did little beyond staring up at the beautiful man above him in the sheets, panting with swollen lips and sparkling eyes. He was so tired suddenly, and all he wanted was the comfort and warmth of Diluc.
"Damn," they mused, pushing their hair back with one hand. "You make a compelling argument... I will return home soon. You won't wait for long. That is my promise."
Kaeya remembered the sensation of Diluc kissing him again, somewhere in the oblivion of his tiredness.
"And next time, I won't let you go so easily."
Notes:
I'm glad you guys are liking this fic as much as I am! The current WC is close to 27k so we are still on track. CH 3 has been partially rewritten and I'm still working on that but it won't take me long. CH 4 is fussier but that's because it's a BIG deal for the story. I hope you all are looking forward to it!
I sent the comments abut Ube's art straight to her, and she also really appreciates it.
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Morokomaru on Chapter 1 Sun 19 Oct 2025 02:34AM UTC
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