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There was once two kids, innocent as could be, who were pure and precious and cherised each other immensely. The same blood may not run in their veins but they were brothers all the same. They didn’t care what other’s would say. Regardless if one was adopted and the other was not, they were brothers and becauase they said they were that was that. It was nothing but the truth. They belived this whole-heartedly and would swear nothing could change that. In fact, the older of the two would even get in physical fights against those who’d argue otherwise, because as he would say: he had to knock some sense into those telling such lies. They were brothers and that was a fact.
This means it would be of no surpise that the two sweet kids did what many close brothers did. They played together; they covered for each others cheeky plans; they cleaned up after each other when they messed up and most importantly went through their highs and lows together. These two brothers, one a redhead and one blue, was thick as thieves or joined at the hip as the elders would say. If you saw one, then of course the other wouldn’t be far. They’d always be getting up to some micheif somwhere… together. Whether if it was sneaking into their father’s wine cellar or practincing swordsmenship, whatever they’d be doing it would be together.
However, there were the rare moments when the two were apart. Perhaps one was ill or another was busy studying or many other reasons, but it did happen– rarely. Still it occured and so of course it wasn’t strange that Kaeya was sat at home whilst his brother and father were out. Crepus had to drop something off at the manor in the citidael, and Diluc had forgotten something there; Kaeya on the other hand had just gotten over being ill and with it being rainy outside, they didn’t want him falling ill again so soon, so instead of him coming with, they had him stay at the winery whilst the two went out. They promised they’d be back soon but Kaeya hated it all the same.
The blue haired child hated being alone. It was one of the reasons why he was often seen following after his older brother. It was true Kaeya loved hanging out with Diluc but he was also quite the shy kid. At times he’d rather be reading a book, curled up next to the fireplace, than be running around the city, but that sometimes meant being alone and he’d rather do some extra exercise (burning energy he didn’t have) than be alone. Being lonely just made him so miserable. It reminded him of horrible memories, rainy and lonely memories, and when he was alone, there was no one to chase those feelings away. The nightmares he had tried to ignore, the monsters locked in the back of his mind, the sadness he couldn’t dwell on for long else be stuck in it forever. It always came out when he was alone and he had no way to protect himself… until Diluc came.
Diluc would always come and chase the dreams away. He’d hold Kaeya tight until he couldn’t remeber why he was sad to begin with. He made everything better. Diluc had become his saviour; his knight in shingy armour; his brave older brother. No matter what scary monster or saddening dream came his way, Kaeya knew he’d be fine as long as Diluc was here… but he wasn’t here.
It had only been a few minutes since his father and brother had left, but it already felt like hours had passed and the grasp of lonliness was already starting to take its hold of him. Kaeya felt vulnerable to its attack but felt there was nothing he could do but stare into the fire and hope everything would be ok. He could wish and hope very well because at the bright age of seven it was the thing he had had to rely on so much, but it was nothing in comparison to his brother’s warm hugs, and wishing for Diluc to be home faster wasn’t making it any better. All he could do was hope. Kaeya just wished he could close his eyes and open them to see Father and Diluc walking through the front door. If that happened he could forget about how the rain was reminding him of the night he was abaondoned or how the lighnting made him terrified and want to crawl into a tight ball. Family made everything better but right now he was home alone.
“Master Kaeya.”
Maybe he wasn’t completely alone. Adelinde was still here after all- she hadn’t abandoned him at least. The head maid had just gone upstairs to grab a blanket for the young boy, because he absolutely refused to leave the fireplace until the other’s got back. She promised he could stay down here if she could grab him a blanket and Kaeya agreed, forgeting this would momentarily leave him alone downstairs, but Addy was back now so everything would be ok.
“Addy.” Kaeya exclaimed, running into her arms.
She caught him easily and held him tightly. The warm hug was comfier and warmer than the fireplace; it was filled with much more love and made him no longer feel alone. Diluc and father may be gone for a little while but Addy was here.
“Is everything ok, Master Kaeya?”
“I got lonely.”
“Ah, Are you missing Diluc, it’s not often you two are apart.” Adelinde asked and Kaeya’s shy expression said it all.
“Well I have an idea that you might like, something to make those lonley feelings go away you might say.” Adelinde revealed, instantly perking Kaeya up with.
Something to get rid of this loneliness, whatever could that be? It certainly had Kaeya’s attention, and he followed the head maid with excitment as she walked over to a nearby cupboard and pulled out a boxed filled with an assortment of thread of various different colours. A box of thread- how on tyvet could this get rid of his bad feelings? To Kayea thread was simply thread. It contained no magical abilities that he knew of and yet Adelinde was convinced this was the answer and well she had never been wrong before. With that belief and trust, Kaeya followed her back to the fireplace and sat down in front of the coffee table whilst Addy sat behind him, opening the box.
“How would you like me to teach you how to make a friendship bracelet?” Adelinde offered, but Kaeya stared back confused. This was the first time he’d heard of such an accessory and that you could make one too.
“A friendship bracelet?”
“It’s a way to show your close bond with someone and an item to help not feel alone when you’re apart from them.”
“Really?” Kayea’s eyes widend with amazement at such a prospect, “How?”
“You make two bracelets with similar designs and give one to the other person and keep the other for yourself. Whenever you’re alone you can easily look down at your friendship bracelet and feel close to the other person because you know they are wearing the other one. You’d always be connceted because of your bracelts so you’d never truly be alone.”
It was the most marvellous thing Kaeya had ever heard. It filled him with exictiment just listenting to Addy and before he knew it he was pulling on her arm enthusiastically, begging her to show him how. Enlighten him on how to transform this mundane thread into a magical bracelet that would forever keep him connected to Diluc. He must make this bracelet now he knew of its existence and who was Addy but to oblige. She picked up some thread and showed him how to put it together into a fine bracelet. Addy was an excellent maid and she was also an excellent teacher. Every instruction she gave was easy to understand and follow so when the time came for Kaeya to pick out some colours and make his own bracelet, he found it easy as breathing to complete.
The next hour was spent with Kaeya completey focused on the task at hand. He was so preoccupied with friendship bracelt making that he had forgot all his previous worries. All that mattered was creating a masterpiece of a bracelt that he and Diluc would be proud to wear. He was doing so well he was already onto his second bracelet by the time that Adelinde had finished making some cookies. The first one he made was for himself: it had blue as the base colour and red for the pattern which was a line twiriling round the band. Diluc’s bracelet, the one he was working on, was similiar but with the colours swapped. They made a perfect a matching pair.
With an innocent and joyish smile, Kaeya alternated between spinning the thread between his fingers and taking a bite of a cookie beside him. The treat was sweet and gave him an additional boost of energy to finish the task at hand. He was beginning to grow tired with the sun making it’s own bed in the sky, but Kaeya was determined to finish this masterpiece before the others got back. He desperately wanted to welcome his family home and even more wanted to see the expression Dilus would make when he gifted him the bracelet, so if he was to do that he couldn’t stop to sleep else his effort would be in vain. As Kaeya worked away on the bracelet, trying his absolute best to be a creation to marvel at, he could only hope Diluc would be pleased with his work.
Fortunately for him Diluc was overjoyed at the heartfelt gift. When his father and brother returned home, Kaeya jumped up with a joy and ran feverishly over to their open arms. Crepus swung the boy round, equally happy to see his son again even if they were only apart for a few hours, and Diluc waited with anticipation for his turn with Kaeya which swiftly came. Kaeya hugged his brother tightly, happy to be in his arms once again, before pulling out of the embrace and shoving his arm out towards Diluc. He closed his eyes as he opened his hand to reveal the gift and from the matching one on Kaeya’s wrist, Diluc could easily identify it as the friendship bracelet it was. The boy wasted no time putting the bracelet on his arm before he started jumping up and down happily. It was a wonderful gift so it was no surprise he couldn’t help but boast about it to their father the second Kaeya gifted it to him.
“Look father, look.” Diluc screamed, waving his arm in his father’s face, “Kaeya made me a friendship bracelet.”
“I can see that.” Crepus smiled, reaching a hand down to give Kaeya’s hair a scruffle, the boy smiling fondly at the gestrue, melting into his father’s hand. “Good job Kaeya. Don’t you too look even more like a pair now.”
“Really!” The boys squeealed in unison. They both raised the arm adorned with the bracelet high in the air and stared into each others eyes with joy. It was clear to all they loved their new bracelets and Adelinde was glad she suggested making them. Now their bond was even more stronger. It shall never break just like their bracelets never will.
⚪⚪⚪
Firey anger and fury raced towards Kaeya in the shape of his brother’s falcon and Kaeya felt helpless to stop it. There was nothing he could do. The fire would burn him, nothing stopping its destruction until Kaeya reaches his ultimate fate of death. That was all that awaited the kid now. Still a young boy at seventeen, Kaeya was no longer the innocent and pure boy he once was and now that he stands curled up in fear, he can’t even find it within himself to pity him, because this was what he deserved. This fate was brought about by his own hand being the traitor that he was; he was unable to save his father and unable to save his brother, burning their bonds with harsh truth of who Kaeya was. It was only right that Diluc striked back with anger and fiery flames, because he never deserved his love so in a twisted way this was a happy justice, meeting the fate he was always destined by Diluc’s hands. Yet death never came. Instead Kayea was greeted with a cryo vision and long awaited disownment. His brotherly bond burned to ash and all that remained was the friendship bracelet he made long ago.
This stupid bracelet. It had lasted Kaeya through thick and thin, made him feel close to his brother when other duties pulled him away. Over the past ten years it had served its purpose well, never fraying or falling apart once. It reflected their strong bond every day with its perseverance and refusal to wither in any way. Perhaps then, it’s poetic that only now does it break.
As Kaeya pulls his body across the bridge to the city, his injured body screaming with his movemnents, does he finally notice the bracelet when it falls from his arm. The fire had singed the thread holding it together and it only managed to stay on Kaeya’s arm for so long due to the blood and sweat that stuck to his skin. It wasn’t until he reached the bridge when a strong breeze blew, finally pushing it away. The bracelet fell and with it Kaeya’s connection to Diluc- his last hope- and at last he was alone again. Just as he started: alone and cold, with no where to go. When the bracelet finally fell, reality hit him like a brick and he finally broke. Heartbreaking sobs shook through his body, rattling his insided with his never ending misery. Where does he go now? What future awaits him? He was supposed to be dead and yet the gods had to intervene in his life once again and strip that fate away from him. It wasn’t fair! He was only seventeen- how could he be a traitor? He was just a kid. An innoncent kid who made a stupid friendship bracelet to fight off the fear of being alone. Now, the recipient of his gift, the one meant to protect him, has burnt that very bond. Diluc promised he’d always listen to him, always protect him and keep him safe, but now as Kaeya stares at the bracelet all he sees in the ashes is the lies it promised.
“Why!!!!!” Kaeya screamed, despite the pain clawing at his body, he roared in agony. The misery echoed out into the world in his endless cries, but the bracelet stared at him, almost mocking him.
Unable to take this misery, Kaeya marched over to the fallen band, the thread filled with lies and false promises, and screams at it. He pours all his agonising emotions into the bracelet as if it was the one who harmed him. He cried and sobbed and screamed and yelled. Misery, heartbreak, betrayal, agony, lonelieness, complete and utter despair was all thrown at it. At last when it got too much, when the pain broke him to unfixable pieces and his longing for his family, for Diluc, grew once again, he threw the bracelet. With all the remaining energy he had left, and a little spite, he pulled his arm up in the air and thrust it out. However his hand faltered and remained closed. He threw his arm but he couldn’t bring himself to let go and throw the bracelet. The bracelet that a young boy worked all night on to create a masterpiece his brother would be proud of. A bracelet that had a red sibling who was proudly boasted about when it was gifted. Those memories meant the world to Kaeya and he couldn’t find it in himself to throw them away. No matter what Diluc thinks, they meant something to Kaeya. It wasn’t a lie for him but now it was too late.
Defeat surrounded him, accompanied by the claws of loneliness once again, and Kaeya fell to his knees in its grasp. He submitted helplessly to the pain and misery and wished it would whisk him away, because he truly didn’t know how to go on. It was all too unbearable to face and like a naive child, Kaeya pulled the broken bracelet to his chest, hugging it in the vain hope that everything was ok, that Diluc still loved him and would protect on the other side. The futile wish that Diluc would feel his bond throw bracelet and still be by his side figuratively. Whether Diluc would show up or not, figurative or real, Kaeya wouldn’t let go. He had nothing more left in him to push him forwards, so he just stayed there on the floor of the bridge with a burned bracelet cradled in his arms.
It was a pitiful sight and though Kaeya refused to feel pity for himself, Jean felt otherwise. She was the one to find him like that on the bridge and sadness and sympathy pulled on her when her eyes saw what had become of her friend. Kaeya never told her what happened, despite her countless attempts to get answers. All she knew was her best friend was badly injured and the only clue was a broken bracelet clasped in an almost death grip in Kaeya’s hands. She could tell it was important even more so when Kaeya came to in the catheredarl asking of its whereabouts. It made her happy that she took and kept it safe. On a quiet night, when Kaeya was almost healed and resting in the knight’s quarters, she left it on the desk with some fresh thread and was pleased to see it back on his arm the next day, newly mended.
⚪⚪⚪
When Diluc returned, people didn’t know how to feel at first. They didn’t hate him of course, par some few people, but he had been gone for almost four years and life in Mond had moved on. The knights had changed and the people too but at the same time were not so different to before. They had learned how to live life without him and would learn how to live with him again. It didn’t take long for everyone to find their new mundane life with Diluc in the mix. There was of course changes here and there that everyone had to grow accustomed to but it didn’t really interfer with their daily life much, except a few. The biggest of changes for Diluc was that Kaeya was now a stranger. They had exchanged a few letters here and there over the years Diluc was away on revenge mission of sorts, but he barely recognised the man he knew now, who bore the name Kaeya Alberich. The way the two interacted now, it was hard to tell they were ever once two close brothers before.
The relationship they shared now was not sour or adversary one. No it was more a simple patron and server, Knight and civilian one. A mundane relationship that many around here shared – nothing special. Although it wasn’t necessary as simple as that, but was it ever when it concerned those two. There was always the constant bickering between them and their interactions always contained a hidden layer as if there was something more between them but it appeared something both were indifferent to but what was more likey they were too afraid to touch. Too much time had passed, too many emotions and struggles they had gone through and they had changed each time that they no longer knew if there was anything left of who they use to be… anything except a deep feeling of longing and regret.
It was another day in this new mundanity where Kaeya sat at the bar in Angel’s share, happily sipping away at a drink, whilst Dilulc watched cleaning a glass. Kaeya’s new aptitude to drinking was one of the changes that surprised him and left him with a sour feeling of distaste. The young boy who griamced at the taste of alcohol, barely enjoying more than a drink or two with his father before the taste grew too much and he’d scrunch up his face in disgust, was nothing more than a distant memory. He had become this man who overindugled in the drinks, clearly hoping to drown all the pain and sorrows away. It was a horrible and dangerous coping mechanism, one that could easily lead to death if not watched carefully, and Diluc couldn’t say it would bring him much joy to see Kaeya reach such an end. He did his best to prevent it, cutting off drinks when neccessary, claiming it was his job as the bartender to prevent his patrons from getting too drunk but even he knew, deep inside, that was he going the mile further, showing extra care to Kaeya than the others. It wasn’t a big deal, walking the drunarkd back to his apartment was probably a bigger grand gesture, but it was still an important act of care and maybe one day he’ll be able to admit the real reason why he did what he did.
Whether that day would be today or not, Diluc couldn’t say but either way he sighed knowing the annoyance that awaited him. Kaeya had just finished his sixth drink of the night and Diluc could already tell he was working his way up to asking for another. If this was any other night, and perhaps if Kaeya didn’t look so miserable, he may have allowed him one more but not tonight. Kaeya was already sorry sight and didn’t need any more alcohol to make it worse. He was still somewhat sober so it was best to cut the drinks off now before that changed, but Kaeya never responded fondly to his drinks being cut off and a depressed Kaeya was even more likely to act sourly at what Diluc was about to do, but it had to be done.
“A death after noon, if you would be so kind master Diluc,” Kaeya called out a somber tone in his voice,
“I think you’ve had enough for today, Sir Kaeya, though you’re welcome to a glass if water if you wish.” Diluc offered, swiftly taking the glass away.
Diluc takes a deep breath, bracing himself for the usual backlash he receives whenever he cuts Kaeya off. It’s a predictable routine but definitely not an enjoyable one, whether its barbed words that Diluc can’t help countering with equally hurtful remarks (one’s that he always regrets) or depressive rambles that Diluc never has the right words for and funnily can’t bring himself to respond to, else admit his heart breaks a little each time he hears them. Kaeya doesn’t deserve the cruelty he puts himself through and yet Diluc knows way to convince him otherwise. A cruel remark or a tearful one, both equally painful to hear, but one of them will happen, they always do. However, after a second of silence, Diluc is surprised to hear neither and when he looks down he sees an arm creeping towards him instead.
Oh no, oh no, oh no no no nooo… Diluc did not predict violence. This was not on the table tonight, not any of his expectations. Kaeya was depressed and miserable but he didn’t think he react this badly to being cut off. Diluc was expecting the more probable depressive sobs than anything else and now he’s caught off guard but an arm coming towards him. What does he do? Kaeya’s drunk so this could hurt a ton or barely at all. The other is strong regardlres of if they are intoxicated or not, Diluc knows that. At the same Kaeya has been through enough and anything Diluc does would likely cause a scene he knows Kaeya doesn’t want. He finds himself between a rock and hard place, unsure of what to do and just waiting for the hit to come… but it never does.
Just like awaited for backlash, the awaited hit never comes down on him either. There was silence and no violence. This is so unlike Kaeya, yet could he really say he knows what is like him nowadays. He is far too unpredicatle for him to truly understand anymore. Parading behind a hundred different masks, Diluc can barely know what’s the truth anymore. However, Diluc did know something and that was Kaeya wasn’t silent for no reason nor did he raise his arm towards him just because. Now that he thinks about it, his left arm is noticbely heavier than before. Following this train of thought, Diluc looks down his arm to see Kaeya’s hand firmly around his wrist, holding it fixed in place. Kaeya is staring atently at something and it’s clear as day what: an old blue bracelet, with a red colour twirling round.
The friendship bracelet Kaeya had gifted him.
“You still wear it.” Kaeya’s voice is broken, unsure of its self. Diluc is surprised he even heard the other with Kaeya not even looking up to say it- his eyes fixed on the bracelet.
“I’ve never taken it off.” Diluc revealed, and the way Kaeya looks at him with so much vulnerability in his eyes, does Diluc truly understand what that meant. He never really thought about it too much. It was just a stupid bracelet after all. It didn’t mean anything, especially not after he disowned Kaeya, but then… why couldn’t he ever take it off?
Diluc could lie to everyone, to the whole wide world, but no matter how much he wished he could, he could never lie to his heart. Because it wasn’t just a stupid bracelet, now was it? It did’t mean anything- it meant everything. It was the sole item that kept him close to his brother. It was the thing that connected them. It was their friendship bracelet and it showed the world how strong their bond was. He may have disowned Kaeya but deep down he was always his brother, his inability to remove the bracelet proved that. Diluc could see it in Kaeya’s eyes, he understood what it meant or at least hoped it did and to prove it he pulled back his sleeve to reveal his own matching bracelet. There on Kaeya’s, just like Diluc’s, was the other friendship bracelet still in- almost- perfect condition. Where Kaeya was staring at his, Diluc was staring at Kaeya’s processing a whole whirlwind of emotions but most importantlty there was hope. Looking back into Kaeya’s eyes he saw it too, along with shaky feeling of desperation. Both parties wanted this badly and was so scared their hope was false.
“Are we…. Still brothers?” the uncertainty, the shakiness of Kaeya’s voice. All of it. Diluc knew what he wanted and at last was ready to accept it, to realise how stupid he had been and that his deepest desire was always within reach, he just had grab it. All those years staring at his bracelet. That times he almost died in the snows of Snezhnaya, when he cradled that bracelet close to his heart, wishing for just one person to make it better. How he walked around the city feeling as if he was watching a stranger, when there was a constant reminder of the boy he used to be always with him on his wrist. There’s no point denying it anymore. Kaeya was staring at him in need and fear of different answer and there is only one Diluc could ever give.
“Always.”
Kaeya fell forward, bursting into tears. His younger brother didn’t care who was watching, he didn’t care what happened next because at this moment in time everything was perfect. He was leant forward, hugging his big brother’s arm, crying years worth of tears for all to see. Kaeya cried but they were tears of joy, tears of relief; he found himself happy he couldn’t throw away the bracelet that fateful day on the bridge; he found himself grateful that Jean returned it to him with thread that he could mend it himself. He was crying tears of joy and for once Kaeya felt himself wanting to thank all the archons in Tyvet for letting everything in the past lead to this. Perhaps if he threw the bracelet this never would have happened; perhaps if it fully burnt this never world have happened; if he never mended it this may never have happened.
Similarly, Diluc felt tears pricking at his own eyes. He briefly pulled away from Kaeya’s hold just so he could move round the bar so he could properly hug his brother and oh did Kaeya greet him marvellously, hugging him tightly with so much love like he always use to do. Just like his brother, Diluc found himself thanking the archons and divine rulers of fate for allowing things to play out to lead him to this fate. Diluc knew if he hadn’t worn a short shirt today nor if he hadn’t felt too hot he would’nt have removed his jacket and if he hadn’t done that, the bracelet wouldn’t have hung so freely around his arm for Kaeya to see and acknowledge. If none of those things had happened they wouldn’t be in this predicament right now and both of them wer so grateful they had. They hugged each other so tightly, crying tears of joy like they always use to do … together. Two brothers together again and it was all thanks to a simple bracelet. Dear Adelinde, Kaeya thought, it was truly magical indeed.
⚪⚪⚪
There were once two men, no longer as innocent and pure as could be. They had been through struggles and strife and many hard doings and sadly not all together. They were once inseparable but twisted actions pulled them apart, but love, magic and thread pulled them back together again. It was a short break, a painful one at that but it was over now and just like before they were forever inseparable again. Because the same blood may not run in their veins but they were brothers all the same. There may still be some bruises and cuts and harsh remarks but they were healing and mending they were should always be… together.
“Afternoon, master Diluc, A death after noon for me.” Kaeya chimed as he swung merilly through the door to greet his brother in the tavern.
“I think not. You drank yourself silly yesterday in celebration of a mission complete. I think that has earned today a drink free day.” Diluc pointed out, smirking at his brother’s cute pout, “No use sulking about it. It’s grape juice or nothing at all.”
“Is there not any way I may change your mind.” Kaeya begged, showing off the puppy dog eyes for emphasis, buy sadly his efforts were in vain. Diluc simply shook his head fondly, pushing the glass of grape juice towards the other. Kaeya took a swig of the drink, grimacing at the taset evoking a warm laugh from the other which made Kaeya smile in turn. Just as they had gotten use for the past few months, Kaeya detailed his day and Diluc responded with his in turn. The two talking happily, deep in conversation as they always would be and always hope to be.
Two brothers enjoying each other’s companying, accompanied by two matching bracelets shimmering in the setting sun- showing their strong bond to the world.