Chapter Text
The secret that I tell you. Will you regret it more than your hatred for me that day?
Kaeya refused to stare at the mirror; other than his cursed eye, he had more to be afraid of looking at— something he will never be released from without having to cut and regrow his skin.
...
Diluc pointed his blade at Kaeya, but this time it was not for a spar or for a friendly battle as companions. They were not companions nor were they sworn brothers, Diluc made it painfully clear.
Kaeya's eyes blinked rapidly in disbelief, liquid slid down his cheeks; was it tears or the rain that poured down right at this moment? Diluc stared at him with what used to be happiness and affection, now replaced with hate and betrayal. His teeth ground against each other in fury and his stance was not a bit faltering. He was adamant about ending the traitor that faced him.
Kaeya's hand trembled on the handle of his sword; he didn't grip the hilt with precision for he did not wish to fight. The rain soaked his clothes and his hair got in the way to which only his eyesight smothered with blurriness. The red was so distinguishable even then. Kaeya had always admired this red; so beautiful it was, no other red could compare except for the bright red flames that would soon engulf him.
Diluc's voice ran hoarse, his throat must've been sore, but he threw more insults at the person who he thought he could trust. Traitor, liar, betrayer, sinner. The words came out like the most lethal poison; they spread in Kaeya's chest until his heart ached severely. Oh, how the lips that once told him sweet declarations turned into maliciousness.
How easily Diluc had left him like their father. Or was it Diluc's father? Diluc had made it clear that Master Crepus was not his father, after all, Kaeya had betrayed them. Master Crepus had taken him in and just when the man had passed away, Kaeya had told his secrets about his involvement as a spy... so what could Diluc believe knowing that all these years Kaeya had kept this from them?
Kaeya's legs grew weak, he shivered with the chill that invaded him. Cold sweat filled his back as Diluc's vision glowed menacingly with red. Diluc's eyebrows furrowed so horribly.
Diluc, you'll get wrinkles if you frown like that. Kaeya would've laughed and teased the faces Diluc would make, kneading the other's forehead, stating how his face will stay stuck if he kept it like that.
Diluc's red eyes glared dangerously at him, they looked as if a predator had found its prey and hungry Diluc was because Kaeya could feel the killing intent emitting from him.
Diluc was always known for being quite rash and that was why it was Kaeya's job to calm him down.
"L—Luc! P...Please, I don't want to fight...!" Kaeya stuttered loudly, he didn't know whether his trembling voice would reach the other's ears, but he didn't need to worry because he got his answer.
"Shut it, traitor. Did you think my father had taken you in just so you could betray him?" Diluc hissed. His intention was clear. Fight or die pathetically.
"F...Father would've not wanted us to fight like thi—" Kaeya shook like a fawn before he was blatantly interrupted.
"Don't you DARE call father that! You out of all people do not deserve that entitlement" Diluc glared sharply at the other.
"P—Please...Luc...I'm sorry..." Kaeya's eyes widened, the sword on his hand was slipping out but perhaps it was the tension in the air that kept him holding to it as if it would save him.
"You are no brother of mine, nor a friend or a companion. I trusted you and you betrayed that. Like a disgusting vermin" Diluc scowled, the bitterness of once trusting someone like Kaeya prickled his skin like a thorn.
His heart stammered with hatred, how foolish he was for believing Kaeya had ever once held them in his heart. They had once promised to stay forever and now when their his beloved father had passed away, Kaeya just had to confront him.
"Did you even care? I thought you would've at least mourned for him, but here you are telling me you're a fake!?" Diluc roared, his chest heaved.
"N—No, please...Luc, I loved him and you like my own family, y—you out of all people know how much you mean to me" Kaeya shivered; was it from the cold or the amount of hate he found in Diluc's eyes?
Kaeya bit his lips harshly, the taste of iron spread throughout his tastebuds. His ears were pounding and he could feel the blood rushing to his head instead of his heart. How much he had feared this moment yet it still came. He had thought Diluc would've trusted him, at least believed that Kaeya would never give up Mondstat, his home, for a nation that had already abandoned him, but he was mistaken.
"You traitor! Don't you dare spout lies!" Diluc ran up and slashed towards Kaeya.
Kaeya's eyes widened when he had barely blocked the incoming blow. The strength coming from Diluc was not any less than a grieving knight— a knight who had lost everything— had nothing left to lose and so he would risk it all to end the rodent that sneaked into his home.
Kaeya's heart jumped up to his throat when he was a hair's width away from meeting his demise. He could feel the heat radiating from the blade, causing the hairs on his skin to rise up in fright. Kaeya knew how deadly Diluc's attacks were especially when they were combined with pyro. He knew it would hurt, but it did not hurt as much as the fact that Diluc desired to brand a horrid mark on him if he ever was able to make it out alive.
Kaeya could feel the tears sting his eyes. Oh, how easily Diluc turned his back on him. How easily he had promised to never leave his side, now being the only one who would put an end to his misery. Kaeya felt his fingers turn numb with how hard he tried to stop the blade from meeting his chest. Was it his desire to live that got him this far? ...Was it too late to regret?
Diluc's figure towered over him. He had grown, both physically and mentally. Now he was not naive any longer, he did not listen to Kaeya's pleads nor would he listen to the cries Kaeya would release.
Diluc pulled back when he knew his attacks were futile. He was fighting with someone who was thrown back into a corner, even a cornered rat like Kaeya would bite back and so he did because Kaeya's expressions turned into hesitant glares.
"Finally showing your true colors?" Diluc scowled.
Kaeya's expressions faltered, his mind was in shambles. He didn't want to fight, but what could he do when Diluc was so resolute about finishing him?
"S—Stop please Luc, I don't want to fight...I'll leave so pleas—" Kaeya promised before he was once again interrupted.
"You sicken me. Tell me before I end your pathetic life, did you ever think of us at least once?" Diluc grimaced.
Kaeya trembled. Of course he had always thought of them, he would always put Diluc and Master Crepus first and that is why he could not bear keeping this a secret any longer. But perhaps he didn't try his best because then Diluc would not hate him as much as he did.
Diluc didn't need an answer as he took a step back and swung his sword with all the resentment within him. The words he would declare would forever echo in Kaeya's ears as a magnificent bird made of fiery flames grew.
Kaeya had always admired Diluc; he had admired his strength, his determination, his personality, and his righteousness. But now Kaeya stared in dread at the phoenix that grew larger until it overwhelmed his whole view. The world turned bright red, just like the red he so loved waking up to. Just like the red that would flush in his cheeks when Diluc had kissed his forehead goodnight and just like the red that would smile affectionately at him.
"Your verdict is...!" Diluc screamed as he slashed the phoenix towards what once was his sworn brother and the one he trusted most in his life.
Kaeya's body froze even when the bird was advancing dangerously close to him and even with the rain that poured harshly did the bird not even hinder just a bit. Perhaps the phoenix could sense its master's fury for it continued until it would swallow Kaeya whole, reducing him into nothing but ashes just like his enemies. Toward Kaeya who was not his friend nor his companion nor his brother... just a pest that needed to be exterminated.
Kaeya's sword loosened from his hand and fell to the wet ground with a thud. His mouth gaped as the beautiful sights of red, yellow, and orange colored his world. The temperature rose dangerously high as the hot flames scorched his skin, rapidly eating away any living part of his body. His mind told him to leave, run, flee from the danger that was consuming him. But he couldn't when his feet only stuck to the mud.
Diluc could hear heart-wrenching cries from the mass of flames he created. A figure so distinguishable in the fire, only stood even when the fire ate up his skin. The smells of burnt flesh and hair spread in the air along with the heavy rain. The sparks of fire and crackles of burning prospered in his ears.
The cries of utter agony rang in the land. Goosebumps rose on Diluc's body.
Soon, however, before he could react, a blue gleam contrasted in the red. Diluc closed his eyes in a hurry as the gleam turned brighter and blinded. The flames he had born diminished ever so slowly that Diluc was sure that Kaeya had already died if not for the sounds of wheezed gasping.
A bright blue vision formed above Kaeya, icy wind blew around and the temperature, that once burned away life, cooled around him. Ice surrounded him and covered his body. The once-standing boy now toppled to the ground in defeat. His body trembled, still in clear pain.
Diluc glared when he realized what had happened. His hand gripped on the handle of his greatsword as he neared the boy.
"Don't you DARE show yourself here again" Diluc growled in revulsion, standing before the bluenette.
Kaeya's teary eyes turned agonizing slow to Diluc whose face still held a grimace. Kaeya's hand twitched as he tried to reach out towards Diluc.
"D...Don't...l...leav—" Kaeya murmured in a low cry before a loud cough escaped from his throat. He wheezed in pain, the burns covered his skin and even talking ate up his energy.
The cold vision fell beside Kaeya, the mud splattered around it as a clear cyro symbol was revealed. Kaeya shuttered in sorrow, his lips separated in gasps. Diluc clicked his tongue in distaste as he turned around to walk away, not all listening to the cries Kaeya let out when anger clouded his head.
"Lu...c...don't leave...me... I'm sorry...sorry..." Kaeya cried, his lips parted in slow pants.
"Pl— ...ease...kill me...it...hurts— COUGH—" Kaeya heaved, blood leaked from his lips as he watched Diluc's familiar back distance.
Kaeya's throat throbbed in pain, but that didn't stop him from releasing a quiet sob. He tried his hardest to keep his eyelids open but slowly and surely his consciousness wavered. His hand still reached out in hope that the warmth would embrace him once more or at least for the last time.
The pain tortured him until he could not feel anymore.