Chapter Text
K
Fatui with me
Take my son home
Sumeru, look for Tighnari, hurry
Please keep him safe
Tell him i’ll be back
D
The letter, if it could even be called that , was written on what seemed like a handkerchief. But Kaeya couldn’t be too sure of it because it was ripped in the edges and worn out. The material was light brown in color and somewhat smooth in texture. It was truly a miracle that it did not slip away from its carrier.
The writing was almost indecipherable, looking like a bunch of completely random scribbles. It was written in haste which was clear in its bold hurried strokes. But Kaeya thinks that the size is due to the fact that the letters were actually written in blood. He can only assume that Diluc had used his own fingers to write them out. Not only that, but the hair tie that was used had previously suffocated the cloth in a harsh grip, as if the sender was afraid that it would fall apart, or rather in this case, open. The fear was not unfounded, considering its likeliness to slip away from the eagle’s grasp.
Kaeya could only stand still in shock, his only visible eye was wide open in confusion as he continued to stare at the horrifying writing. The stench of blood was starting to irritate his nose and the wind blowing past his hair was of no help at all as it flew past the cloth in his hand, distorting the letters.
He was currently at Windrise, near the Symbol of Mondstadt’s Hero, where he was stationed to patrol. The sinking sun was shining upon his shoes and the letter in his hand. He was nearing the end of his shift, doing his usual routine, when Aspen, Diluc’s eagle, suddenly came crashing into him.
Receiving letters from Diluc was almost rare. It was hard to send him messages of his own when the carrier belonged to the omega in the first place. They would take at least three months of radio silence before sending each other updates about Teyvat and Mondstadt, which was also why this was initially a pleasant surprise since he had just sent his letter a week ago.
Nothing was remotely friendly. If anyone read their letters, they would most likely treat it as a report from one colleague to another. Nonetheless, he was always grinning whenever he had caught sight of the eagle that Diluc had loved so much.
Kaeya thinks that he deserves a pat on the back for the self-restraint that he has had all these years. Keeping himself from writing out I love you, I miss you, and come back home , took a lot of self-discipline. They were all phrases that he had whispered to himself as he stroked his bond mark, drank wine, and cried late into his nights.
However, in all four years of the man’s disappearance, he has never mentioned a kid in any of his letters. The shock of Diluc having a kid was sending his alpha into distress. Jealousy, pain, and betrayal gnawing at his stomach.
He has his own network for extended information and safety precautions. In the fourteen instances that some of his men had reported seeing Diluc, there was absolutely no mention of a kid trailing behind him, or any kid for the matter that was close to Diluc, enough to raise suspicion for his men or to be of notable mention.
Diluc had hidden the kid well. The fact that he asked Kaeya to talk to the child only meant that the kid was already capable of understanding his father’s missing presence and for him to feel fear about it. How was he able to get this far without any news of the master of the Ragnvindr home having an heir?
Concern was the most apparent emotion lingering inside the man, his deep-rooted feelings for his previous mate burning inside him. He mentally scolds himself for his traitorous thoughts. It should not matter that the kid was not his. His unreasonable rage was baseless. They were no longer together and Kaeya had no reason to be angry about it. Diluc was free to be with anyone he wanted to be with. Kaeya had to tear this entire train of thought apart from his head with a harsh grip on the cloth.
He needed to leave now. Arriving in Sumeru would take at least two days to traverse without taking a break. He was entrusted with a task and he was not going to waste this opportunity to gain the redhead’s trust back.
Once he stops feeling like his legs would collapse under him, he runs back into the city with Aspen flying after him, waiting for a letter to be given to him.
The door to his office opens with a harsh sound, “I’ll come with you!”
“You don’t have to, Amber,” Kaeya does not bother looking up at the omega who had barged into the room as he goes through his items on his office desk.
“I have spare time, it won’t take us too long anyways,” she rounds the desk to stand beside him, “You’ll have a kid with you, I’ll be there for extra protection. The Acting Grand Master insists that I come along with you so that we are much more capable of getting there and going back home efficiently.”
Kaeya gives her a look, “I won't take a break, I'll have to get to Sumeru as fast as possible,” he says in hopes of making the mission far less appealing to her, and he opens his mouth to raise more rebuttals when she suddenly cuts in, “That's fine! Besides, you don’t know where the kid is and I’ll just help you look around. The more we are, then the faster we get ‘em to safety.”
Kaeya frowns, “Did Jean go around telling everyone the circumstances?”
Amber raises her hands and flails them in front of herself, “No, no, don’t worry. She only told me that I had to help rescue a kid with you.”
Kaeya sighs, he closes the small bag in front of him, “Okay, meet me at the gate in 15 minutes, I’ll get the horses out by then.”
The omega smiles up at him, “Okay, I’ll be there, don’t leave me!” She yells out after him as she zooms out of the room.
Kaeya guesses that extra help from a capable friend would be the smartest idea to approach this. He couldn’t predict how the situation would go. Especially not now when he has failed to even collect clues about his previous mate's current child.
He was buzzing with anxiety as he left the headquarters. He can only assume that Diluc was with Fatui and away from his son. If he was with his child, he most likely would have asked to save both of them. Not only that, but he had also asked him to tell the kid that he would be back. This meant that his dire circumstances with the Fatui prevented him from protecting his son himself. He wanted to see Diluc, to save him, but that would mean disappointing Diluc too. The kid was obviously far more important to the man.
Anyways, where was the alpha that Diluc had the kid with? Kaeya was heavily intrigued and equal parts angry. Why would they leave Diluc and his child? Were they so incompetent that Diluc would rather turn to Kaeya, out of all people , for help?
The alpha could be dead too, Kaeya reminds himself.
He shakes himself out of the stupor and heads into his room.
When he enters, the darkness engulfs him. All of his curtains were drawn. He clicks on a nearby switch to turn the only light source on. He does not bother wasting any more time as he walks into his bedroom and opens his dresser to grab a few weeks' worths of clothes.
Kaeya stares at a little toy hidden under the pile. It was his first gift from Master Crepus, a small stuffed toy resembling a puppy. It was worn out and even had multiple stitches in its stomach and ears. But it would have to do, it was just a temporary item for the kid in case he needed it anyways. He stuffs it under his bag and heads into the kitchen to collect a few snacks.
When he gets to the gate, Amber was already well-dressed in a brown get-up. Her hair was tied into a ponytail and it did not block the stunning outfit she had put on. It was fit for traveling, a brown sleek coat draped over her white long sleeves and black shorts. She was also wearing long black books and she used them to walk toward him. She grins, “I'm ready, shall I get on my horse?”
Kaeya eyes the two animals behind her, “Yeah, I'll have the white one.”
Amber hums as she walks back around to jump onto the black horse which was shorter than the other horse by a few inches. It was barely noticeable.
Kaeya follows suit and looks up at the dull sky. He could barely see the stars from the city, where there were too many lights. He glances at Amber, “Are you sure you want to come? I don't plan to get some sleep tonight.”
But Amber just gives him a reassuring smile, “Don't worry, I’ll be just fine.”
With that, they ride heading west in hopes of reaching Liyue by the time the sun rises in the morning.
Fortunately, when they managed to make it to Wangshu Inn, the sun was already high up in the sky. They had arrived earlier than he had expected considering the amount of late-night help that they could not refuse from all sorts of people asking for aid. He was hoping for a lot less trouble during the night, but he should have known how much inconvenience would really occur in the dark when he had already experienced a handful of duties during nighttime. It was wishful thinking. Nevertheless, he was glad that a whole day had not yet passed. They were not any closer to Sumeru, but they could possibly get to Liyue Harbor by nighttime which was certainly closer to Sumeru.
It was lunchtime and as much as he threatened about a lack of break, he was not going to torture Amber for trying to lend a hand.
He watches Yuhua place the last dish, which Kaeya thinks is called Mora Meat, down on their table with a welcoming smile, “Enjoy your meal!” They both direct smiles of their own toward the server before cheerfully thanking her.
Amber hums, “These look so good!” She picks her utensils up as she brightly eyes the numerous dishes in front of her. Kaeya grins, “I have to agree, go on.”
She laughs, “Thank you for paying for all of these, I have to treat you next time!” Then as if she just remembered something, “Oh! Maybe when we head back home, I can pay. The kid will surely love these,” she excitedly states as she takes a bite out of the Jueyun Chili Chicken.
Kaeya laughs with her, “Yeah, don’t worry about it.” They manage to sit in silence for a while. They simply ate in glee and offered each other food that they each thought were delicious. They chatted about the lively atmosphere in Liyue, with occasional comparisons to their own region, and Kaeya had listened to Amber ramble on sweetly about the time Eula had dragged her to Liyue for a trip.
When their meal was nearing its end, Kaeya looked at the yawning omega and asked, “Do you want to rest?”
As if she was struck by lightning, she straightens up defensively, “No! No, I'm all good.” But Kaeya knew otherwise. She was clearly exhausted, she had to run around and carry items for people that had asked for help from them. He was truly grateful for her presence, or else he would have still been trying to look for rope in Drunkard Gorge for that one merchant called Farrah.
“It's alright, we can rest. Would you mind riding to Liyue Harbor first? We can settle in for the night there.”
Amber sheepishly looks at the Cavalry Captain, “I- I’m really alright. We could continue to Sumeru.”
“Nonsense, I'm not going to let you ride sleep-deprived Amber. We can rest for now if you can't make it to Liyue Harbor,” Kaeya casually says as he takes the last bite of his meal.
Amber tilts her head, “Well,” she hums, “I can still manage. We can rest when we get to the harbor.”
Kaeya snickers, “Works for me, should I order some more food?”
By nightfall, Amber was already sound asleep in the room adjacent to the one where Kaeya was residing. He, on the other hand, could not catch a wink of sleep.
He was staring out of his window where he could catch sight of the famous Jade Chamber, but his mind was elsewhere. Instead, he was softly stroking the head of the eagle perched on his windowsill as it ate from his palm.
Aspen had followed him the entire time. Kaeya had presumably thought that Diluc would most likely be on the move, which will prove to be difficult for the eagle to locate. Sending a letter back would be pointless and could only put the bird through trouble. He hopes that Diluc is not expecting a reply.
He did not think about it much, but it did surprise him that the eagle had naturally followed him. Diluc had the bird for a year before his departure. The eagle was small and loud, but he was dearly loved by Kaeya's omega.
Well, he was an old lover, but Kaeya how could he get over someone like Diluc? His warmth had melted into all of Kaeya's crevices, and it just so happened that the moment he stopped showing that warmth, his vision had manifested to mock him for it.
It seemed so pitifully pathetic that even after almost five years of the redhead’s absence, his heart was calm as ever, waiting for his omega to take his grief out all around the world. He was patient, for the most part. Kaeya does wonder how he managed to exact revenge while simultaneously having a kid. Well, the omega was always stubborn and determined. If you paired his qualities with the amount of grief he was carrying, it was only natural for him to want to pursue his end goal despite the circumstances. Still, isn’t it reckless? What if he had lost the battle and the kid had to fend for himself? Diluc wouldn’t be so heartless, would he? Well, perhaps the alpha he had encountered was with their kid. It was possible that he had died in exchange for the lives that Diluc had taken.
Kaeya knew that he had hurt Diluc far too much. But truth be told, if he kept telling himself that Diluc was coming back home and that he could attempt to fix their bond, then he would be fine. He wouldn’t feel so defeated all the time and he would not fall into a loop of despair. A false sense of security, it was.
He has been trying to sleep for a while now. Even three hours in, he could only stare at the eagle staring at him from outside his window. With all of the thinking that was racking his brain, he would not find himself sleeping at all.
But what else could he do but wallow in regret and fear? Was he going to scare the kid away? Tighnari, was it? How would he even go about looking for the kid? In any case, he knew the entrance to the forest was through The Chasm. Perhaps someone would be able to help point them in a direction.
They get to The Chasm in less than a day. A majority of the time was spent trying to find the right way around the area.
Really, it was such a complex place, but they were able to find a few stationed Millelith who were more than willing to show them the right path.
Although, they don't know anything more about Sumeru. Once they enter the border, Kaeya and Amber would just have to see where the wind would take them.
Upon entering one of Sumeru’s many forests, a pleasantly surprised expression was written on both of their faces. It almost seemed magical, the amount of healthily growing plants that surrounded the area, with glowing lights from different directions even under the sunlight, and even a slight hint of fragrance in the air from, god knows what?
Trudging through the forest with their horses was not difficult. They had slowed their pace down to silently gaze at their surroundings appreciatively. When they reach a properly paved path, they finally catch a glimpse of a number of people. Kaeya slightly speeds up to address the nearest person, “Hello, may I ask some questions?”
The person, flickers annoyance in their features before schooling it into a welcoming smile, “Yes?” Kaeya guesses it was because the man was hunched over his paper and was presumably studying, that he had reacted in such a way.
But that did not matter, “Do you happen to know someone named Tighnari?”
The man mockingly laughs in response, “Who doesn't? Do you want to talk to him?” He looks him up and down before glancing at Amber as if trying to figure out why strangers like them would be out here in Sumeru’s forest.
“Ah, I do, could you point us in his direction?” He chooses not to think about why people would supposedly know a kid this much.
The man, who suddenly seems to have lost interest in the conversation, sets his gaze back onto his book, “He's just up there, follow the path and he should probably be in the tree that the path leads you to,” he points without looking back then adds, “If your luck isn't the best, then he may be out patrolling.”
Kaeya furrows his brows, Should a kid that young be patrolling?
He does not bother throwing a smile in the man's direction as he thanks him and urges Amber to follow.
When they reach the end of the path, they do end up in one of the many massive trees in the area. Just as he gets off of his horse, a man with ears - no- Kaeya is not so sure what type of hybrid the man is, but he leaves the tree with such a stern look on his face that it intimidates anyone who wants to coo at him for his animal traits.
Kaeya coughs and throws a grin, “Hello, may I ask a few questions if you happen to have time for a humble guest?”
The man blinks at him before he eyes Amber as well, what was with Sumerians and their tendency to shamelessly observe others?
The voice that comes out is almost melodious, “Sure, what can I help you with?”
“I'm looking for Tighnari.”
The other blinks up at him again before he bursts into a chuckle, “Hello, I'm Tighnari.”
Kaeya falters for a second in shock before he laughs, “Ah, the letter wasn't so clear! I do apologize Sir.”
“It's alright,” he waves dismissively before throwing a gentle smile, “What did you need me for?”
“I- “ Kaeya is suddenly at a loss for words. He wishes Diluc could have been a little more specific. He doesn't even know the kid's name anymore, “I’m here for a kid? I was sent a letter by Diluc Ragnvindr and was told that I had to look for you. I don't know the kid's name, but here's the letter-” Kaeya reaches into his back pocket to pull it out when the other stops him with a raise of his hand.
“Don't bother,” he looks past them, “Kamran! Come here and take care of their horses for a while.” He turns back to face them with a smile, “Let's go, he's been crying,” he walks them around to stray from the path as he heads in another direction. Kaeya suddenly wonders why Diluc would leave his kid in the hands of a man who would just let anyone see him. It was ridiculous, the man didn't even ask for his name!
As if reading his thoughts, Tighnari exclaims, “Oh! Right, sorry, what was your name? And your friend here?”
“Ah, Kaeya Alberich, Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius, it's a pleasure to meet you. This is my good friend Amber, our outrider,” she manages to throw an excited wave with a, “Hi!”
Tighnari directs a gentle smile toward them, “It's an honor. I am a forest ranger. I manage pretty much everything in this particular forest, but my duties aren't limited to this area. Anyways, the kid has been sick for a while now. His father was supposed to find particular ingredients for me to add to his medicine, I assume that he was caught up in unfortunate circumstances instead?”
“Indeed,” they stand before a large tree, that is just like all the other ones in the area, with the door closed. Inside, he can hear the sounds of wailing as another person attempts to console the source, “I was tasked to bring him home and away from danger.”
Tighnari opens the wooden door and it creaks, “That's good. Come in and talk to him.”
He steps in and his feet are buzzing with anxiety as the sound of painful sobs grows louder. He rounds a small curtain blocking the bed and there he sees a girl who was talking to a little boy who hugged himself so small as he unceasingly cried out, “Papa!”
The moment they catch each other's attention, Kaeya suddenly understood why Tighnari had not defensively tried to scare them away as potential threats - because the instant that the pair of glossy eyes had stared up at him, Kaeya was shocked to find that the orbs looking back at him were an exact copy of his single blue starry eye.
Archons, this was a joke that he did not appreciate.