Chapter Text
Mondstat in winter under the gaze of Dragonspine was a bitter cold unmatched only by Sneznya. Diluc blew into his gloved hands, rubbing them for warmth as he walked on the trail from Springvale to his manor. A late night at the tavern meant an extremely cold walk home, but he would be damned if he was going to sleep on the floor of the tavern again.
Diluc shook off the memory of an overly ambitious drinking game between Kayea, Rosaria and the bard who was always trying to exchange a poem for wine. The night ended with him babysitting three grown adults as they slept off the alcohol in the tavern. When the trio woke up the next morning they were treated to chores around the tavern to clean their mess and “cure” their hangovers. After all, nothing clears up a hangover faster than manual labor.
Regardless, that was the first and final time that he would ever sleep in the tavern. No, better to brave the cold than to repeat that particular mistake. His pyro vision kept him from getting frostbite at the very least, and not for the first time he was grateful to have that particular vision.
Boisterous laughter from the huntsman's houses grabbed his attention, the candle in the window illuminating a few of the town drunks as they laughed and drank large tankards of beer, obviously far along in their inebriation. Diluc rolled his eyes, Draff’s house was always rowdy it seemed, rarely did he pass by and there was not a drinking party of some sort. Still, this one was lasting longer than he expected, being far into midnight.
No matter, it was none of his business.
No, the drinking was not his business, but the small huddled form on the bench outside the house was very much his concern.
Diluc blinked, trying to get his eyes adjusted to the shadows, approaching the form, crouching down, head tilted.
“...Diona?”
He knew the child as being Klee’s friend, and a fellow bartender at the Cat's Tail tavern, technically his rival business, but that wasn’t as much of a grudge as one might expect. On his end, at least.
Diluc reached out hesitantly, shaking the girl's shoulder as he spoke again, in a low tone.
“Diona?” Finally, this woke the girl up, although woke up is not exactly the correct phrase. Waking up implied that there was something slow, calm, methodical in the ritual that one engaged in upon exiting sleep.
If this was how Diona woke up every morning, Diluc was concerned for anyone tasked with waking the child up. As soon as her eyes opened she had reared back, claws out and hissing as soon as she saw his face. If he hadn’t moved fast enough, he was sure to have been scratched. The child stayed in that defensive state for a moment more, before her shoulders finally deflated and she regarded him with sleepy contempt.
“Oh. It's you.” If looks could kill, Diluc would be floating in the stream. He had dealt with hate before, but what he had done to offend this child was beyond him, did she simply wake up like this?
No, there was something deeper here, more personal. What that was, he couldn’t say, and frankly, was not in the mood to explore. He was tired, hungry, cold, and only wanted to make sure that a child didn’t freeze, he didn’t ask to be disrespected like this. Diluc took a deep breath, controlling his frustration.
“Yes. What are you doing outside in the cold?” A short question, which would earn a short response, she would go inside, and he could be on his way. The flattening of her ears against her head told him that a simple solution might not be an option.
“Why do you think?” She jerked her chin at the door, as the smashing of a plate made her jump, and Diluc winced.
“Who could sleep with those boozehounds making all that racket!?” She had a point, but surely noise was preferable to frostbite? What's more, it didn’t look like she had been in the house yet at all. She was still in her work clothes, shorts and a blouse that was useless against the chill. No pajamas in sight.
She was lying. His former frustration ebbed away, concern creeping in its wake.
“Tell me why you’re really out here Diona.” Diona was sitting up now, Diluc still kneeling before her, making them about even in height. Diona shifted her eyes away from his gaze, staring at the grass with a bitter frown on her face.
“Okay, fine, whatever. The door is locked and I don’t have my key.”
“Do you have a spare one hidden, or did you knock?” Clearly, Diluc was not used to dealing with children, as these questions immediately flared Diona’s anger.
“Of course I tried, I’m not an idiot! The spare key is missing and no one can hear me! They’re too drunk.” Diona had wrapped her arms around herself, an imitation of a defensive posture, but Diluc noticed her trying to hide her shivers.
“I see, I know you’re not an idiot. Let me try-”
“ No! ” Her answer was swift, immediate.
Panicked.
“Why not?” Diluc did his best to keep his voice calm, collected, but already suspicions were flickering through his mind, his vision becoming ever so slightly warmer at his side.
“T-they won’t hear you anyway so don’t bother. Besides, I don’t want to go in there anyway.”
The warmth radiating from the vision was now creeping up to his hands, only years of practice kept sparks from forming.
“I see. Diona, do they make you feel unsafe?” People have a certain pause they take when preparing to craft a lie. It takes practice to close that gap. Diona, being a child, had yet to learn this trick.
“No, of course not idiot. They’re just annoying.” Her stance told him this conversation was over, but Diluc was far from being done. His eyes peered into the window of the house, marking and noting each man that sat inside, drunkenly swinging around bottles of wine.
“Mhm, I can see how annoying they are. Well, you can’t stay out here all night. Let’s go.” He stood, brushing dirt off of the knees from his pants.
“Go where exactly?” Diona had not budged from her spot, only jolting as another crash from within the house told Diluc that a bottle was broken.
“To my home, the winery. It’s warm, and we have plenty of rooms. You can sleep there for the night.”
A pause, and then the child broke out into bitter laughter.
“ Yeah , like I would ever go there with you! Only way I'd go there is to tear it down!” Defiance seemed to be a mask well known to Diona, as she wore it well. Her body however, told a different story. She was cold, as evidenced by her poorly disguised shivering. She was upset, pursed lips and furrowed brow holding this up along with defiance. Most of all, her arched back and flat ears told him a different story.
She was scared and sad.
“Well, no better way to take something down than from the inside. Let’s go.” Diluc reached out his hand, which she swatted away, standing up to walk ahead of him.
“You talk like you don’t think I can do it! And I don’t need to hold your hand, I’m not a baby!” Diluc took one more look inside the window, ensuring all the faces were locked in his memory.
“Mhm. I’m sure you can.”
The walk was cold, awkward, and silent. For the most part, nothing broke that silence but the crunch of ice, and the snap of twigs underfoot. Diona continued to shiver, and Diluc slid off his jacket, placing it on her shoulders before walking ahead with his hands in his pocket.
“ Hey! I don’t want your gross jacket! Take it back!” Diona had effectively curled into the jacket, using it like a blanket, but he played along.
“Well, taking down the winery would be easier if the owner got pneumonia, yes?”
Diona seemed to consider this for a moment before clutching the jacket closer to her, allowing herself to be swallowed up in the black wool and leather.
“Whatever.”
They passed the rest of the walk in silence, Diluc breathing a sigh of relief at the sight of his deliverance, the torch lights at the winery in the distance. At its entrance, they were greeted by Adelinde.
“Welcome home master Diluc, oh?” Her head tilted, a bright smile on her face as she peered down at Diona, who appeared to be trying to disappear into the folds of the coat.
“And who might this be?”
“Diona. Adelinde, I told you that you didn’t need to wait for me, it's late.”
Adelinde opened the door for them to enter, a pleasant smile on her face as she watched Diona’s wide eyes subtly scan the room.
“Well of course I must wait for you, how else am I to ensure that you get home safe?” Her hands reached out for his coat, which Diona handed over reluctantly. At the sight of the child's clothes she frowned a bit, before splashing that smile upon her face once more.
“Diona, why don’t you warm yourself by the fire? Would you also like something warm to drink? Tea perhaps? Or milk? Hot chocolate?”
“Tea is fine.” Diona grumbled on her way to the fireplace before halting, looking back up at Adelinde.
“...Please?” Perhaps it was the paternal aura that the winery’s longest working maid gave off, but even a sullen child gave her respect. Adelinde, for her part, merely nodded.
“Of course. I believe the night calls for some mint tea, with chamomile. I might have some myself.”
“Thank you.” A whisper, before Diona sat down in front of the fireplace, staring into the snapping logs. Diluc began to rummage through the various clothes closets and storage rooms, trying to find anything that could be used as a sleeping garment. He finally settled on a flannel workshirt, he was fairly tall, so it should fit Diona like a night gown. Plus, the warmth was sure to be appreciated. He hoped.
“Diona, the guest bathroom is down the hall, on the right. The bedroom is the door directly across from it. If you have any other questions Adelinde can assist, just please don’t keep her up too late.”
Diona said nothing, staring into the flames of the fire as her vision faintly flicked on her side. Cryo, like someone else he knew. Diluc turned away, beginning to walk up the staircase, until a soft voice that suddenly sounded far too honest caught his attention.
“Why are you helping me?”
“...Because that’s what adults are supposed to do.”
He heard nothing more, and so continued up to his room. He had a long morning ahead of him, and would need his rest.
*******
If Diluc was nice, he would have knocked softly on the door of a man who was sure to be extremely hungover.
Thankfully, he wasn’t a nice person.
Knock knock knock
Nothing, and Diluc prepared to pound the door once again, but before he got a chance the bolt slid open with a metallic click, and the door was pushed open an inch. Peering out at him with red eyes was Draff, frowning as he stared at the interruption to his sleep.
“...Can I help you?”
“I’m not the one needing help. Are you aware of where your daughter was last night?”
This seemed to catch the man's attention as he glanced outside, and upon finding the empty bench, frowned. Draff ran a hand through his hair, sighing.
“Must have gone to work already.”
“Excuse me? Did you not hear what I said?” Diluc spat through gritted teeth, before gathering his composure once again.
“Diona was out in the cold last night when I came back from Angel Share. She is safe at the winery but-” Draff moved to close the door, and Diluc caught it with his hand, easily pulling the door all the way open.
“ But , this could have ended very differently. She could have froze to death.” Draff grumbled a bit, turning away from the open door and searching along the shelf next to the door for something. He found it, holding up an already opened bottle of dandelion wine. When he caught Diluc’s look of disgust, he shrugged, taking a swig of the room temperature wine.
“Hair of the dog.” Another swig.
“Diona would have been fine. Our people are part cat, we can withstand anything. Plus she has that vision thing. It’ll protect her.”
“A vision doesn’t grant immunity to the elements. This is a serious matter she-”
Draff went to another jar on the shelf, peering inside as something clinked. He reached in and withdrew a handful of golden mora, his hand offering this to Diluc.
“Thanks for your trouble, Diona can be a handful.” Diluc regarded the gold, his vision flickering on his side. Finally, he turned, and without another word, left Draff and the mora behind.
The walk was long, or it should have been, but frustration and disgust hurried his steps, causing him to make it back to the winery in time for breakfast. What was usually a calm and quiet time in the manor was now a flurry of activity, it seemed like every maid in the manor was gathered around the guest room area.
“ Ahem .” Maids glanced back at him, and a bright voice called from within the guest room.
“In here master Diluc! Look at what we found!” Adelinde's bright voice echoed across the hallway, and Diluc waded through a sea of grinning faces, inside the room was packed with some of the head maids, all gathered around a central figure, standing on a stool, and dressed in possibly the frilliest dress he had ever seen in his life.
Diona, seeing him, whispered something that he could have sworn was along the lines of “ help me.”
“Isn't she the cutest thing! Oh helping raise you boys was wonderful, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t prepare this dress, just in case!” Adelinde gushed, adoration spilling out as she fussed over the cupcake shaped petticoat sticking out from under the white fabric of the skirt. The dress was perhaps a little old-fashioned, which made sense if she had prepared it when he himself was a child. Diluc felt his frustration wash away, and held a knuckle to his mouth, biting back amusement.
“And there ! All done!” Adelinde fixed a lopsided pink bow, and gestured to the mirror, which Diona stared at, as if wishing to melt away.
“What do you think, Miss Diona? The pink matches your hair perfectly! ”
Diona peered at herself in the mirror, hands clutching the fabric of the skirt, glancing at Diluc pleadingly.
“....I think I look like a cupcake-”
“A very cute cupcake, your sewing always astounds me Adelinde. It's a wonderful dress.” Adelinde cupped her cheek, sighing wistfully.
“Thank you, I am just sad it never got to be worn till now.” She hummed, standing up and brushing off her apron.
“No matter, Diona, that dress is all yours now! We need to get to work on breakfast.”
The room slowly emptied out, Diluc staring at Diona, whose eyes seemed to glare straight into his soul.
“....Not a word Diluc .”
Finally, the laughter that he had been containing this whole time broke out, chuckles filling the room as the child's tail flickered angrily.
“Hey!” Diluc waved her off, going over to the dresser where her normal work clothes sat in a neat and folded pile. He took these, and held them out to the child, who snatched them away with a sullen glare.
“We will tell Adelinde that you got changed since it would be a shame to risk dirtying that dress on the way to town. I am simply glad that I got to get a peek into my life if I had been born a girl.”
Diona grumbled, gathering her clothes to herself, and storming into the bathroom. The door slammed shut and he could hear her retort from within.
“I only wore it cause she’s nice, so don’t get any ideas! Once is enough!” Gathering back his composure, Diluc made his way to the door.
“Don’t worry, take the dress with you, I am sure Klee or another one of your friends would like the outfit.” Only a grunt from within signaled that the child had heard him.
“Come out to breakfast when you’re done. I am sure Adelinde is preparing a banquet, she always goes overboard when guests visit.”
Diluc left then, the clatter of a kitchen in full preparation accompanying him to the dining room. There, Adelinde stood, hands folded in front of her, instead of in the kitchen, supervising the other staff members.
“Master Diluc? May I have a word? Alone?”
“Oh, yes of course.” Diluc went towards the two armchairs in front of the fireplace, and pulled one out, gesturing for Adelinde to sit down.
“Thank you. I trust that Diona is occupied?” Diluc nodded hesitantly.
“Yes…Why, what is the matter?” For once, the woman he saw as a role model his entire life, who was always calm and collected, confident and assured. Well, she refused to meet his gaze, hands folded on her lap.
“I…I believe we should allow the young lady to live here.” Diluc blinked, taken aback by the sudden proclamation. He sat back in his chair, knee resting crossed over the other.
“Its apparent the staff would like to have another child around, but Diona doesn't seem to want to play dress up-”
“No, no, it's nothing like that Master Diluc. This…I fear for the child's safety.” Dilucs leg fell down, and he leaned forwards in his chair.
“How so?” Adelinde glanced back, checking the hallway. Upon seeing it empty, she turned back to him, her voice firm now.
“I suspect the child is being neglected. Her clothes are utterly inappropriate for this weather. When she had her tea last night I gave her a few scones along with them, and she acted like she hadn’t eaten in hours. Perhaps that is because she is a growing child, but I think it goes beyond mere growing pains. There….There is also the matter of her workplace.” Adelinde paused, but Diluc remained quiet, giving her time to gather herself.
“I was asking her some basic questions, like how she liked working at the Cat's Tail. She said she enjoys the other staff members, but hates the patrons. They….They make her uncomfortable. Apparently some of the regulars keep asking her to….Yowl like a cat.”
Quiet passed between them, and then Diluc stood, going towards the coat rack.
“Names?”
From her seat, he could see Adelinde hosting a bitter smile.
“No need, Master Diluc. They’re her fathers friends, the ones who are sure to be sleeping off their hangovers at his house.”
Diluc nodded, grabbing his coat, ensuring that his vision hung from the side, and then grabbed the sheath he used to hold his claymore on his back for travel.
“Understood. Tell Diona to enjoy breakfast, and that I will inform her manager that she can’t come into work today.”
“Of course, master Diluc.”
******
What Draff was not willing to listen to in the morning, he was more amenable to once he caught sight of Diluc’s claymore.
“Hello once again, Draff. I learned something interesting today. I would tell you what that is, but frankly, I’m not sure you care, and if you didn’t, I'm not sure I would be able to hold back any longer.” His words were hurried, a betrayal of his frustration, annoyance, and anger.
Diluc collected himself, hand resting on the hilt of his claymore.
“I wish to speak with the other men in this house, whoever was present at last night's party. Are they all still inside?” Draff hesitated, and then nodded, sliding away and allowing Diluc to enter the room. The area reeked of alcohol, and it was a wonder the air itself didn’t burst into flames.
All it would take was one spark.
Diluc shook the thought out of his head. Maybe later, if the issue persisted, or archons forbid, got worse. Diluc ensured the door was shut behind him before regarding the booze-addled group in front of them. The group was small, but frequent customers who he recognized. When they made their way to the Angels Share they were always the first to enter, and the last to leave for the night. It was not uncommon for Diluc to have to cut them off, either when their pockets became empty, or when he was worried about them making it home safe. Now, he wasn't sure that concern was warranted. Yes, addiction was a serious issue, and clearly these men struggled with it, but that was certainly no excuse to harass a child.
“Gentlemen, I am sure you all know me, and also know Diona.”
At her name the men brightened up, as if trained on the sound to expect a reward.
“Yeah, she's the cute girl that works at the Cat's Tail.” One of the men slurred, and Diluc’s hands began to warm up. Mindful of the veritable powder keg around him, he smothered the sparks, clenching his fist.
“Exactly. A girl . She is twelve . I have been told that you are making her feel uncomfortable.” If Draff had any reaction to this news, he was covering it up with another swig of lukewarm wine.
The men regarded him with dismissive eyes, one of them even going so far as to approach him, patting his arm.
Diluc very much disliked physical touch, particularly, from the man before him, sputtering excuses.
“It’s just a little bit of teasing, nothing more than that. Diona always gets so flustered when we tease her, it's adorable.” Diluc’s stomach turned, and he grabbed the man's hand, ripping it off of his forearm.
“If she appears flustered, as you say, then stop . It is not funny to make a young girl uncomfortable.” The man backed up, a deep frown etched onto his face, his friends seemed to have more sense than he did, as they remained quiet, huddled in the back. Perhaps they saw the sparks rising along Diluc’s vision. Or, perhaps they were simply cowards.
“Don’t get so serious Diluc. It's nothing to be upset over, it's a harmless joke.”
“I will repeat myself once more. It's not a harmless joke. Diona does not think it is, and neither do I. She was so worried for her own safety last night that she slept outside. Does that not make it clear that this is not a joke?” If the man before him noticed Diluc’s hand gripping the hilt of his claymore, he was too foolish to stop his mouth.
“She’s overreacting, that’s all this is.”
Within seconds the man knew he had finally crossed over that invisible line that was keeping Dliluc held back and constrained.
No more line.
Diluc’s claymore became unsheathed with a low hiss, the air around them warming up like an oven. He held his sword to the man's neck before he could even move. The man seemed to sober up in an instant, terror across his face. The air was still and quiet, the cowards' friends making no moves to help him.
“Choose your next words carefully. You speak of harassing a child like it is nothing. Clearly, you have not grown up past your immature phase as schoolboys.”
Diluc tilted his head to the right, pressing his claymore to the man's neck until he was backed up to the wall, and then he pressed just a centimeter deeper, enough to draw blood. If the man moved or tried to escape he would risk cutting his own jugular.
“No, that's not it. You think you can get away with this behavior forever, don't you? No one has ever stood up to you, and so you assume you are invincible, going after targets who can’t defend themselves against adult men.” Diluc pressed harder, blood dripping down as the man whimpered.
“Let me make one thing clear. The days of this behavior going unchecked ends today. I hear one more instance of this occurring, or worse, you try to lay a hand on that child?” Diluc grit his teeth, a sneer peeking through his rage.
“I will come back with this sword that has already tasted your blood, and finish the job.” Diluc waited a moment, and then withdrew his sword, the man falling to his knees and crying like a pathetic bastard.
Diluc turned past the other men in the room, wiping his claymore off with his handkerchief.
“I have eyes everywhere, even if it means teaming up with my connection to the knights, then so be it.” Kaeya complicated things, but in this instance? A brotherly truce would be warranted. At each other's throats, had each other's backs. Or something like that.
“That child is under my protection. One move out of line and I will ensure you cannot harass another woman or child ever again.”
The coward whimpered, holding a makeshift bandage to his throat from his wine stained shirt. Diluc grinned, tilting his head.
“Good. I’m glad we could settle this matter rationally then. Goodbye gentlemen.”
Diluc sheathed his claymore once again, stepping out into the bright light of Springvale. He had a long conversation ahead of him, and some preparations to make. Perhaps Adelainde was right, and the Winery was plenty large enough for one child. Surely being a guardian couldn’t be that difficult.
Right?