by: nagi71
Diluc has always slept deeply. He rarely had dreams and when he did, they had always been of memories and sweet nothings.
One early morning, he walks outside with a shawl over his shoulders, little feet avoiding puddles from the rain as he walks through the winery's fields. He breathes in the smell of the morning dew, the earthy smell of soil and grass mixing with the tangy, sweet smell of grapes, filling his lungs. But he can't help himself but frown as red eyes scan his surroundings, a curious look on his face with his lips pursed.
Diluc distinctly remembers falling asleep at home, crawling into his own, soft bed after calming down a fever ridden Kaeya who moaned and cried, still barely a few days since he was brought home by his father.
While he fretted and helped the maids, he had started getting sleepy himself, nodding off once or twice as the sun set and the moon rose up high in the night sky. At some point, he thinks his father came and hauled him up to bed, telling him that he couldn't take care of their guest if he's passing out himself.
So, to find himself waking up on a sofa at the winery, not a single person in sight even as dawn breaks and the sun peeks through the tall cliffs, he is obviously confused.
Yet, he also feels calm.
Maybe it's because of the familiarity of the place, or just how calming the morning breeze is after spending days cooped up in a room. He couldn't sense any danger despite the eerie happening, simply feeling welcomed. Nothing else mattered in his mind at the moment. He takes another exaggerated deep breath before he hops down the steps, keeping a languid pace as he approaches the vineyard.
The scent is stronger as he approaches, sweet enough to taste on his tongue. Suddenly, he feels hungry and his stomach growls. They smelled so tasty. Diluc decides to sneak around the vineyard, taking his time to choose the ripest bunch. He finds one shining a jewel red under the sunlight and he gets up on his tiptoes to reach for the biggest grape, popping it into his mouth with a happy hum.
Juicy and sweet, he smiles wide as he reaches for another.
"Oh, I wasn't the only one sneaking a snack early this morning?"
A clear, crisp voice reaches his ears with the sound of leaves rustling. Diluc jumps in surprise before he whirls around with wide eyes. He hadn't heard footsteps, not a single crunch of leaves under someone's feet, so he wonders how the other snuck up on him and climbed all the way up to the top of the wooden poles without making a sound.
More importantly, what does he mean by sneaking a snack?
"Who are you?"
The owner of the voice smiles down at him, legs swinging playfully, teal twin braids glowing in the light of dawn as he holds his hat down.
"No one special. I'm just here to steal some food."
Diluc is still once again when he sees the face of a young boy who looked no more than a few years older than him, a playful smile on his lips. In between his fingers is the grape he had been eyeing a moment ago, quickly disappearing into his mouth before he licks his lips with a delighted hum.
"As expected, it's delicious!"
It takes a while for Diluc to snap out of his little stupor and when he does, he tries to chase and catch the little thief, only to watch as he lifts himself with a gust of wind. A screech leaves his own lips while the other boy twirls in the air and laughs, full of mirth as Diluc gets thrown into the air with him.
A vision user?!
Diluc flexes his muscles and attempts to gain his balance, hearing a low, impressed whistle when he brings himself upright after a few haphazard spins, glaring daggers at the other. He launches himself forward using the current, stretching his arm in an attempt to grab the other's arm.
