In The Mountains

Chapter 1

Pov: Diluc

The first thing I think when I wake up is, It's cold

Which is quickly followed by the thought Is someone carrying me on their back?

And then, because the persons back is big, warm and reminds me of home, I say the first name that comes to mind.

"Father..?" I ask sleepily.

The person carrying me stops in their tracks. They chuckle, the sound low and rich, and rather relaxed in tone. It is completely unlike my father's.

"Sorry to disappoint Diluc," Kaeya says, "But I'm not your dear old dad."

I stiffen. Suddenly, I feel much more awake, and aware of my surroundings.

My head is pounding fiercely, as if a ruin guard had hammered at it with its non stop twirling arms. Each step that Kaeya took make me feel like my brain was bumping against my skull, sending thunderbolts fizzing around my brain. It made me feel dizzy and sick. He's had much worse before though, so this was really nothing.

I squint my eyes through the pain. They are, or rather, Kaeya is,  trudging down a snowy mountain in the middle of an icy snowstorm.

I can feel the harsh winds grating against my cheeks, bringing a chill that settles deep into my bones.

This is.. Dragonspine? Why am I in dragonspine?  And most importantly, why is Kaeya, a cryo user, in Dragonspine?

An errant snowflake lands on my nose and I sneeze. I shiver and quickly curl into myself. My cheek touches soft fur and I recoil in surprise, before recognising it as Kaeya's cape, which is wrapped around my shoulders.

Then it really is Kaeya. Kaeya who is carrying me on his back, making his way down an unmarked mountain trail, carefully and slowly, because one mistep could send them off the cliff just a foot away.

Wait. Why is Kaeya carrying me on his back again?

I must have said that outloud because Kaeya huffs. "You don't remember?" He asks, a hint of concern in his tone.

"Remember what?" I reply icily. "Why im on a jolly old vacation with you in the middle of the godforsaken Dragonspine mountains? If you're asking that, then, no, I do not."

"And that is exactly why we are taking a jolly old vacation in the middle of the godforsaken Dragonspine mountains." Kaeya shoots back dryly, seemingly mocking me.
"If not for that debilitating head injury of yours, I would have preferred to wait out the snowstorm in a cave for a day or two before making our way down. But between watching you slowly die from internal bleeding or suffering from a long walk down the mountains to a healer, I find myself much preferring the latter. Much as it sounds hard for you to believe."

I flush at the veiled accusation. Kaeya make it no secret that he still resents me for what happened in the past.

"Let me down. I can walk by myself." I command.

"No can do." Kaeya annoyingly replies.

"I've suffered worse hangovers than this." I say, trying to convince him.

Kaeyas voice hardens. "You have may I stress, a head injury. Hell, Diluc, you don't even remember what happened to you before you passed out! You're secured to me firmly with a rope and a harness. Don't make this harder than it already is by struggling."

Bastard.

I beat my fists on Kaeyas back, though rather weakly. When Kaeya doesn't respond, I twist and turn to my captivity to get at the bindings. I fumble with the knots, miserably failing with the state of my cold numbed fingers.

Wait! I'm a dumbass, I can just burn them off!

"Do not think of burning that off" Kaeya says tiredly. "That rope is woven from pyro whopperflower stems, its resistant to flames. You'll tire yourself out."

I glare at Kaeya's nape. A feral part of me urges me to sink my teeth into it until Kaeya gives in but that would just he stupid because:
1) Kaeya would most likely lose his balance in the confusion and fall off the cliff, taking me with him.
2) Even Kaeya didn't deserve to fall victim to his murderous tendencies.

"Fine, then I'll just cut it off"

The knife in my boot is too far for me to reach, but I know Kaeya keeps one hidden in his belt. I stretch my hand out, trailing down Kaeya's belt to feel for the knife. When I brush against what I'm pretty sure is the hilt, I extend my index and middle finger, trying to coax it put of its sheath.

Just a little more.. I grunt with the effort of straining my arms, and in the process, I grab Kaeya's shoulder with my other hand, trying to stabilise myself  as I reach for it and-

Suddenly Kaeya jerks to a stop, hissing in pain. The abruptness sends my forehead crashing into the back of Kaeya's skull, and I yelp. I curse at the intense pain spearing through my head.

"What was that for?!" I demand, rubbing my forehead "Dont just stop like that!"

For a while, Kaeya is silent.

Then he exhales shakily, and huff of white mist fills the frosty air.

"Diluc," He says through gritted teeth. "Please do not move around so much." He says, it sounded like he was pleading.

Weird.

"What, scared that I'll throw the both of us off the mountainside. Don't want to destroy your 'pretty little face'" I ask, mocking him slightly.

"No." Kaeya says with acid in his tone. "It's because my arm is broken and I don't want to move it more than I already am."

That shuts me up.

After a while I finally speak up, "You're hurt..?" I ask, a hint of guilt in my voice.